2015 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese

2015 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino

96 RP

From the critics:

96 VM

95 JS

94 WE

93 WS

92 DEC

Featured Review

The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto team is on a roll, and these last few vintages have really hit it out of the ballpark. Their latest release, the charming 2015 Brunello di Montalcino, is one of the stars of the vintage. This wine exudes the warmth and sheer exuberance of the growing season, which was beautifully warm and sunny. Yet it also stays true to the promise of Montalcino that strives for elegance, poise and longevity. This is a classic interpretation that offers a very precise and pure window onto the Sangiovese grape, with its tight aromas of wild cherry, medical herb and pressed blue flowers. The wine is a blend of fruit from both sides of Montalcino, the north side and the southeast. Between the two sites you get a mix of schist, sand, clay, tufo and Galestro soil. That's pretty much the whole rainbow from the appellation. Some 16,846 bottles were made (not including large-format bottles), and the wine was released in January 2020. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 96 RP

The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto team is on a roll, and these last few vintages have really hit it out of the ballpark. Their latest release, the charming 2015 Brunello di Montalcino, is one of the stars of the vintage. This wine exudes the warmth and sheer exuberance of the growing season, which was beautifully warm and sunny. Yet it also stays true to the promise of Montalcino that strives for elegance, poise and longevity. This is a classic interpretation that offers a very precise and pure window onto the Sangiovese grape, with its tight aromas of wild cherry, medical herb and pressed blue flowers. The wine is a blend of fruit from both sides of Montalcino, the north side and the southeast. Between the two sites you get a mix of schist, sand, clay, tufo and Galestro soil. That’s pretty much the whole rainbow from the appellation. Some 16,846 bottles were made (not including large-format bottles), and the wine was released in January 2020.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RP

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a bouquet that is dark and captivating, reminding me of picking ripe strawberries right off the vine, as its pretty, dark red fruits mingle with earth tones and hints of floral stems, then spiced orange and sweet minerality slowly develope in the glass. On the palate, it floods the senses with textures like fine velvet, yet not heavy in any way, instead guided by brisk acids and minerals, carrying fleshy dark red fruits with hints of savory herbs and spice. As the textural experience comes to a close, it reveals a coating of round tannins, with sweet red fruits, spices and pretty floral tones lingering on and on. What a gorgeous expression of vintage character complemented by this house’s classic style. Even in its youth, the 2015 Gianni Brunelli will have a lot of fans, but it should also do well over the next ten to fifteen years in the cellar.

Vinous Media | 96 VM

Beautiful intensity, but also focus to the nose of this Brunello. Wild strawberries, tar and cherry kernel vie to be heard above a chorus of forest floor and tobacco. The palate has wonderful compression, herding vibrant cherries and chewy tannins into shape; there’s balance, focus and depth, all in one package. Drink from 2023.

James Suckling | 95 JS

Rose, new leather, wild herb and dark-skinned-berry aromas emerge from the glass on this fragrant red. Polished and balanced, the elegant, medium-bodied palate reveals Marasca cherry, star anise and ground clove framed in refined tannins and fresh acidity. It’s already accessible but promises good mid-term aging. Drink through 2027.

Wine Enthusiast | 94 WE

This elegant red delivers cherry, iron, leather and tobacco flavors, backed by a vibrant structure. Balanced, with firm, well-proportioned tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. Best from 2022 through 2040. 650 cases made, 200 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Leather and savoury notes coming through the glass, cranberry freshness; complex and intense. Juicy and rich with plenty of fresh vibrant red fruits and spicy aromatic finish. Drinking Window 2021 - 2030.

Decanter | 92 DEC

Type of Wine	Brunello : As you indulge in some fine Brunello, and you gaze into the deep brown elixir, your tongue will almost pulsate with excitement, as rich flavors of black cherry, chocolate, black raspberry, and blackberry are woven together like a heartfelt poem. An earthy, leathery undertone provides excellent contrast next to all the fruit, rounding out the experience .
Varietal	Sangiovese : When it comes to Tuscan wine, Sangiovese is king. This mighty grape variety resides not only in Tuscany, but throughout Italy. The varietal is responsible for some of the greatest wines in the country, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the infamous “Super Tuscans.” Sangiovese is extremely capable of adapting to the various climates and terroirs of Italy but is quite at home in Tuscany, where it is believed to have been birthed. Like most ancient grape varieties, there are many speculations about Sangiovese’s true time and place of origin. Some theories claim the Sangiovese grape dates back to the Etruscan era and cultivated mostly in Tuscany. Another theory is that it was cultivated by the ancient Romans. Sangiovese is believed to have been first documented in 1590 by agronomist, Gian Vettorio Soderini who talked about ‘Sanghiogeto” in an essay. There is no definitive evidence that ‘Sanghiogeto’ is the Sangiovese grape that is beloved and famous today; however, it is still considered by many to be the first appearance of the grape in written fashion. It wouldn’t be until the 18th century that Sangiovese would become well-known and started being planted all over the region. It was mentioned in l’Oenologia Toscana, written by Cosimo Villafranchi in 1773, in which he discussed the winemaking process of Chianti and the use of Sangiovese. Today, Sangiovese accounts for 10% of all winemaking grapes planted in Italy. This statistic may not seem significant but taken into consideration there are 350 authorized grape varieties across 20 wine regions, it is quite remarkable. Due to its versatility, Sangiovese is one of the most diverse grape varieties used in winemaking. However, the grape can be temperamental and sensitive to the environment in which it is planted. It is very much similar to the Pinot Noir in this fashion. Wines made with Sangiovese grapes can turn out tasting extremely different, based on climate, terroir and process. While the varietal can successfully grow most places, it tends to grow best in hot, dry climates with terroir composed mostly of shallow, limestone soils. Famously native to Tuscany but Sangiovese also grows in many other winemaking locations in Italy, such as Umbria in Central Italy, Campania in the South and Romagna where the grape is known as Sangiovese di Romagna. There are approximately 71,000 hectares of Sangiovese covering the earth’s surface, 62,725 of which reside in Italy (mostly Tuscany). Outside Italy, Sangiovese has grown quite popular in many winegrowing regions around the world, including the French Island of Corsica, where it ranks 2nd among all Sangiovese growing localities. It was introduced to Argentina in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants and remains successful in the region of Mendoza. Although Sangiovese was brought to America in the 1880’s, it was unpopular until the 1980’s when “Super Tuscans” caused a re-emergence of the grape in Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast. Sangiovese has also gained popularity in Barossa Valley in Southern Australia. The thin skinned, medium sized, blue-black berries of Sangiovese produce medium to full bodied, dry and highly acidic wines with fruity and savory flavors of plum, cherry, licorice, leather, tobacco and dust. Sangiovese may be synonymous with Brunello, and vice-versa, but the world of Sangiovese is far more intricate than a single wine, a single village, hillside town or designated area of control. It is the exclusive varietal and shining star in Brunello di Montalcino and provides the backbone for Chianti and many of the great Italian wines, and has gained an outstanding reputation as one of the world’s great grape varietals.
Country	Italy : Italy is renowned as one of the world’s greatest gastronomic havens; from certified Prosciutto di Parma to the sea-side seafood eateries on the island of Sicily. However, this epicurean experience could not possibly be as hedonistic without the ethereal combination of the country’s plethora of fine wines. It seems unfair that a nation should be able to boast, both, some of the world’s greatest cuisine as well as its greatest wines. Italian wine is one of the most sought after in the world, and has become the second most produced in the world, behind only France. Stretching an impressive 736 miles from northern Italy to the peninsula’s southern tip, the country’s geography generates an enormous array of topography, climate and soil structure. This is an extremely important quality of its winegrowing and making industry which lays claim to nearly 550 different grape varietals, which all desire their own necessities, in terms of terroir and climate. The still red wines of Italy truly characterize the nation’s vast and expansive terroir; Nebbiolo dominates Piedmont, where Barolo and Barbaresco reign king and queen of the region’s production. Hailing from Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany, the rockstar Sangiovese grape has become synonymous with greatness. Vin Santo sweet wines have taken on a mighty feat of competing with the glorious wines of Sauternes, and of course, Prosecco. Prosecco, located in Trieste (northeast Italy) and its creation of luxuriously effervescent styles of wine has become Italy’s answer to Champagne. The Glera grape variety, which has become synonymous with the name Prosecco, is the main ingredient and is beloved in the appellation where the village of Prosecco’s name has become world renowned. The blurred boundary between Italy and the countries of Slovenia and Austria, where German influence still resonates through Friuli wines. The prevalence of Riesling and other such grape varietals is high in this region and have become extremely popular on today’s market. With nearly 702,000 hectares of grapevines covering the massive and diverse landscape, Italy’s annual average of 48.3 million hectoliters of wine production is second only to France in terms of volume and Spain in terms of hectares of vines. The country is vast and overwhelming when it comes to the culinary arts, but perhaps even this is overshadowed by its production of some of the world’s most sought after wines, whether the omnipresent Chianti to the highly collectible and sought after Amarone della Valpolicalla.
Region	Tuscany : Italian culture worships the concept of a shared meal, and their wines scream for a chance to be uncorked with your friends and family. The region's Mediterranean climate and hilly landscape combine to create a beautiful viticultural environment, where every chosen grape is brought to its full potential and transmuted into drinks worthy of gods. The vineyards are planted along the higher reaches of the hill slopes, creating a gorgeous view of the Italian landscape. Once your lips kiss the wine, you're sent spiraling down a veritable whirlpool of pure flavor, touching upon notes of sensuous cherry, nuts, floral hints and undertones of honey and minerals. The wines can be as sweet as a fresh summer romance, and carry an air of dignity and elegance about them that can stimulate your intellect for months as you contemplate the seemingly infinite intricacies and details in the texture. Tuscany is an important part of Italian viticulture, and sampling their wines is the closest you can get to visiting this heavenly region and experiencing the culture.
Subregion	Brunello di Montalcino