Fantastic: Fanti Brunello 2009

~ Benvenuto a Fanti ~

It hasn't been that long since I've popped a cork on a Tenuta Fanti Brunello,  but I've been curious to see what a few more months resting in the bottle can do for this wine.   While it showed well in December as part of my Complete 2009 Brunello Tasting ,  I sensed given my experience with this estate that better days were ahead.  I still believe that. 

~ Proprietor Elisa Fanti ~

The San Filippo estate has been on the Fanti family since the 18th century. Today,  the estate covers about 300 hectares of which 52 are planted to vines.  The remainder are devoted to grains, olives and Tuscan forest.  Located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate the Fanti vineyards are rich with galestro,  especially the vines closest to the ancient Sant'Antimo abbey.  Galestro is a shale like deposit in the soil gentle enough to be snapped with your fingers. It adds wonderful minerality to wine and often imparts a powdery characteristic that I love.  

The 2009 Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino is beginning to display that character.  In the glass, the wine is a deep ruby with lighter highlights toward the rim of the bowl.  In a vintage as warm as 2009, some of the delicate floral nuances so characteristic of Sangiovese can be muted and that's true of this effort. The nose displays warm aromas of cherries, spices, and hazelnut.  On the palate, the wine exhibits juicy flavors of mineral laced berries that are accented with roasted nuts and dried spices.  This is like briary underbrush and I love that about this.  The powdery notes from the galestro appear on the finish.  Very nice wine indeed and typically a good value at under $40.  91 points.    Disclosure:  This bottle was an importer provided sample.

~ This bottle paired well with Grilled Hangar Steak, Lamb Shank Osso Bucco & Rigatoni Bolognese ~

Salute!