Winemaker Notes
Fonterenza grows 4.2 contiguous hectares of hilly vineyards just southeast of the town of Montalcino. The crown jewel of their holdings is a 1.6-hectare parcel valled Vigna del Bosco, so named for the fact that the steep, south-facing, amphitheater-shaped vineyard is entirely surrounded by thick woods. The Padovanis planted Vigna del Bosco in 1999 on this special site featuring complex galestro soils that vary quite a bit from top to bottom of the hill. They harvest it by hand in multiple passes.
Unlike the majority of their peers, the Padovanis do not release their Brunello until they consider if ready to drink, so inevitably the current vintage in the market is "behind" most other Brunellos by at least a couple of years.
Blend: 100% Sangiovese
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is the current release from Fonterenza, as they prefer to place their wines into the market as they feel they’re ready. This seduces the senses with an intense burst of exotic spice and cherry sauce offset by nuances of fresh mint and a cocoa dusting. It’s silky to the core with radiant dark red fruit energized by a core of zesty acidity, as inner earth tones and sweet herbs resonate throughout. The 2016 finishes with a totally classic feel, as a web of crunchy tannins coat the palate, leaving notes of licorice and balsamic-tinged currants to echo on. Fonterenza continues to impress vintage after vintage. They remain one of the still-under discovered gems of the region.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Spiced and expressive, the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a deep ruby with a purple tinge and has enveloping aromas of fresh pine, pressed violets, blackberry, and scorched earth. It is full-bodied, though not heavy, with notes of black plum, tea leaf, leather, and freshly turned soil. Its ripe tannins are present but not drying and fill a long arch of fruit throughout. Best after 2024.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.