Brunello 2020 & 2019 Riserva Anteprima Tasting

Our annual Brunello Anteprima at 67 Pall Mall featured one of the most exciting vintage line-ups yet… 

The handful of 2019 Riservas stole the show – as James Suckling says, they “should be spectacular”, but the 2020s surprised and delighted Brunello lovers as they may “mark a turning point for the region, where hot and dry vintages can be managed effectively in both Montalcino’s vineyards and cellars to produce fresh, attractive wines.”  Despite the heat, the 2020 wines show more balance and freshness than 2012 and 2017, with the vintage being compared by some more closely to 2015.  The wines, Suckling says (having tasted over 200 samples) are “not jammy or overly alcoholic, and most show a freshness and brightness of fruit, making them extremely attractive to drink now while also having enough structure to improve over the next 10 to 12 years – and beyond in some cases.” We also showed examples of the estate and riservas from 2015 on a special “10 Years On” table at the tasting.

Guests tasted a selection of Riserva and Estate 2015, newly released Riserva 2019, Estate and Single Cru Brunello 2020, and Rosso (2023 and late release 2022) bottlings from across the following growers:

• Giodo
• Valdicava
• Castello Romitorio
• Mastrojanni
• Argiano
• Patrizia Cencioni
• Castiglion del Bosco
• Cortonesi

Read more about our Brunello growers.

Once again, Montalcino remains arguably THE best value fine wine region in the world, and advances in both vineyards and wineries are mitigating the challenges of hotter, drier years to produce gorgeous, balanced wines.