Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2016

Referencing Some of the best scores and notes written on the vintage, the taste profile of this bottle is both traditional and modern. On the conventional side, the 'delicate savoury aromas of rosemary, dried raspberry, floral forest floor(JD, edited)' and 'cherry, blackberry, liquorice, earth and spice flavours from Sangiovese(WS, edited)' echoed the more rustic styles.

On the modern front, the 'floral tones, bright raspberry, toasted almond and a playful touch of medicinal herb that shape a careful and contemplative bouquet' (RP, edited), as well as 'freshness and pure ripe fruit that fills the palate( blood orange, dried and fresh red cherry, and fresh tomato leaf' (WS, edited).

The nose does reflect the palate; the colour is bright and clear(of deep garnet with a tight rim).

Our points for you to consider are:

• ABV at 14.5% may still be too high for some;

• The palate is too linear and boring;

• The fruit may be too bright;

• Oaking ageing is from mixing small, medium and large barrels- an exciting result- a shortage of traditionalism.

The wine is balanced, though. There are 'bright aromatic nuances followed by silky tannins and softly finessed fruit flavours, pure and supple, delivering almost seamless harmony at this early stage, with refined, well-integrated tannins(RP, edited). The structure is always there: classic, angular tannin structure and a pleasant light bitterness(JD, revised). Indeed, On Barrbi soils, gravel and clay contribute to the wine with power, while its sandy soils heighten aromatics. 2016 vintage also contributes to the wine balance.

Barbi's "Blue Label" Brunello is the heart of the estate's production and flagship bottling. Owner Giovanni Cinelli Colombini, who 'founded' the Concorzio in 1958, designed this bold label with bright colours!! The family has been producing Brunello from this vineyard since 1892, sourced from the estate's 41 hectares in the southeast area of Montalcino.

Scores are high- RP94+, Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points, JS95, WS95—another ten years to go.