The 2017 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino is a Sangiovese Grosso varietal hailing from the renowned Tuscany region of Italy, specifically the Brunello di Montalcino sub-region. This red wine has garnered substantial acclaim from an array of professional reviewers, each highlighting its distinct characteristics and potential for aging.
James Suckling awards this vintage a commendable score of 94, noting its "very attractive floral and fresh aromas to the plums and cherries," which continue seamlessly onto the palate. He describes the wine as "flavorful and gorgeous, yet lively and focused," suggesting it is suitable for drinking now or holding.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate echoes this high praise with a score of 93. The review describes the wine as having "considerable bandwidth with lots of dark fruit, rich plum and spice," and observes the medium fruit weight and concentration that complements the spicy oak notes. The wine is made from organically farmed fruit, some vines being up to 55 years old, and has a production volume of 130,000 bottles. The Advocate recommends the wine for near- to medium-term aging.
Vinous contributes a score of 92, highlighting the wine's "incredibly exotic" spice and floral tones. The review also mentions an "intense wave of cherry and raspberry preserves," along with hints of tangerine and cocoa. It praises the wine's bright acidity, which enlivens the experience, and light tannins that make it "juicy and fun," with lasting notes of red currant, licorice, and clove.
Wine & Spirits also awards a score of 94, noting a "cool mineral tone" that energizes the vivid cherry flavors and adds complexity with licorice, tarragon, and black spice. Despite the warm 2017 vintage, the wine's aromatics remain "precise and lifted" with scents of rose petal and violet that emerge over time.
Wine Enthusiast, with a score of 92, describes the wine's nose as featuring "scents of crushed mint, woodland berries, and new leather" alongside a palate of "cherry marinated in spirits, licorice, and a hint of coffee bean." The tannins are noted to be firm and refined, with a recommended drinking window from 2024 to 2029.
Finally, Wine Spectator also gives a score of 92, describing the wine as "rigid, tightly-wound," with a core of cherry, raspberry, black currant, almond, and iron aromas and flavors. The review states that while the wine needs time, it has a fresh, spicy, and long finish, with optimal drinking from 2025 through 2042.
Overall, the 2017 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino presents a well-rounded and complex profile, with excellent reviews highlighting its aromatic precision, vibrant fruit flavors, and substantial aging potential.