‘Brunello 2018 – enjoy this style while you can…’ – Walter Speller, Jancis Robinson.com
‘At the top level, many of 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 yet promises a steady and prosperous evolution over time…’ – Eric Guido on 2018 Brunello di Montalcino
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.
Image | Region | Vintage | Wine | Pack Size | Status In Bond (IB) wines have had no UK Duty or VAT paid on them. If In Bond wines are purchased for storage in a bonded warehouses or for export - no UK Duty or VAT will be payable. If In Bond wines are purchased for delivery to a UK address - UK Duty and VAT is required to be paid before any the delivery can take place. Duty Paid (DP) wines have been removed from the Bond and cannot subsequently be returned to the Bond. Meaning that if you purchase a Duty Paid wine, VAT will be payable. However, the UK Duty has already been paid on the stock so there will be no additional duty charged. En Primeur (EP) wines can only be offered and purchased In Bond whilst the wines are still in barrel. En Primeur wines will be shipped and imported in due course and upon arrival in the UK can either be stored in your Brunswick reserves, delivered to the bonded warehouse of your choosing or delivered directly to you. Should you decide to take delivery of En Primeur wines to a UK address, UK Duty and VAT at the current rates will become payable. | Price The IN BOND pricing view will show prices excluding UK Duty and VAT. Please select the IN BOND view if your purchase is for storage in a bonded warehouse or for export (where no UK Duty or VAT will be payable). Please select the RETAIL pricing view if you would like to purchase wines for UK delivery, so the prices will include UK Duty and VAT. Please note that wines that have the Duty Paid (DP) status have been removed from the Bond and cannot subsequently be returned to the Bond. These wines must remain Duty Paid, they can be purchased for storage or delivery to the UK but the VAT will be payable. The UK Duty has already been paid on the stock so there will be no additional duty charged. Please note that wines that have the En Primeur (EP) status can only be offered and purchased In Bond whilst the wines are still in barrel. So the RETAIL pricing view is not applicable to EP wines. | Availability The wines showing availability Immediate are available for immediate delivery, transfer or collection. The wines showing availability Future Arrival are not yet available for delivery. Please refer to the indicated ETA shown on the wine page. Our Logistics team will get in touch as soon as the wines become physical with us and will arrange to deliver, store or transfer the wines as per your instructions. The wines showing availability En Primeur are still maturing in barrel at the producer, and will be available in due course. Our Logistics team will get in touch as soon as the wines become physical with us and will arrange to deliver, store or transfer the wines as per your instructions. | Score | Qty | Buy |
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2018 | 6x75cl | IB | £350.00Ex. UK Duty & VAT£436.07Inc. UK Duty & VAT | Future Arrival | 94 VM | 25 | ||||
2018 | 6x150cl | IB | £860.00Ex. UK Duty & VAT£1,064.14Inc. UK Duty & VAT | Future Arrival | 94 VM | 5 | ||||
2018 | 6x75cl | IB | £185.00Ex. UK Duty & VAT£238.07Inc. UK Duty & VAT | Future Arrival | - | 28 | ||||
2018 | 6x75cl | IB | £265.00Ex. UK Duty & VAT£334.07Inc. UK Duty & VAT | Future Arrival | 94 VM | 22 |