Tassi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 Red Wine

Tassi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016

Tuscany, Italy

96 pts. James Suckling:

"I love the purity of fruit to this with black cherries, blackberries, plums and hints of citrus. It’s full-bodied with wonderfully integrated, fine tannins that melt into the wine. So long and persistent. Goes on for minutes. Try after 2024."  11/11/2020

94 pts. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:

“The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has slightly sweet accents on the bouquet with candied cherry and red licorice Twizzler. Those immediate aromas subside and eventually cede to potting soil, blue flower, toasted nut and balsam herb. However, at the end of the day, this wine remains focused on those proverbial red fruit tones as opposed to heavier black fruit tones. This is always a very elegant quality for Brunello. Thanks to its acidic freshness, natural structure and ruby fruit, we're looking at a textbook Sangiovese from 2016, without too many extra trappings or distractions.”  ML, 11/20/2020

93 pts. Vinous:

“The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a fruit-forward and extroverted expression of Sangiovese, launching aromas of sweetly spice violets, crushed cherries and licorice up from the glass. Its textures are enveloping and smooth, contrasted by mocha-tinged red and black fruits, which creates an expression of contrasts, like a cocoa nibs or espresso beans neatly tucked into a decadent piece of milk chocolate. Grippy tannins come forward, along with a hint of sour citrus, forcing the cheeks to pucker with tension throughout the long and structured finish. This will require some cellaring to soften and come fully into focus.”  EG, 11/20/2020

In the 1950's, Guido Tassi bought a plot of land near Montalcino on which he kept bees. He made a living selling his honey for many years. In 1999 his descendants converted the land into a Sangiovese vineyard from which they made their first wine - Tassi Brunello. Their winery and tasting room are now located in what was the honey barn. If you've been to Montalcino's famous "La Fortezza" wine shop, you would have seen Fabio Tassi there - he was the manager for a long time. Tassi wines, while well-known in Italy, have just recently made it to the Western US. We should all be celebrating!

FROM THE WINERY

The 2016 vintage began with a mild and little spring rainy, the summer, on the other hand, was very hot with temperatures above average. During the month of September some rains have created a milder and perfect climate for the maturation of Sangiovese, enhancing its freshness, giving soft and balanced tannins.

Vineyards: Vigna Franci
Position: Castelnuovo dell'Abate
Vinification: Fermentation with yeasts indigenous in non-vitrified concrete tanks with maceration of 15-20 days
Aging: 36 months in medium-sized wooden barrels 30-40 hl