Rosso di Montalcino is Brunello's younger cousin, and though I dedicated most of my attention to the 2003 Brunello, I did taste some 2006 Rosso at this year's Benvenuto Brunello, the annual vintage presentation. It's a good vintage, and these wines especially impressed me.
Lisini Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep black almandine with black reflections and almandine rim. The bouquet is moderately intense, with red berry fruit supported by clean greenish accents and some citric spice; the overall impression is quite graceful. On the palate it's medium bodied, with rich ripe cherry fruit supported by clean berry fruit acidity and smooth slightly dusky tannins that flow into a clean soft berry fruit finish. Graceful, in a clean serious (for want of a better term) key, and it will drink very well with simple grilled meats or light stews. Quite approachable, and will go quickly; you may want a second bottle.Score: 87
Siro Pacenti Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. The bouquet is fairly intense, with greenish sour cherry fruit supported by clean brambly acidity and some polished leather. Pleasant, and rather inviting in a fresh, bracing way. On the palate it's medium bodied and graceful, with rich cherry fruit supported by clean slightly sour berry fruit acidity, and by smooth sweet tannins that lay a warm burr over the tongue, and flow into a clean sour berry fruit finish that gains depth from greenish accents. Graceful, and will drink nicely with hearty pasta dishes, up through lasagna, and will also be quite nice with grilled meats, including poultry with its skin. Worth seeking out, and you may want a second bottle.Score: 86-8
La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep almandine with black reflections and almandine rim. The bouquet is delicate, with graceful floral accents mingled with red berry fruit and some underlying berry fruit acidity. Harmonious, and quite pleasant to sniff. On the palate it's rich, with powerful cherry fruit supported by deft brambly sour berry fruit acidity, and by smooth sweet tannins that flow into a long clean berry fruit finish. Pleasant, in a zesty youthful key, and will drink quite well with foods, ranging from succulent grilled meats -- a platter of mixed meats would be nice -- through light stews and on to fried meats and vegetables. Quite nice, a lark of a wine, and if you like this bright zesty style you will like it very much.Score: 86-7
Poggio dell'Aquila Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. The bouquet is elegant, with delicate floral accents mingled with ripe yellow peach, which isn't that common in a red wine but can happen; the effect is pleasing and there are also underlying violets. Quite fresh. On the palate it's full and smooth, with pleasant red berry fruit supported by graceful berry fruit acidity, and by smooth sweet tannins that flow into a clean tart berry fruit finish. Quite pleasant, and will drink well with grilled meats or light stews. If you start talking while you're drinking it, you may suddenly realize the bottle is empty.Score: 86-7
Gianni Brunelli - Le Chiuse di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2005
Deep black almandine with black reflections. The bouquet is fairly rich, with moderately intense berry fruit supported by clean citric acidity and greenish brambly accents that provide richness and depth. On the palate it's bright, with lively cherry fruit that gains direction from lively slightly greenish sour berry fruit acidity, and is supported by smooth deft tannins that have a lively peppery burr that carries through into the finish, which is fairly long and fruit laced. Graceful, in a young zesty key, and will drink well with simple grilled meats or light stews, and also with hearty pasta dishes or flavorful vegetable dishes. Expect the bottle to go quickly, and you may want another.Score: 86
La Mannella Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with cherry rim. Rich, young bouquet with bright cherry fruit supported by some berry fruit jam and slight citric acidity, with underlying orange peel. On the palate it's ample and fairly rich, with bright cherry fruit supported by clean bright berry fruit acidity and by smooth sweet tannins that flow into a clean slightly tannic berry fruit finish. Pleasant, and is one of those wines that's unassuming, but will do a good job of accompanying what it's served with. Versatile too; it will work well with hearty pasta dishes, grilled meats, and light stews, and also has the backbone to stand up to fried meats and vegetables. Expect the bottle to go quickly.Score: 85-7
Vasco Sassetti Rosso Di Montalcino
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections. The bouquet is fairly intense, and frankly herbal, with rich greenish accents supported by some grapefruit acidity and bitter smoky accents and some hazelnut spice, but not much fruit. On the palate it's fairly rich, with moderately intense, generic berry fruit supported by warm slightly bitter tannins that have savory accents and hints of cedar; the initial impression is that it's flatter and more settled than one would expect of a young Rosso, but it gains in depth with subsequent sips, leading me to conclude that it is very young and needs time to come together -- another year. It will drink nicely with grilled meats or light stews, and will age nicely for 3-5 years.Score: 85
Banfi Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and dusky cherry rim. The bouquet is fairly rich, with pleasant berry fruit supported by bright greenish accents and some leather with underlying hints of balsam. On the palate it's ample, with bright berry fruit supported by clean slightly greenish berry fruit acidity, and by smooth tannins that flow into a clean berry fruit finish with deft mineral and tannic underpinning. It's direct, in a pleasant way; it's neither flashy nor demanding, but will accompany foods quite well, things ranging from red sauced pasta dishes through grilled meats and light stews. Expect the bottle to go quickly.Score: 84-6
Lisini Rosso di Montalcino DOCG 2006
Deep black almandine with black reflections and almandine rim. The bouquet is moderately intense, with red berry fruit supported by clean greenish accents and some citric spice; the overall impression is quite graceful. On the palate it's medium bodied, with rich ripe cherry fruit supported by clean berry fruit acidity and smooth slightly dusky tannins that flow into a clean soft berry fruit finish. Graceful, in a clean serious (for want of a better term) key, and it will drink very well with simple grilled meats or light stews. Quite approachable, and will go quickly; you may want a second bottle.Score: 87
