The Landmark Vintage: 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Retrospective

BY ERIC GUIDO | FEBRUARY 19, 2026

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino vintage holds great significance for me, as it does for many wine lovers who followed the writings of Antonio Galloni, Stephen Tanzer and other prominent critics at the time. It’s the first vintage that I tasted broadly on release, at that time as an enthusiast and blogger. I personally invested in a significant quantity of these wines, following the ecstatic praise of the press. Antonio Galloni wrote, “At its best, 2006 is a benchmark vintage for Brunello di Montalcino.” Stephen Tanzer echoed that sentiment: “It’s a year that showcases the essence of Sangiovese.” I am happy to concur. They were both 100% correct. Some of the 2006s haven’t matured as well as expected, while others are overachievers, but overall, 2006 is worth the hype. It is the landmark vintage of the 2000s and a modern-day benchmark, marking a shift in winemaking where producers began relying on their experience with warm seasons to craft exceptional wines.

Looking across the southwestern vineyards of Il Poggione.

The 2006s also saved Montalcino in many ways. Talk of the vintage followed a period of turmoil in the region, which began with the “Brunellogate” scandal in 2008. Prices were down, and Montalcino suffered due to consumer distrust and negative press. Multiple estates were accused of including varieties other than Sangiovese in their Brunellos, and large quantities of so-called Brunello di Montalcino were ultimately declassified. While the scandal centered on the 2003 vintage, it broke at a time when the 2005, 2006, and 2007 vintages were already in barrel, casting a dark shadow over the region. The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino and Italian Government Certifications implemented stringent evaluations to reassure consumers that the 2006 wines were in fact 100% Sangiovese. I remember this time well—it was serious business.

 Moreover, the previous vintage, 2005, failed to make a significant impact in the market. While the 2005s show grace, purity, and lift today, it’s a vintage that’s beginning to fade. It simply wasn’t a year that aligned with consumer tastes. Lastly, we all remember the global recession of 2008. Its impact affected all markets, and the squeeze on consumers only began to loosen around the end of 2010—just in time for the release of the 2006 Brunellos in January of 2011. As a result, consumers bought heavily. I can assure you, they made the right decision.

The 2006s excel across Montalcino.

The Play-by-Play

I consider 2006 a modern-day vintage because it shares many qualities with recent seasons in Montalcino: a mix of unforeseen, contrasting weather conditions and dry warmth. Many northeastern producers’ reputations benefited from this, as tastes at the time leaned toward darker and richer wines. The northeast yielded wines with ample density and fully ripe tannins in 2006, an attractive mix when coupled with the vintage’s balance and finesse.

The renovated cellar at Argiano.

The 2006 season began with a warm winter followed by a cool spring, with significant rainfall from April to early June. This resulted in a late budbreak but was ultimately beneficial, allowing water reserves in the soil to build up before the summer heat. June marked the start of a warming trend that lasted through July—hot, sunny and excessively dry. While many vines temporarily shut down their vegetative cycle, the combination of water in the soils and regular nighttime cooldowns prevented any severe stress. Temperatures cooled through August, accompanied by overcast conditions that naturally shaded the fruit and slowed maturation. An Indian summer in early September helped the vines catch up with their natural vegetative cycle. Intermittent rains in mid-September brought temperatures back down, a trend that lasted through October. Most producers were able to pick under optimal conditions, with harvest taking place in mid-September for many southern estates and well into October in the north.

The 2006s Today

The 2006 Brunellos are dark, intense and deeply textured, nearly sensual in feel yet balanced by stern acids. Many of these wines are still slowly maturing, while others are just entering their prime drinking windows. Only a small percentage of the 2006s are fading. Of course, these are wines that were bottled no less than 18 years ago, so it’s natural to see some variation due to storage conditions and cork quality. About three-quarters of the wines in this retrospective came directly from estates’ cellars, with the rest sourced from my own cellar and those of a few generous collectors. If anything, the wines I procured in the United States showed a lower failure rate, which I suspect is a result of the natural cellars many Italian producers depended on until only recently. Having said that, I remain confident that purchasing a 2006 Brunello from a reputable source today remains a safe bet.

In many cases, the entry-level 2006 Brunellos, even those from lesser-known estates, are wildly successful. Based on the small number of Riservas I tasted for this report, I do not feel they offer as much value as the straight Brunellos, sometimes known as  “normale” or “annata.” Some of the Riservas come across as clunky, overbearing and still weighed down by wood tannins. While the wines from northeastern Montalcino show grace and finesse, those from southern Montalcino have are darker and more powerful, though balanced. Neither the former nor the latter has an edge over the other. 

© 2026, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or redistributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

You Might Also Enjoy

The Exquisite 2021 Brunellos, Eric Guido, November 2025

A Vintage of Transcendence: 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Retrospective, Eric Guido, January 2025

A Tale of Two Extremes: The 2020 Brunellos and 2019 Riservas, Eric Guido, November 2024

The Magic of 2022 Rosso di Montalcino, Eric Guido, September 2024

Buckle Your Seatbelts: 2019 Brunello and 2021 Rosso di Montalcino, Eric Guido, December 2023