2016 Tenuta di Sesta Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Duelecci Est

About the Wine

It's believed to take at least 10,000 hours to obtain expertise in any given field or skill. The Ciacci family has been displaying mastery in Brunello production for 53 years. As part of the original twelve Brunello bottlers, Tenuta di Sesta has elevated the standard of Brunello di Montalcino since its inception. It is safe to these guys are experts.

Since 1966, the same year Brunello became recognized as a DOC, the Ciacci family has been cultivating high-quality Brunello. Their vines are grown upon limestone and red clay soils in the south of Montalcino. The family utilizes traditional winemaking and aging techniques focused on obtaining the best expression of Montalcino.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the result of a very careful selection of grapes from the 3 best vineyards of Brunello from Tenuta di Sesta. And, for many years now, Duelecci vineyard has been the best of the three.

Duelecci has an epic location on a rolling hill in the south part of the Montalcino appellation. “Est” means “east," this is a reference to the grape's location on the vineyard, where the's a particularly pebbly soil that produces elegant, stunning Brunellos that are suitable for a long cellaring. 

This stunning wine comes from an iconic vintage, one that was awarded 99 points by Wine Spectator. James Suckling said, "If you ever wanted a Brunello di Montalcino for your cellar to age for decades, then buy the 2016 vintage. The 2016 vintage marks the second great year in a row for Brunello di Montalcino following the sensational 2015."

Aging: 40 months in Slavonian oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: 100% Sangiovese Grosso. Ethereal, intense, ample, spicy bouquet and rich in fruit, humus, and mushroom hints. Fascinating palate, complex, intense, soft, velvety tannins, well balanced, long-lasting, persistent, full in the mouth. This is a very remarkable wine. 

Reviews

A fresh and linear Brunello with stone and lemon-rind undertones to the black-cherry and walnut character. It’s medium-bodied with a racy texture and a long, intense finish. Lovely length and focus. Polished. Drink in 2024 and onwards, but already fascinating. ~94 James Suckling

"Est" means "east" in Italian, and "ovest" means "west." I know there is usually an ovest version of this wine, but if it was produced, I did not receive a sample. The Tenuta di Sesta 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Duelecci Est opens to an inky dark appearance and rich color concentration. With a big 15% alcohol content, this is a powerful wine that hits the senses from all sides. There is plenty of black fruit, wild rose, potting soil, spice, and cured tobacco in this bold, hearty Brunello. Only 3,000 bottles were made. ~94 Robert Parker

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Duelecci Est keeps you coming back to the glass with its seductive bouquet of mineral-tinged cherries, blackberries and exotic spice. With coaxing, balsam herbs, tobacco, and hints of dried citrus come to the fore. It's deeply textural, almost creamy in feel, yet perfectly balanced, offering rich dark fruits offset by hints of sour tangerine, as an air of earth tones and violets forms toward the close. This is structured and long, youthful and chewy, yet still primary and intense, promising many years of positive development in collectors' cellars. Well done. ~94 Vinous

Intriguing with a mixed and spicy profile showing notes of black prunes, tea leaves, cumin and black pepper. Medium to full bodied, soft tannins and a pleasant, terse finale which demands a return to the glass. Better from 2022. ~93 WinesCritic.com

Savoury, with jammy black cherry and kirsch accented with notes of old churches, damp earth, and undergrowth. Refined yet firm. ~93 Decanter

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