Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo 2019

The Frescobaldi 2019 Brunello di Montalcino CastelGiocondo has oaky notes, dried spice, redwood and cured tobacco. At its core, the wine shows dark fruit and a thick level of extraction. The tannins are soft and resolved, setting this Brunello up for an immediate drinking window. The wine is exactly where you want it to be, especially if served across from a steak and baked potato. This is a big release of 450,000 bottles.

The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a saturated ruby color and is ripe with aromas of black cherry, toasted cedar, balsamic herbs, and licorice. Full-bodied, it's open knit and approachable, with ripe tannins, a balanced structure, and a lot of charm. It's hearty and drinking well now, although it should hold up nicely over the coming 8-10 years.

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino pulls the taster close to take in its understated bouquet of dried roses, cedar shavings and incense. It's soft and supple with depths of tart wild berry fruit guided by brisk acidity as hints of orange form along with a coating of fine tannins toward the close. This finishes classically dry and with admirable length, as grippy tannins pinch at the cheeks and a licorice tinge slowly fades. I'm happy to say I'm finding more energy and liveliness in the 2019 versus past vintages.