Wine of the year: Frescobaldi Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2010, 6×75 £165 IB

This week James Suckling released his top 100 wines from 2015, a grand total of 9,000 wines the tasted at james.suckling.com. They have ranked Frescobaldi Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2010 at number one. Suckling alone has had great virility this year, tasting over 7,500 wines. Of all these wines he feels Frescobaldi Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2010 offers the best value for money; all wines taken into consideration are £50 per bottle and scored at least 96 Suckling points. We originally sold out of this release and we have managed to secure another parcel we are delighted to offer today, alongside the exclusive release of their Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. The Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2010 has been awarded 97 points by Suckling therefore giving it a Price over Points Ratio of 19.

The value for money here is startling at £165 per case of six bottles, or £27.50 per bottle in bond, this is a wine to stock up on. We tasted it again a few weeks ago at the eponymously named Frescobaldi restaurant in London, alongside other vintages including, 2004, 2006 and 1988. The older vintages were superb, however, despite the 2004 and 2006 being seminal vintages in Tuscany, the 2010 stole the show, it is easy to see why Suckling considers this not only his Brunello of the year, but his wine of the year. We are delighted to be able to offer the wine at its original release price. At this price it presents a strong investment opportunity; it has an apparent vintage premium that can be seen in the table below:

In addition to today’s parcel of their Brunello di Montalcino, we are delighted to be able to offer their long-awaited Ripe al Convento Castel Giocondo Brunello Riserva 2010. This has also been awarded 97 points from Suckling and is released today at £350 per case of six bottles. Suckling’s comments on this wine are ‘The purity of fruit and tannins is so impressive. Glorious.’ The Ripe al Convento vineyard, lies at 350-450 metres’ elevation, which yields a wine that is the fruit of painstaking quality selection. The Riserva is even more powerful than the Brunello, built to last decades and be the summit of their winemaking prowess. It is a special wine, with one flaw, that the standard Burnello is so darn good that is has been awarded the same score!

Frescobaldi is one of the most important wine estates in Italy. Famed for their imperious Brunello di Montalcino, Castel Giocondo, though they have also expanded into Friuli and the Veneto. In 1995 they entered into a joint venture with Robert Mondavi, producing wines of international notoriety such as Danzante, Luce Della Vite and Ornellaia. In 2004 they acquired Mondavi Constellation Brands and in 2005 they acquired 100% control of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. In 2010 they have used all of their knowledge and savoir faire to produce something remarkable, the 97 point scoring Brunello di Montalcino Castel Giocondo, one of the top wines of the greatest ever Brunello vintage. The 2004 vintage was rated 15th best wine in the world by the Wine Spectator and in 1997 the 8th best.

Castel Giocondo is the perfect expression of Brunello di Montalcino and results from severe selection, the grapes are sourced from the best parcels in the vineyard and is produced from an obdurate selection of 100% Sangiovese. The 2010 is so ripe it can be enjoyed now, yet develop and improve for more than two decades in bottle. One can expect layered aromas of blackberry, sour cherry, sweet violets and sweet spices; black pepper and clove. It already displays tobacco leaf, roasted espresso bean and vanilla. The tannins are super ripe and it has a velvety mouth-feel, the balance is sublime.

Frescobaldi Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2010 97 Pts – James Suckling 6×75 – £165 IB 

New Release: Brunello Riserva Ripe al Convento di Castel Giocondo 2010 97 Pts – James Suckling 6×75 – £360 IB 

Special offer: Buy both for £500 IB

James Suckling, 97 Pts

Aromas of warm stones, dark fruits and walnuts follow to a full body, soft tannins and a savory finish. This shows ripe fruit and salty undertones that give it a wonderful juiciness. It’s dense and tight now but will give so much pleasure in the future. Best ever from here. Drink or hold.

To buy this wine click here.