Several merchants have reported robust buyer interest in the "attention-grabbing" Brunello di Montalcino 2019 wines, even amidst some price hikes.
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino vintage has garnered critical acclaim reminiscent of the highly praised 2016 vintage, according to early merchant reports.
"Brunello enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice," said Michaela Morris of Decanter in her recent vintage report.
Davy Żyw, senior buyer at Berry Bros & Rudd, commented, "2016 was a landmark vintage for quality and buyer demand. Since then, we've had two good vintages – the denser 2017 and the charming 2018, which saw solid demand but not the same success as 2016. Brunello is back on track with 2019; it is truly an attention-grabbing vintage."
UK merchant Goedhuis & Co began offering Brunello 2019s in mid-February. Charlie Whittington, Tuscany specialist and associate director of private clients, noted, "It's been a great start. We've planned a concise campaign to gauge customer demand. We've released five or six growers, all of which have sold through. We have two or three more to come."
In the US, Brunello di Montalcino wines have a strong following. Andrew McMurray, head of retail and Italian buyer at Zachys Wine & Liquor, also reported high demand for the 2019s.
"We currently have over 85 selections from the vintage and have seen brisk advance interest, with over 5,000 bottles already committed on a pre-arrival basis," said McMurray. He attributed the high demand to Zachys' long-standing focus on Brunello producers and trips to the region for firsthand tasting.
"The wines are showing very well at a young age, much like the 2010 vintage when it first came to market," McMurray added. He expects a "second surge" of buying in the coming months. Zachys will hold a tasting of Brunello di Montalcino 2019 wines from 25 different producers in New York on April 5.
Brunello di Montalcino 2019 Release Prices
Initial data from Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the trade, indicated that some Brunello di Montalcino 2019 release prices have increased year-on-year, though not all. Liv-ex’s February 2024 Market Report highlighted three examples:
- Poggio di Sotto 2019 | Release price: GBP 1,790 (EUR 2,090) (12x75cl in bond) | Up 17% vs 2018 release
- Casanova di Neri, Tenuta Nuova 2019 | GBP 925 (EUR 1,080) | Up 16%
- Il Poggione 2019 | GBP 320 (EUR 374) | Down 8.6%
Liv-ex noted that some new releases were more expensive than corresponding wines from the top-rated 2016 vintage, which are still widely available on the secondary market.
McMurray observed that Zachys has seen release prices rise by 10% to 20% year-on-year for Brunello di Montalcino 2019 wines, depending on the producer and market context.
"This was expected, coming off two challenging vintages in Montalcino combined with overall increased production costs," he said. He does not expect this to deter consumers, adding, "They will simply purchase in smaller increments, which we have seen so far."
Despite some price increases, Whittington of Goedhuis believes there is still significant value in Montalcino. He noted that more people are looking at Italian wines amidst higher prices elsewhere, such as for Burgundy wines on the secondary market and for some Bordeaux en primeur releases.
Conti Costanti’s Brunello di Montalcino 2019, awarded 100 points by Decanter’s Michaela Morris, was priced at GBP 325 (EUR 379) (6x75cl in bond) at Goedhuis & Co in the UK, and USD 114.99 (EUR 106) per bottle (future arrival) at Zachys in the US.
Berry Bros’ Żyw stated that the 2019 wines represent a "really strong opportunity" for collectors, highlighting that they cellar well and offer brilliant value compared to other fine wine regions.
"2019 is a strong vintage across Italy, including Barolo and the SuperTuscans, which keeps the visibility and demand high," Żyw added, noting that Brunello 2019 pricing overall remains largely flat with 2018, despite the superior quality of 2019.
Fans will have to wait longer for 2019-vintage Brunello di Montalcino Riserva releases.
Source: Decanter