2016 Casisano Brunello di Montalcino 750 ml

The 2016 vintage was one of Brunello’s best ever: Wine Advocate awarded it 98 points, while Wine Spectator rated it a 99, their best score ever.

Those raves sparked a collector feeding frenzy—and by and large, that run is over. 

It’s no surprise that excellent 2016 bottles, which Vinous described as “well-muscled black stallions in their prime,” are few and far between on the retail market right now. 

But “few” does not mean “nonexistent,” and the 2016 Casisano Brunello di Montalcino is a gem. Boasting 94 points from James Suckling—the same score as heavyweights like 2016 Canalicchio di Sopra ($121) and even the mythical 2016 Poggio di Sotto ($261)—it’s the kind of under-$50 bargain you rarely see from Brunello’s ‘16 vintage. 

Surrounded by hundred-year old forests and overlooking the famed Sant’Antimo valley, “this small winery is crafting delicious, ripe Brunellos with flair and finesse,” in the words of Brunello expert Kerin O’Keefe. The vineyards here are at high altitude and enjoy perfect southwest exposure. The wines are raised for three years in neutral Slavonian botti, then given a six-month rest in bottle. 

In 2016, the Tommasi family had a dream vintage to work with: Spring rainfall in Montalcino and a warm, dry summer made for a near-perfect growing season. Stark diurnal temperature shifts kept a balance between fruit and acid, allowing the late-maturing Sangiovese to ripen slowly, making each grape a gold mine. Casisano completed their harvest in a leisurely way by mid-October—it’s precisely what every winemaker hopes for.