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1997 Fanti Brunello di Montalcino

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

December 17, 2023 - $120

Estimate

RATINGS

3 BicchieriGambero Rosso

97Stephen Tanzer

...Exotic nose of clove, cinnamon and cocoa. Very sweet, dense and fresh on the palate, with blackberry jam, ripe plum, chocolate, mint and vanilla in evidence. Generously structured and quite opulent, with ripe polished tannins...

93Wine Spectator

Big and toasty red, with raspberry, black licorice and smoky aromas. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, smoky, berry, toasted oak aftertaste. Very New World in style. Best after 2004.

REGION

Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino is regarded as one of Italy’s best appellations. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975. Brunellos in general are bigger, darker, more tannic and more powerful wines than Chiantis or most other Sangioveses. By law they must be aged for four years, and two of those years must be in wooden barrels.