Brunello di Montalcino, Valdicava 2017

Intense aromas of flowers and dark cherries. Perfumed and bright for the vintage. Full-bodied and firm with chewy yet polished tannins and a succulent and fruity finish that is in line and framed. Give it two or three years to soften. Try after 2023.

The Valdicava 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows a soft level of vintage ripeness that translates into dried strawberry or cooked cherry. These nuances are delicate and fine, however, and they are mitigated by the wine's acidity and the general clarity of the bouquet. Compared to past vintages, this 2017 is more accessible, but Valdicava has never been short on elegance or pedigree. Even that accessibility I mention is relative, because these wines have an excellent track record for longevity despite vintage variation. 2024-2040