Italy makes a wide range of unique wines, but Brunellos from Tuscany's Montalcino continue to shine as one of the world's greats. Well-structured, and deftly combining richness with vibrancy, they are quintessential wines for hearty meals and good company. One of the important estates behind Brunello's modern-day popularity continues to fly under the radar despite making outstanding wines for the money: Talenti. Italian wine critic and author, Kerin O'Keefe, gave glowing reviews to the 2019 releases, and we couldn't agree more!
Pierluigi Talenti founded his own estate near the town of Sant'Angelo in Colle in the 1950s, but he quickly became an influential leader in the modernization of Brunello while also leading the winemaking at the famous Il Poggione winery down the hill. Today his grandson continues the tradition at the family estate, making wines that are clean, expressive and delicious at an early stage.
The hills of Sant'Angelo in Colle make for Brunellos that are known for their powerful, rich style, but the wonderful 2019 growing season allowed Talenti make wines with a deliciously mouthwatering freshness at their core: juicy blue fruits and entrancing floral notes join classic Brunello notes of fragrant balsam and earthy licorice. Their savory, tangy accents and "chewy" coating of fine-grained tannins make these Brunellos perfect for roasts, braises and tomato-rich ragús. As is typical for big Italian reds, you'll get more by letting them open up in a decanter for an hour or two. Salute!
KERIN O'KEEFE 95 POINTS - "Pine forest, new leather, violet and underbrush form the enticing nose on the intriguing 2019 Brunello from Talenti. Smooth and full-bodied, the palate is already delicious but will be even better in a few years, featuring ripe plum, spiced blueberry, licorice and crushed mint accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Give it a few more years to fully develop. Drink 2027–2037. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe November 2023 ©kerinokeefe.com"
WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "In the bottle with the black label, the Talenti 2019 Brunello di Montalcino (with 35,000 bottles produced) is a wine of above average intensity, and it shows a steady delivery of dark aromas with blackcurrant, pitted plum, potting soil and a pungent fragrance that recalls black baccara rose. This is a rich and open-knit Brunello with velvety tannins and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This is your proverbial meat-and-potatoes Brunello to serve on a winter evening (a few years from now)." - Monica Larner
VINOUS 94 POINTS - "The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly with a blend of savory herbs, worn leather, dried roses and cinnamon-dusted currants. This flows across the palate with textures of pure silk, racy yet refined, with a seamless wave of ripe red fruits that slowly saturate toward the close. It finishes long and staining yet harmonious. Crunchy tannins frame the experience without slowing its momentum as licorice and orange notes gradually fade. This fantastic, high-energy rendition of Talenti’s Brunello will thrive over ten to fifteen years of cellaring." - Eric Guido
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "Displaying a youthful red/magenta color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is sunny and inviting with aromas of sweet berries and some blue fruit coming through on the nose, along with violets, cola, and pine. Approachable and open, it has a medium to full-bodied frame, plush tannins, and a rounded mid-palate. It displays good length and is a great offering that can be enjoyed now or over the next 10-15 years. This is a super solid value, and I would gladly enjoy it on my table."
Pierluigi Talenti founded his own estate near the town of Sant'Angelo in Colle in the 1950s, but he quickly became an influential leader in the modernization of Brunello while also leading the winemaking at the famous Il Poggione winery down the hill. Today his grandson continues the tradition at the family estate, making wines that are clean, expressive and delicious at an early stage.
The hills of Sant'Angelo in Colle make for Brunellos that are known for their powerful, rich style, but the wonderful 2019 growing season allowed Talenti make wines with a deliciously mouthwatering freshness at their core: juicy blue fruits and entrancing floral notes join classic Brunello notes of fragrant balsam and earthy licorice. Their savory, tangy accents and "chewy" coating of fine-grained tannins make these Brunellos perfect for roasts, braises and tomato-rich ragús. As is typical for big Italian reds, you'll get more by letting them open up in a decanter for an hour or two. Salute!
KERIN O'KEEFE 95 POINTS - "Pine forest, new leather, violet and underbrush form the enticing nose on the intriguing 2019 Brunello from Talenti. Smooth and full-bodied, the palate is already delicious but will be even better in a few years, featuring ripe plum, spiced blueberry, licorice and crushed mint accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Give it a few more years to fully develop. Drink 2027–2037. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe November 2023 ©kerinokeefe.com"
WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "In the bottle with the black label, the Talenti 2019 Brunello di Montalcino (with 35,000 bottles produced) is a wine of above average intensity, and it shows a steady delivery of dark aromas with blackcurrant, pitted plum, potting soil and a pungent fragrance that recalls black baccara rose. This is a rich and open-knit Brunello with velvety tannins and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This is your proverbial meat-and-potatoes Brunello to serve on a winter evening (a few years from now)." - Monica Larner
VINOUS 94 POINTS - "The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly with a blend of savory herbs, worn leather, dried roses and cinnamon-dusted currants. This flows across the palate with textures of pure silk, racy yet refined, with a seamless wave of ripe red fruits that slowly saturate toward the close. It finishes long and staining yet harmonious. Crunchy tannins frame the experience without slowing its momentum as licorice and orange notes gradually fade. This fantastic, high-energy rendition of Talenti’s Brunello will thrive over ten to fifteen years of cellaring." - Eric Guido
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "Displaying a youthful red/magenta color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is sunny and inviting with aromas of sweet berries and some blue fruit coming through on the nose, along with violets, cola, and pine. Approachable and open, it has a medium to full-bodied frame, plush tannins, and a rounded mid-palate. It displays good length and is a great offering that can be enjoyed now or over the next 10-15 years. This is a super solid value, and I would gladly enjoy it on my table."
