Following on from a critically acclaimed vintage such as 2019, is no mean feat, especially when the 2020 vintage unravelled amongst the unprecedented challanges of Covid-19 and various lockdowns. So, what are the leading critics thoughts on the latest vintage and its wines?
The Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner proclaimed in her article Tuscany: 2020 Brunello di Montalcino & More “I could not be more pleased with 2020 Brunello di Montalcino. I came away from the tasting - split between samples tasted in my Rome office and a week visiting wineries at the end of October - with two main thoughts: 1. These are the wines I want to drink. 2. This is the vintage Montalcino needed…”
Larner further stated “thanks to a combination of elevated heat and well-timed rain, the 2020 vintage turned out what is best described as ‘charming’ or fundamentally ‘pretty’ wines. This vintage does not have the stacked concentration of 2019 or the focused power of 2016; however, the wines are silky, fresh, immediate and fruit-forward.”
She concluded that the “wines are surely more immediate and accessible thanks to the polished nature of the tannins and the appetite-provoking acidity. These 2020 Brunello di Montalcino releases will make an epic companion to your favorite meals, and many bottles are nearly ready to drink straight out of the gate.”
James Suckling admitted in his Brunello di Montalcino 2020 Report: Freshness comes to the Fore "if you remember the dry and scorching summer of 2020 in Europe, you might be surprised by the quality of the Brunello di Montalcino from that vintage... The wines are not jammy or overly alcoholic, and most show a freshness and brightness of fruit, making them extremely attractive to drink now while also having enough structure to improve over the next 10 to 12 years – and beyond in some cases." He went on to comment "after tasting almost 230 Brunellos from the 2020 vintage in our office in Tuscany with Senior Editor Aldo Fiordelli, I can safely say that 2020 is an excellent year, though not at the same quality level as 2015, 2016 or 2019... What impressed me, however, was the freshness of the 2020 Brunellos."
Having tasted over 150 samples, Decanters’ Michael Morris also declared in her Brunello di Montalcino 2020: Vintage report and 20 top picks that “freshness is one of the over-arching characteristics of 2020 and a strength of the vintage. It has been admirably preserved despite the substantial heat accumulation of the growing season.” She added she was “also charmed by the generous aromas, seductiveness and immediate accessibility of the wines.”
Surmising the vintage however, she did note that “2020 is not comparable to vintages of the last century. Instead, it is a curious combination of 2015 and 2018. Some examples are more reminiscent of 2015, a luminous year yielding a voluptuous fruit character. However, 2020 is slightly dialled back, and more radiant in acidity... I encourage buying selectively and above all, by producer.”
Kerin O’Keefe agreed with Morris’ views on the vintage, affirming in her Brunello di Montalcino 2020 Report that “a number of wines are of excellent quality, boasting wonderful aromatics, great fruit and fresh – some even bright – acidity. The best are also elegant and well balanced, with alcohol levels between 14 -14.5%.” She further stated “Thanks to their softer tannins, succulent fruit and less racy tension, the 2020s will be ready sooner than the classic 2019s. While they are already almost approachable, the best 2020s will also age well up until the 12-15 mark after the vintage.”
O’Keefe asserted that “2020 was definitely a winemaker’s vintage… While it was relatively easy across the board to make great Brunello in 2019, 2020 is a different beast. While the name of the producer is always the main guarantee to finding the finest Brunellos, for the 2020s, the name and reputation of the producer is absolutely the most important factor to finding the best wines.”
Last but by no means least, Vinous’ Eric Guido states in his article A Tale of Two Extremes: The 2020 Brunellos and 2019 Riservas “… the 2020 vintage throws the taster for a loop. Amidst all of the high-octane wines that sometimes sear the senses and are best consumed in the near term, there is another level of undeniably elegant and harmonious wines that soothe the palate and the soul. These wines offer sweet, ripe tannins and cooling acidity with a core of balanced fruit. They are graceful yet complex and impactful.”
He finished by proclaiming “this is not a vintage to skip, nor is it just a “restaurant vintage.” The successful wines of 2020 are absolutely gorgeous. Readers just need to be selective.”
Do read the Brunello di Montalcino 2020 vintage review to learn about the growing season and build up to harvest as well as our guide to Brunello di Montalcino for an overview of this famous appellation. Browse all wines available for purchase in this campaign, or if you wish to discuss options further please call me in the office on 01325 776446, where I will be happy to guide you through the vintage.
