2012 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

One More Chance To Collect “Immensely Inviting” Brunello of the Rockstar 2012 Vintage

The Consorzio Del Vino Brunello di Montalcino’s January tasting — open only to the trade — began at 11 a.m. Most shuffled in around 11:30. Not us. We sprang out of bed at 6:30, swam a mile, then hopped an Uber for Gotham Hall. We sipped double cappuccinos until the doors cracked open, then made a beeline for the best Brunellos the Consortium had to offer — starting with Costanti.

Why were we so quick on the draw? The 2012 vintage in Montalcino was one for the RECORD BOOKS.

2012 was no cooler than the torrid 2011 season. But Andrea Costanti walked us through some key differences: “Unlike 2011, when scorching temperatures came on suddenly in August and left the grapes defenseless to adjust to the extreme heat, in 2012 the entire summer was hot and dry, so the grapes had the whole growing season to adapt.” Growers were also better prepared after facing similar obstacles the season before. The meticulous Costanti spent countless hours in the vineyard, hand-shaping each plant, making sure to protect clusters from the scorching Tuscan sun. Many producers, including Costanti, also harvested earlier than normal, preserving fresh acidity in Sangiovese.

When the dust settled, quality across the board was sky-high, and the critics did not hold back. James Suckling, Wine Spectator’s long-time European bureau chief, gushed over the 2012s’ “beautiful aromas, vibrant fruit, lively acidity, and ultra-fine tannins.” Wine Enthusiast chimed in that the ‘12s “boast juicy red berry, noble tannins and impeccable balance that will allow them to age well for years.”

Leading the way on many scorecards, including our own, was Andrea Costanti’s brilliant red-ruby stunner. Culled from less than 30 acres of vines in the high-elevation, northern reaches of Montalcino, Costanti’s 2012 epitomizes the classic, seductive side of the region, offering up Burgundian aromatics and the richest Pinot Noir-like concentration and balance, all stapled together with a splash of Brunello rusticity.

• ABV 14.00%
• Enjoy right away
• % Sangiovese