Brunello Di Montalcino, Patrizia Cencioni 2017 vs Domaine Jacqueline Frachet Volnay 2021

Brunello Di Montalcino, Patrizia Cencioni 2017

This female star-studded cast of winemakers is an admirable family-run operation that dates back to 1989 when life force of the estate, Patrizia, decided she wanted to make Brunello. What was once a deteriorating property is now a winery buzzing with life and passion. Their 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows the vintage's signature richness whilst maintaining the elegant tension that makes Sangiovese sing on these Tuscan hills. The wine opens with crushed stone minerality and dusty florals before revealing its core of sour cherries and saline-tinged red fruit. There's a pliant, plush texture that speaks to careful winemaking, structured enough for the cellar but with an energy that keeps you coming back to the glass.