Review: Antinori 2001 Brunello di Montalcino
- vinterest
- Mar 7, 2015
- 2 min read
The low-down: Brunello di Montalcino, along with Barolo and the Super Tuscans, are Italy's most celebrated wines. However you do have to be careful with brunello ... in the 1960s there were 11 producers, today over 200. Where did they come from? What practices do they employ? And where did this wine growing land come from? All pertinent questions ... our only insurance policy though is the Antinori brand.
The Antinori family have been making wine since 1385! And more so have been pushing the blending of Bordeaux grapes with the traditional Sangiovese since the 1920s: they produce two of the famous Super Tuscans: Tiganello (20% Bordeaux blend) and Solaia (80%).
The estate, Pian delle Vigne, is named after a 19th century train station situated on the property which is still in use. The Antinori family acquired this estate in 1995. There were 30 ha under vine with a further 30 ha planted in 2003.
Being a 2001 vintage this has 14+ years under its belt which should make for a nicely evolved little number, although we are told it can age for up to 20 years!
We picked this up from a great wine shop-bar-restaurant on the Piazza del Duomo in Milan called Signorvino: www.signorvino.com/en.
We recently opened a 2006 Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino.
The take: A very dark red, with thick, slow legs. A rich and varied nose: forest floor, chalk, blueberries, peach. A rich and fleshy attack. Quite strong and tannic for 14 years. Still has a few years left in the tank! A melange of flavour: hazelnut, vanilla, cloves, raisins, earthy, with a nice bite at the finish.
In closing: A melange of flavor! And a few years left in the tank!
Rating: 8.5 out of 10. Could easily be a 9er in a few years.
Fact corner:
Country: Italy
Region: Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG)
Producer: Marchesi Antinori
Vintage: 2001
Grape: Sangiovese
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Serving temperature: n/a
Price range: Premium
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