Everyone is going to like drinking 2011 Brunello di Montalcinos. They are, for the most part, fruity and delicious reds with lots of ripe fruit (sometimes too much) and soft and juicy tannins. They remind me of the very drinkable and forward 2000s, 2003s and 2005s.
“There’s nothing not to like about the 2011s,” admits Giacomo Neri, the owner of Casanova di Neri, one of the leading winemakers of Brunello. “They are very good wines from a very good vintage.”
I would go a little further after tasting about 200 examples and say that 2011 is an excellent vintage. I tasted half of them late last year and posted the notes in November. The rest I tasted a few weeks ago in Tuscany.
I rated more than 90 percent of the 2011 Brunellos 90 points or more. So the vintage is indeed outstanding. The only wines that I rated less than 90 pointes were those with too much alcohol, obvious and over ripe fruit or a slight dilution.
“The vintage turned out much better than we expected,” says Roberto Giannelli, the owner of San Filippo, which made one of the top 2011 Brunellos in my tastings. I rated it 94 points. Giannelli and other Brunello makers believe the 2011s are better than other hot vintages such as 2000 or 2005 because the wines have more freshness and acidity.
The grape growing season was marked by sporadic rain in June and July and extremely hot weather in August. A number of heat spikes sent the sugars in the grapes spiraling up. More rain came during the harvest in September but the grapes remained ripe and rich. And they made excellent wine albeit for early drinking.
Added Enrico Viglierchio, the general manager of Banfi:”I almost like the 2011s more than our 2010s. They have so much fruit and richness.”
I wouldn’t go that far. The 2010s are the best modern vintage in bottle for Brunello di Montalicino. They have superior structures of ripe fruit, firm and polished tannins and bright acidity, especially compared to the open and luscious 2011s. They are wines to age for decades and take the throne of the best vintage ever from the legendary 1997.
Yet, I am really impressed with the 2011s considering they follow the great 2010s. And I am going to enjoy drinking them. The only problem is that 2012 and 2013 should be even better than 2011.
Click here to see my tasting notes and scores of about 200 wines. Make sure you are a subscriber to our website to check them all.
Photos from top to bottom:A selection of 2011 Brunellos in tasting at my house in Tuscany; A bottle of 2011 Brunello ready for tasting; Colors of 2011 are more advance than 2010 for Brunello suggesting early drinking
