Brunello di Montalcino that is bright, light and transparent - recommendations?

I’m trying to navigate among the different producers styles of Brunello di Montalcino. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a heavier/dark fruited brunello, and sometimes I’m in the mood for a lighter, brighter, fresher and more transparent brunello, which in my experience is a style fewer producers go for.

The vintage of course play a major part in the outcome, but have you found any producers that consistently are more light, bright fruited and transparent in style? Below are the few producers that I’ve tried in this style.

Producers of brighter-style Brunello

• Poggio di Sotto
• Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera (now Toscana IGT)
• Podere Brizio
• …?

I’m not really following you. Poggio di Sotto and Soldera are dank, dark, and concentrated in my experience. Maybe some newer vintages of Poggio di Sotto might be closer to what you’re talking about, but I’m still not fully understanding your post.

Mastrojanni tends to be on the elegant end.

La Gerla

I haven’t had these in many years so my memory might be failing me, but I remember especially Poggio Di Sotto BdM Riserva as being very bright fruited with cranberry and tart cherry dominating on the fruit side and being bright red in color (drunk pretty young).

Nonetheless that is the style that I’m looking for.

Stella di Campalto

There are definitely some bright and transparent Brunellos, but why go there, when Chianti Classicos offer wonderful brightness, purity and transparency - and at a more reasonable cost?

Biondi-Santi’s BdM is definitely a textbook example of a very traditional, restrained and red-fruited Brunello, but also quite precious in price.

This has been my experience with Poggio di Sotto too, mostly with vintages in the aughts (and the “regular” Brunello, not the Riserva).

I agree with Otto on looking at Chianti, even if money isn’t a factor. Montevertine (although not in 2018) and Podere le Boncie both come to mind.

Soldera
Biondi Santi
Salvioni

I respectfully dissent from the Chianti as a substitute for Brunello comment which is often made on here. I like both types of wine (though Brunello more in general), but I just don’t find the wines to be that similar to each other or substitutes for each other, despite (mostly) the same grape and being in the same larger region.

Maybe someone will blind me someday on Chianti and Brunello and I’ll end up being full of **** - it wouldn’t be the first time.

I think Fuligni is an excellent producer that tends towards that side of the spectrum.

This.

^agreed! I think if one focuses on the more traditional producers in the northern zones of Montalcino that they’ll have a lot of success finding red-fruited brunellos. I know I’m making a slight bit of a sweeping statement, but it’s kinda born out that way for me

Good choice.

To me, the main difference is that Brunello can have more power and grip. But that’s not what the OP’s looking for.

SanCarlo.

Have you considered Rosso di Montalcino? It’s similar to its bigger brother(Brunello), but shorter cooperage requirement and imo brighter & lighter.

Agree with Fuligni…also Costanti

Good point. I think that’s a better place to look than Chianti for a lighter/redder/clearer version of Brunello.