It’s time to focus on the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino: a celebrated region which has enjoyed fascinating progress and success during the vicissitudes of global warming over the last two decades. Brunello di Montalcino in 2018 – like many of the most fascinating vintages of Burgundy – has been characterised as a producer’s vintage but it is more accurate to look at it as a gentler vintage than the ‘hot’ vintages presently afflicting Europe. There was a welcome respite from the intense heat and drought of 2017. But as Walter Speller writes, ‘Brunello 2018 – enjoy this style while you can.’ It was notable for only moderate summer heat with some awkwardly placed – yet, in the end, welcome – rainfall to alleviate possible water stress. More significantly, notable diurnal temperature shifts in late summer promoted optimum aromatic concentration in a slow, controlled ripening. Unlike the really hot years – a few years ago they would be highly touted – the cooler conditions of 2018 allowed sugar levels in the grapes to remain moderate. However, the slower ripening allowed full phenolic ripening without the dangers of highly-alcoholic wines. Just how the winemakers, ourselves and our customers like it!

As Vinous’ Eric Guido noted ‘the 2018 Brunellos come across as quite Burgundian in nature, where a combination of vividly dark, ripe fruit, balanced acidity and refined tannins add a brilliant dimension that shines already today…’. Such a style has been celebrated by superstar estates like Salvioni and Canalicchio di Sopra  – the former describing the wines as ‘slender and elegant’, the latter so confident of the wines that they are releasing for the first time a highly-anticipated single Montesoli ‘Cru’ wine. As is often the case, the greatest producers seem to have produced wines that work in harmony with the vintage. The growers we’ve spoken to in the last few weeks seemed to think that they share certain similarities with the celebrated 2013 vintage and that of the fine, more classical 2008.

There will be some very fine wines to look forward to and Brunswick will be offering a series of top growers, as and when we receive allocations, on release.  Please see below for the wines we have available for sale and click here to register your interest for the individual offers as they go live.