Barrels at Tenuta le Potazzine / Photo by Bruno Bruchi
The majority of the just-released 2017 Brunello di Montalcino wines reflect the scorching conditions of one of the hottest, driest years on record.
Of the 172 wines I blind tasted in my office in December 2021, most of the 2017 Brunellos were densely concentrated with evident alcohol. For Brunello connoisseurs, many have a worrying uniformity in terms of aroma, flavor and personality. As expected in such a hot year, except for some selections from top-performing estates, the 2017s generally show mature, stewed or dried black-skinned fruit and have brawny structures. They should be consumed within the next 5–7 years.
While abv (alcohol by volume) is ticking up across the globe due to climate change, 2017 marked a turning point in Montalcino. More than 20% of the 2017s I reviewed have an abv of 15% or more, with several clocking in at 15.5% and one at 16%. Given the permitted leeway of 0.5% between declared alcohol levels and actual amounts, this means wines in the latter group are likely closer to 15.5%, 16% and 16.5%, respectively.
A vineyard at Le Chiuse, Montalcino, Italy / Photo by VL9 Photography
Overall, the 2017s have more acidity than wines from other hot years because the plants shut down for a period as a defense against water stress, according to some producers. Others cite better vineyard management as the reason. Unfortunately, however, a number of the 2017s do remain unbalanced due to their heft and tannic backbones despite the acidity levels.
The heat and severe drought were responsible for about 20% less Brunello production overall with respect to 2016. Parts of the denomination were also hit by frost that April, mainly in the lower altitudes, resulting in a 5–15% loss of grapes for some producers. Due to the high temperatures and lack of water, grapes were smaller than usual and contained less liquid, increasing the concentration of the wines.
A barrel of the 2017 Brunello vintage at Mulinari L’A’ietta / Photo by Strade Bianche
Know Your Producer
Despite the difficult conditions, some producers still managed to make stellar wines with the freshness and elegance that wine lovers expect from Brunello. These were mostly small estates that not only have higher-altitude vineyards that fare better in hot vintages, but whose skilled efforts pulled off nothing short of a miracle in 2017.
“I don’t decide when to harvest based on sugars and potential alcohol levels, but based on acidity,” says Francesco Mulinari, winemaker and owner of boutique winery L’Aietta.
With vineyard altitudes ranging from 1,280–1,640 feet above sea level, L’Aietta is one of Montalcino’s gems. Mulinari’s 2017 shows elegance and surprising energy for the vintage, thanks in part to his head-trained vines, called alberello in Italian, that are highly uncommon in Montalcino.
“My alberello vines withstand drought better than my Guyot-trained plants, because they retain more grape acidity,” says Mulinari.
Grapes at Tenuta Le Potazzine / Photo by Bruno Bruchi Photo
He notes that it’s increasingly arduous to make wines with such elegance and vibrancy.
“I’ve been making Brunello for twenty years and every year my job is more difficult,” says Mulinari. “Between 2001 and 2010, I experienced one extremely hot, challenging vintage, 2003. But over the last decade this has increased to six tough vintages out of ten, with 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2021 all exceedingly hot and difficult.”
