The Jancis Robinson Story | Mission Blind Tasting | Wine writing competition

Brunello 2017 – M to Z

Twilight at La Gerla

The second half of Walter's tasting notes on a vintage that belies its reputation. See Brunello 2017 – A to L and his overview in Brunello 2017 – a hot vintage that tastes cool. Above, twilight at La Gerla.

Tasting notes on 88 Brunello 2017s are followed by those on a few late-release 2016s. They are ordered alphabetically by producer (sur)name but you can change this.

2017 Brunello di Montalcino

Just mid ruby. Balsamic nose that holds back on the fruit...

Lustrous ruby. Savoury and balsamic and still a little subdued...

Lustrous mid ruby. Brisk, almost piercing cherry nose with the...

Mid ruby. At first a tiny bit chalky and with a hint of...

Youthful mid ruby. Cherry fruit nose with a hint of exotic spice...

Developed-looking ruby. Balsamic cherry fruit on the nose and...

Mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. At first a bit grubby and...

Just mid ruby. Closed and savoury and perhaps a little reductive...

Just mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. A lifted balsamic nose...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. A tad herbal and reductive on the...

Just mid ruby. A little numb on the nose with only some sweet...

Just mid ruby with bricky rim. Firm but progressed fruit nose...

Just mid ruby. Pronounced, sweet-spice nose. Brooding fruit...

Lustrous mid ruby. A deep nose that is still a little closed and...

Mid ruby. A little closed and brooding on the nose and...

Mid ruby. Focused, pure cherry nose with a peppery tingle and...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. A tad oxidised on the nose with...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow orange rim. A tad closed on the...

Just mid ruby. Balsamic nose with a suggestion of minerals and...

Just mid ruby with narrow, bricky rim. Ripe cherry nose with a...

Lustrous and just mid ruby. Lifted balsamic nose and soft...

Just mid ruby. Interesting, sweetly perfumed cherry and rhubarb...

Deep rich nose that is still a little brooding and with a...

Brooding nose with a clear, minerally edge. Very embryonic right...

Just mid ruby. Gentle, deep cherry fruit nose with hints of...

Mid to deep ruby with bricky rim. Savoury-sweet, developed fruit...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Balsamic, lifted nose that is still...

Maturing mid ruby. A spice-laden nose with cherry-liqueur notes...

Just mid ruby with broad bricky rim. Sweet nose with hints of...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Firm cherry fruit that is a little...

Youthful mid ruby. At first a little reductive/grubby on the...

Mid to deep ruby with bright orange tinges. Camphor, cigar box...

Mid ruby. Cherry fruit nose with top notes of spice. Fragrant...

Just mid ruby that is already looking a little developed...

Just mid ruby. Signs of ripe fruit with notes of gingerbread on...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. A concentrated but reserved nose...

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. A tiny bit grubby and...

Just mid ruby with orange tinges. A little herbal and chalky at...

Mid ruby with narrow orange rim. A little closed with only the...

Juts mid ruby with bricky rim. Cigar box, tobacco leaf and notes...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, pure on the nose and with...

Lustrous deep ruby. Firm, deep cherry fruit on the nose and with...

Lustrous mid ruby. Lifted, concentrated and balsamic sour-cherry...

Just mid ruby. Lifted sour-cherry nose with hints of spice. Easy...

Just mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Soft, ripe...

Lustrous mid ruby. Rich cherry and iron nose. Rich sour cherry...

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Savoury, minerally...

Mid ruby. Iron and stalks on the nose and without a lot of fruit...

Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Rich nose with top notes of...

Just mid ruby. Stalky and savoury rather than fruity on the nose...

Just mid ruby. Balsamic and sweetly perfumed on the nose...

Lustrous mid ruby. Ripe cherry fruit with a tiny hint of vanilla...

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. A concentrated, earthy...

Lustrous mid ruby. Lifted, sweet cassis and cherry nose...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. Dark and spicy rather...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow orange rim. A soft nose that is a...

Just mid ruby with orange tinges. A little vegetal/reductive on...

Mid to deep lustrous ruby. A little brooding on the nose and...

Mid ruby. Dusty and a little chalky on the nose and a tiny bit...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. A cherry nose that is a little...

Just mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Quite vegetal...

Just mid ruby and with the beginning of orange tinges. Savoury...

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Brooding richness...

Palish mid ruby. A backward nose with only hints of minerals and...

Just mid ruby. A little closed but pure on the nose. Elegant...

Lustrous mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. Herbal rather than...

Mid ruby. Generous nose with hints of oak, malt and cherry. Deep...

Healthy-looking mid ruby. A little brooding on the nose with a...

Lustrous and just mid ruby. A little closed on the nose and a...

Mid ruby. A tiny bit grubby/reductive on the nose and with hints...

Just mid ruby. Subdued but brooding nose with hints of cherry...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. Sweet and a little...

Deep maturing ruby with bright bricky rim. Alluring deep and...

Maturing ruby with orange tinges. Concentrated cherry fruit on...

Maturing and just mid ruby. Brooding concentration on the nose...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. Mature on the nose if...

Grapes apparently come from the Montosoli cru, so I don't...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow bricky rim. A nose that is a...

Just mid ruby and already looking a little developed. Savoury...

Maturing mid ruby. A tiny bit vegetal on the nose first, then...

Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. A cherry and spice nose...

Lustrous mid ruby. Big nose of rich fruit and with notes of...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow orange rim. A little austere on...

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Lifted cherry nose with a hint of...

Lustrous mid ruby. Firm cherry nose with notes reminiscent of...

Lustrous mid to deep ruby. Lifted, concentrated cherry nose...

Healthy and just mid ruby. Attractive cherry and pine nose...

Just mid ruby with bricky tinges. Balsamic, ripe cherry fruit...

Late-release 2016 Brunello di Montalcino

Developing mid ruby. Brooding and intense on the nose with hints...

Maturing mid ruby with narrow orange rim. Ripe cherry nose with...

Balsamic, subtly perfumed nose with a hint of eucalyptus...

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