Tasting Report: 2005 Brunello

The 2005 vintage for Brunello di Montalcino is never going to be considered an outstanding year. The wet weather during the last part of the growing season as well as intermittent rain during the harvest denigrated the quality of the wines. This said, it’s possible to find a number of outstanding Brunelli 2005. Prices are about the same as 2004, a superior vintage.

I blind tasted 116 Brunellos from the vintage in the offices of the grower’s association in Montalcino over two days this autumn, and I was hard pressed to find many truly outstanding wines. In total, I scored just over half of the wines outstanding, or 90 points or more.

I scored all my top wines 93 points. They included Castello Romitorio, Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nova, Fossacolle,  La Rasina, Sesta di Sopra, Valdicava, and Villa I Cipressi. In a top year like 2004 or the 2006, which will be release early next year, I would score numerous Brunellos 95 points or more, and the number of outstanding wines would be double what I scored in 2005.

Don’t be discouraged over the results. People who love the character of the wonderful Sangiovese of Montalcino are going to enjoy drinking the 2005s at an early age. In fact, it might be better to drink some 2005 Brunello while you wait for the 2004 and 2006 to age to perfection.