The Power of Three: New Vintage Rosso di Montalcino

BY ERIC GUIDO | JANUARY 12, 2021

The Plot 

Wouldn’t you know it, like most things in Italy where nothing is really ever cut and dry, a request to sample Rosso di Montalcino flooded my house with wines from three very different vintages. At first, I found this challenging, because my initial intention was to do a report with all 2019s. However, I then realized that this instead provided an opportunity to taste a broad range of new wines, all currently in the market or just entering it, and to gain a better understanding of the next three vintages of Brunello. 

The Protagonists

Three vintages – 2017, 2018 and 2019 – are all very different in climate, conditions and outcomes. Each one with its highs, its lows and those that fall in between. All three provide a unique experience, whether they are best enjoyed for their primary pleasure, their reserve and immaculate beauty, or for the potential that they hold within. And with all of that said, let’s not forget everyone's second-favorite part about Rosso di Montalcino (the first being to drink them), and that’s to think about what we can expect from the forthcoming Brunellos of these vintages - which I have done my best to outline later in this article. 

What Is Rosso di Montalcino?