Monday Newsletter 8-24-20

“Giancarlo Pacenti is by far the leading exponent of the modern school of Brunello di Montalcino. No other producer has succeeded in crafting wines of this much textural beauty and refinement. Over the years, Pacenti, along with the help of Bordeaux consultant Eric Boissenot has moved towards earlier blending of his wines with the goal of aging a complete blend rather than components. There is little question, the young wines here have never been better balanced and harmonious from the outset.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Arriving in September from Siro Pacenti:

Only 24 bottles available!
Siro Pacenti Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 92 points “Pale red; this wine’s very pretty color strikes me as being one of the less dark Rossos made by Pacenti in years. Inviting floral notes (rose, violet) complement strawberry, red cherry and delicate flint and herb aromas. Then very fresh and juicy, with a steely quality to the red fruit and herb flavors that are really perked up by a strong peppery component on the long, lively youthfully chewy finish. Made from 15 years old Sangiovese vines, this is a really lovely fruit-forward and also surprisingly spicy Rosso di Montalcino. 25% new oak for 12 -3 months.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $37

Only 48 bottles available!
Siro Pacenti Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Such lovely aromas of flowers and red fruit with some cedar and spice. Hot terra cotta. Full-bodied, very round and soft textured with beautiful fruit and balance. Fresh and vivid. Such balance and beauty. Drink or hold.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Siro Pacenti 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is a rich and pleasing wine with very nice aromatics. Of these two new releases, the Pelagrilli is more characteristic of Tuscany and Sangiovese. The Vecchie Vigne expression tastes far more international or contemporary (read: it has more oak flavors) in comparison. I tend to prefer this wine especially in a vintage like 2015 that is so naturally expressive and powerful to begin with. The bouquet opens to dried cherry with dusty mineral notes and dried Mediterranean herb. On the the finish, you taste some of that sweetness that comes with aging in French barrique. Some 23,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Effusive aromas and flavors of black currant, black cherry, plum and spice mark this generous, polished red. Well-structured, picking up earth and iron accents for good measure. Shows terrific balance and a long finish. Best from 2022 through 2042. 1,900 cases made, 680 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55

Only 12 bottles available!
Siro Pacenti Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($129.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “This is very intense on the nose with blue fruit, cool stones, brambleberries and blackberries. Wet earth, too. Full-bodied and extremely dense and powerful with a super center palate of fruit and ripe yet compact tannins. Lightly chewy and expressive. Superb transparency and integration. Goes on for minutes. One of the best Brunellos I have tasted in my career. Try after 2021, but already amazing.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A light touch of oak is well-integrated with the cherry, plum and wild herb flavors in this powerful yet balanced red. A distinctive saline quality plays out on the long finish. A little less fruity than many of its peers, but no less complex. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,300 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne presents an extroverted mix of both red and blue berry fruits, complemented by notes of sweet spice, milk chocolate and plum. On the palate, silky textures play host to ripe red and black fruits, laced with savory herbs, hints of olive, and saline-minerals. The finish is long and structured, resonating on zesty acids and spice, as notes of dried cherry and dark inner florals slowly fade. To be honest, I didn’t expect such a brilliant and balanced showing on the palate, and I believe that once the Vecchie Vigne sheds some of its sweet fruit on the nose, it will show beautifully from start to finish.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Siro Pacenti 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne remains one of the most contemporary wines to emerge from this sun-kissed appellation in southern Tuscany. You taste the richness and suppleness of its dark fruit and abundant blackberry. However, the wine also offers hints of exotic spice, savory tobacco and even a touch of talc powder or buttered popcorn that comes from the oak (it sees 24 months in French barrique). Indeed, this wine’s lactic signature remains strong. This adds to the distinctively creamy, viscous and rich nature of the full-bodied mouthfeel. Fruit comes from old vines ranging from 35 to 50 years old. Stylistically, some of the intricacies of Sangiovese are sacrificed in the name of texture and density. Some 25,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Menthol, pine resin and forest-floor aromas mix with whiff of iris. Firmly structured and youthfully austere, the palate offers dried black cherry, licorice and black tea alongside assertive, fine-grained tannins. It closes on a coffee-bean note. Drink 2023–2030.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $122

Bonus Tuscan Offer!

Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “With vineyards between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the inner edge of the Sesta district, Lisini’s vineyards are cleansed by constant breezes from the Tuscan Coast. Stony soils with an important underpinning of limestone as well as elevations over 300 metres help preserve freshness in their wines. The 2015 is beautifully fragrant, almost exotic in character. Plump red fruit and sweet summer herbs fill the mouth but rather than being heavy, this is poised and transparent. Ample powdery tannins are fine and lead to a tangy marine finish.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A serious, brooding red, with ripe cherry and strawberry flavors offsetting the beefy tannins. Loam, iron and almond notes chime in. Balanced and long overall. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,500 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino dark and rich, showing ripe black cherries and plum, with layers of haunting florals, exotic brown spice and smoky mineral tones. On the palate, a wave of polished textures wash across the senses, ushering in juicy black cherry with sweet herbal and floral undertones, with zesty spices and vibrant acidity adding a refreshing quality. The finish is long and remarkably fresh, an example of how the warmth of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be tempered by a deft hand, as fine tannins come forward, balanced by mouthwatering acidity and punctuated by residual pure red berry fruit. It’s a wine that’s very easy to love, with near term appeal and potential for the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59