2016 Brunello di Montalcino Sorgente

Having retasted the 2016s from Salicutti while in Montalcino at the estate, I have to wonder if the first submission in 2020 may have suffered during transit to New York City. It’s either that, or more time maturing in bottle has done them well. In the end, the growing pains at this estate have been evident, yet they are clearly back on the upswing. A perfect example of this are the 2017s, which are two incredibly successful wines from a very difficult vintage. All of that said, I will sorely miss the Rosso di Montalcino of this estate, as the Sorgente vineyard is now bottled only as a Brunello.

After a formidable performance in 2015 from Felix and Sabine Eichbauer at Salicutti, I must admit that I expected a lot more from their 2016 vintage releases. Granted, that’s not to say that there is anything technically wrong with the wines. Many producers in the region would be ecstatic to have the Sorgente, Piaggione, and Teatro as their current releases. The issue is more about expectations. This house had been on a roll for many years under the guidance of Francesco Leanza, even after its sale to the current owners. The Eichbauers brought biodynamic practices to the picture, as well as splitting the vineyards up to create three separate cru Brunellos; but in the case of the 2016, maybe blending for balance would have been a better idea.