The Frescobaldi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Ripe al Convento di CastelGiocondo opens a happy new chapter for this celebrated Tuscan wine family. The Frescobaldis have successfully embraced the classic and iconic qualities of the vintage with the chiseled and sharp aromas that came naturally in 2016. Those etched contours come forth as cherry, blackberry, rose, spice, tar and tobacco. However, the wine's 15% alcohol is a distraction here, as it is in many of the Riservas tasted in this report. This is a production of 12,000 bottles. ML
A stellar red, this captures the freshness and purity of the vintage, featuring cherry, currant and even a hint of flowers, with characteristic Sangiovese iron and tobacco notes. Firms up nicely as it develops toward the finish, where it lingers with dusty tannins and ample fruit to offset them. Best from 2025 through 2042. MS
Blackberry, black-cherry, bark, mushroom and lavender aromas. Full-bodied with intense, polished tannins and bright acidity. It’s so long, linear and structured. A powerful and so serious red. Goes on for minutes. Try after 2025.
Lustrous ruby. Tingling, exotic spice and cherry-liqueur nose with a hint of gingerbread. Succulent and dense on the palate and with oodles of juicy acidity. The coating tannins are almost completely absorbed in the lush fruit on the finish.
Walter Speller - March 2022
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Ripe al Convento di Castelgiocondo opens slowly in the glass, with grumblings of exotic spice, red currants, pine and roses that come forward with coaxing. This takes a turn toward total elegance on the palate, which is both silky and weighty in feel, with a core of bright acidity to balance. Cherries, strawberries and hints of plum can all be found, yet a coating of fine-grained tannins builds toward the close and then clenches down hard through the finale. Salted licorice and inner violet tones linger on. It will be many years before 2016 reveals the full depths of its potential. EG
Mocha notes on the nose, coffee, cola, vanilla, cinnamon and pink flowers. Fresh with a tannic hold, ample, massy and fleshy but with such clear definition - tannins are mouthfilling but detailed and nuanced so you feel the precision going on as well as the flavours themselves. Feels extremely well worked, all in its place. I love the chewiness, the concentrated ripeness and overall 'in your face' expression because you feel the detail behind it as well as the nuance ranging from primary blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant fruit to more tertiary elements of tobacco, coffee beans, leather, sweet exotic spices and peppery tones. It's lifted and sophisticated, powerful but poised. What a wine! Amazing potential here. It gives you the chills tasting a wine like this. From vines at 450m on schist-based Galestro soils. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2046
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 24 Aug 2022)
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