Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2015
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James
Suckling -
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Robert
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Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Brunello CastelGiocondo 2015 first appeals to the eye with its bright, rich ruby-red hue. On the nose, fruity notes dominate, ranging from raspberry to blackcurrant, with vague hints of blueberry. Elegant floral notes emerge, offering striking and surprising scents of violet. Spicy tertiary notes are then released, due to the lengthy ageing process. Cinnamon, pepper and leather combine in an experience of extreme elegance, finishing on a balsamic note. The wine envelops the mouth completely and impresses with its balance, its dense tannic texture and its minerality, as well as its long, persistent finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a pure and beautiful Brunello with super fine and abundant tannins that are comprehensive and expansive. Builds on the palate. Full body. Round and firm with beautiful fruit and length. Lively and vivid. From organically grown grapes. Needs a year or two to soften, but already gorgeous.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of ripe dark-skinned berry, violet, underbrush and warm spice emerge in the glass, along with a whiff of camphor. Full bodied and enveloping, the structured palate delivers raspberry jam, dried black cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside firm fine-grained tannins. It closes on an espresso note.
Editor's Choice
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Decanter
Current winemaker, Filippo Manni arrived at CastelGiocondo at the beginning of 2015. He brings precision to the winemaking, vinifying each of the estate's plots separately then making a selection of these to determine the final blend. Out of 90-120 lots, only about half make the cut for the Brunello. The 2015 displays all of the richness and generosity of the vintage without veering into over-ripeness. Instead, freshness is preserved. Backing luscious cherries and plums, plenty of grainy tannins give well-defined shape. Fragrant mint and pepper impart lovely length to the finish. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030
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Wine Spectator
Bright, with cherry and berry fruit, shaded by almond, leather, tobacco and wild herb notes. Firm, dusty tannins gird the long finish. Combines power and grace. Best from 2023 through 2040.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I tasted this wine next to Frescobaldi's Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from their Tenuta Perano, and the differences between that wine and this are enormous. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino CastelGiocondo takes us to the southern side of Tuscany, and despite the fact the grape used in both wines is the same (Sangiovese), these two wine are as different as day and night. This Brunello gives you more saturated color intensity, more substantial weight and density that you feel on all the senses. Its extraction is much thicker, and the bouquet opens to aromas of plummy dark fruit, black currant, tobacco and spice. That ample width and power make this a good choice next to a grilled T-bone steak.
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Frescobaldi’s story is strictly connected with the history of Tuscany. At the high point of medieval Florence, the Frescobaldis spread their influence as bankers, becoming patrons of major works in Florence, such as Santa Trinita bridge and the Basilica of Santo Spirito.
Frescobaldi embodies the essence of Tuscany, its extraordinary vocation for viticulture and the diversity of its territories.
Frescobaldi’s uniqueness stems precisely from the representation of Toscana diversity, from its estates and from wines which express a kaleidoscope of aromas and sensations, springing from the characteristics of each individual terroir. The Estates are positioned in prime areas of Tuscany and each tells its own story, made up of nature, terroir and people.
From Tenuta Castiglioni, where the family’s 700 years of wine-growing history began, to CastelGiocondo on the Montalcino hills, to the timeless Castello Nipozzano. From the hidden gem of Castello Pomino, up to Tenuta Ammiraglia’s new horizons overlooking the sea, to Tenuta Perano a natural amphitheater in the heart of Chianti Classico, ending with Remole, that expresses all the character of Tuscany.
Behind every Frescobaldi wine lies the passion of agronomists and oenologists, who know their vineyards and terroirs down to the finest detail. Their art, creating quality wines, requires the iron rule of respect. Respect for tradition, which guide them, even in the midst of innovation or avant-garde solutions. Respect fort Tuscany, the living land, to be cultivated in harmony and serenity. Respect for each individual terroir, borne of a unique combination of soil, altitude and microclimate, each giving us a wine with its own matchless personality.
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.