Brunello lovers rush to snap up 2019 releases
Initial releases of Brunello di Montalcino 2019 wines have created a buzz not seen since the lauded 2016 vintage, according to merchants.
Decanter’s Michaela Morris said Brunello enthusiasts ‘will be spoiled for choice’ in the 2019 vintage (see her report and 30 top picks, from p46).
Fans must wait longer for Riserva bottlings, but early consumer interest in 2019-vintage releases echoed buyer thirst for the 2016 wines, said Charlie Whittington, Tuscany specialist and associate director, private clients, at UK merchant Goedhuis Waddesdon.
Davy Zyw, senior buyer at Berry Bros &Rudd, said 2016 was a watershed for quality and demand. Consumers still bought 2017 and 2018, but he said, ‘Brunello is back on track with 2019; it is a truly attention grabbing vintage.’ He added: ‘There’s a really strong opportunity here [for collectors]; the wines cellar well and offer brilliant value versus other fine wine regions.’
Andrew McMurray, head of retail and Italian buyer at US-based Zachys Wine &Liquor, also reported ‘extremely brisk advance interest’ for Brunello 2019 wines on a pre-arrival basis.
He said Zachys’ focus on Brunello di Montalcino ‘year-in, year-out’ also contributed to strong sales. The group will host a 2019-vintage tasting in New York on 5 April.
Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the trade, said some release prices have risen year-on-year, but not all.
Poggio di Sotto 2019 was released at £1,790 (12x75cl in bond), up 17% versus the 2018 release, but Il Poggione 2019 was £320, down 8.6%, Liv-ex said.
McMurray said Zachys saw release prices
