Talenti Brunello di Montalcino 2021

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

A selection of 100% Sangiovese grapes grown in estate-owned vineyards located on the south-easterly and south-westerly slopes of Montalcino, at an altitude from 250 to 400 m (asl).

About Talenti

In the 1950s Pierluigi Talenti moved from Romagna to the gently rolling and sunny hills of Montalcino. After a few years, he decided to acquire the estate and all its lands he had fallen in love with.

Through the years, he devoted his time to the clonal research of Sangiovese all over Montalcino, taking his wines to the highest levels of quality.

Today, his grandson Riccardo Talenti runs the winery and continues that research with the utmost respect for tradition, working with the very same passion and determination.

In the Vineyard

The estate has been developed around an old farm called “Pian di Conte”, not far from Sant’Angelo in Colle, on the southern slope of the municipality of Montalcino, which has been restructured and expanded over the years. The property occupies an area of 40 hectares, among vineyards, olive groves, orchards and seed crops, surrounded by age-old holm-oak woods, characteristic of the Montalcino area.

We cultivate and tend our land with respect for tradition, harvesting the grapes and olives by hand. The vineyards are divided into eleven different plots, each with different altitude, exposure and soil composition, creating red wines that are incredibly complex and profound. We have always had a passion for the cultivation of olives which are a very traditional element within the Tuscan landscape. We grow the Correggiolo and Moraiolo varieties, from which a bright green and intensely scented oil is extracted

In the Winery

We hand pick the best grapes and place them in small containers to preserve their integrity. Later, the bunches and individual berries undergo further selection to obtain the best of every harvest. We think that the birth of a fine wine also depends on constant research into new technologies. During fermentation in steel tanks we personally check every process, from pumping over to punching, every phase being temperature-controlled. In the barrel cellar there is a strong link between tradition and a continuing effort to improve.

The wine ages in 500-litre French oak tonneaux and 15 to 25-Hl Slavonian oak barrels for at least 24 months, followed by a period of ageing in bottle for the time required to enhance the aromas and the character that make our wines unique and inimitable.. The wine has a deep ruby red colour with garnet highlights, and an ample, slightly spicy bouquet. It is full, intense, smooth and velvety on the palate, with sweet, elegant tannins.

Vintage 2021 in Montalcino

There is something magical about the 2021 Brunellos. The wines offer both near-term appeal and the balance to mature over the next 15 to 20 years. These are structured, youthfully tense wines, but it’s not difficult to find pleasure in them today.

Many winemakers compare the 2021s to the 2015s, but I find the 2021s to be more balanced than the 2015s were upon release. The young 2015s seemed to be all about intensity, boasting a core of opulent fruit that made them attractive in their youth, yet lacking finesse.

The 2021s are all about grace, vibrancy and purity. They also exhibit a beautiful sense of place, something that the wines from other warm vintages like 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2020 struggled to achieve. The 2021 vintage was not without its hiccups, but overall, it is remarkably successful. 

Stated simply, 2021 is a triumph for Montalcino. 

The 2021 Brunellos, on the other hand, are vibrantly fruit-forward, with highly expressive bouquets and crisp, crunchy textures. Their concentration and depth create a saturating tension that’s beautifully balanced by lively acidity, the saving grace for this warm vintage. The 2021s excel across the entirety of Montalcino…

Eric Guido, Vinous

Where in the World is Talenti?

Riccardo Talenti sources fruit from five vineyards spread out between higher elevations of Sant’Angelo in Colle and lower elevations of Castelnuovo dell’Abate.

1. Vigna Colombaio
2. Vigne delle Torre
3. Vigna Quercione
4. Vigna del Capanno
5. Vigna del Campone
6. Vigna di Piero
7. Bianchella
8. Fonte Lattaia Vecchia
9. Fonte Lattaia Nuova
10. Poggio Farnese Vecchia
11. Poggio Fernese Nuova