Valdicava Madonna del Piano Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2016
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Robert
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
In Tuscany 2016 was a spectacular year for wine and this is epitomized perfectly in the Madonna del Piano 2016. On the nose there are hints of violets, black cherries, eucalyptus and a hint of hazelnut at the end. This red is very expressive on the nose but very complex on the pallet. The tannins are firm but tend to soften with time. There is a nice balance between the firmness of the tannins and the acidity and minerality of the wine which is due to the very harmonious and balanced vintage which 2016 was blessed with. This Riserva has been compared with the prized 2006 vintage, with its balance and power. It can be opened in 5 or 6 years but can also wait 10-20 years.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is heavenly on the nose with fresh flowers such as violet and cherries with undertones of freshly shaved sandalwood. It’s full-bodied with very fine tannins that are focused and intense with a polished nature. This is a complete wine that impresses at every level. Give it at least five to six years to come together and resolve the tannin structure. Better after 2027.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Deep ruby-colored with a light purple tinge, the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Madonna Del Piano takes on another gear with its rich perfume unfolding with lavender, black cherry, cassis, fresh leather, licorice, fresh soil, and sage. The wine is full-bodied, with a ripe velveteen texture, while maintaining freshness, and it is elegantly rounded through the mid-palate, with notes of black plum, Earl Grey, scorched earth, and tea leaf. This seems to be moving at a glacial pace in its evolution and certainly warrants at least a few more years in cellar.
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Wine Spectator
Expressive yet complex, this red is already revealing tertiary hints of truffle, fading roses and spice. Features cherry, raspberry, iron, eucalyptus and anise flavors allied to a firm, compact structure. Balanced and long, with fresh fruit, spice and mineral accents lingering on the endless finish. Best from 2025
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Valdicava 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano impresses for its intensity, its balance and its freshness. The wine is medium to full-bodied with a good amount of fruit weight and power that is offset by acidity and the lifted, vibrant quality of the bouquet. If balance is the objective, this wine meets it goals, although like with many of its peers, you certainly won't miss the deep inner power of this determined Brunello.
Rating: 96+
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Montalcino is home to the opulent of the Sangiovese grape. At our precise latitude of 43 degrees, the warmth of the nearby Tirrean Sea, the protective barrier of the "Monte Amiata," the coolness of the wooded areas, the breeze and the moderate rainfall all coincide to facilitate the growth of these grapes to fragrant, full maturity. Valdicava is located in the Montosoli area which is famous in Montelcino for creating wines with great balance of body and aromas. We pay the utmost attention towards maintaining the individual characteristics of our wine in order to exalt the spirit of the place, the 'genius loci' of our estate.
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.