Brunello di Montalcino
Wine from Montalcino was only appreciated and understood by locals as recently as the 70's, even though its warm dry climate has much in common with its famous Tuscan cousin, Chianti. However pioneering work from Clemente Santi with various clones of Sangiovese led to what was labelled Brunello di Montalcino. Changes in strict laws have allowed this region to react better to modern trends, reducing mandatory oak ageing from 4 to 2 years. As with Chianti small amount of foreign grapes can now be including within blends.
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Brunello di Montalcino
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 2 | 95+ (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€378.19 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (95+)The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has remarkably consistent integration from the nose to the palate. There are generous aromatics of fresh raspberry, rosemary, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. The palate opens up with ripe and inviting cherry fruit and tea leaf, with supple tannin and freshness on the finish. Its drinkability now should not be confused for a lack of structure, as it is true to the energetic nature of the vintage. Drink 2021-2036. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) |
Inc. TAX
€548.39 |
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Wine Enthusiast (97)Balancing power and grace, this wine delivers alluring aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, grilled herb, licorice and tar. Vibrant acidity and firm, velvety tannins provide freshness and structure, while a hint of pipe tobacco closes the lingering finish. Drink 2020–2032. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€464.93 |
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Vinous (97)Good full pale ruby-red. Knockout aromas and flavors of red cherry, raspberry, licorice and minerals, complicated by hints of iris and violet. Extremely suave and polished on the extremely long, pure, mineral finish. Deeper, richer, more tannic and longer than the lovely 2013 Brunello Classico from Altesino, this is an absolutely beautiful Brunello. I especially like that the pristine, refined aromas and flavors of the famed Montosoli site are showcased to maximum effect here. One of the best Brunellos of the vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€549.59 |
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James Suckling (97)A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures of vivacious red fruit. A beautiful, nimble Brunello 2015. Drink from 2024. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (WS) |
Inc. TAX
€571.19 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Packed with sweet, ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit and framed by loamy earth and woodsy notes, this red is intense, lively and light on its feet. Balanced, with firm tannins and a salty, minerally impression on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. 1,200 cases made. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€943.16 |
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Wine Advocate (95)This is one of the icon wines of Montalcino and one of the bottles that best captures the character of this prized vineyard cru. Altesino farms 4.5 hectares in Montosoli at 350 meters in elevation with galestro soils. The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is darkly concentrated and rich. It shows an almost creamy consistency that was not easy to achieve in this hot vintage that tends to underline tannic power and alcohol. Instead, this wine offers a steady stream of dark fruit flavors that transition to spice, leather and sweet tobacco. Production is limited to 15,000 bottles. |
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Tuscany | 8 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€411.34 |
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James Suckling (97)This has a complex nose of cranberries, dried pineapple, soy, bark, cardamom, mocha, iodine and wet leather. Full-bodied, with firm and very fine tannins. It really builds in intensity, expanding into a broad array of fresh and dried fruit and espresso bean, before converging again on a long and driven finish. Fantastic already. Try now or in a couple of years. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 88 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€1,156.86 |
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Vinous (88)Full ruby-red color. Gamey aromas of currant, espresso and nutty oak. Deep, rich and very ripe, with concentrated, sappy flavors of currant, licorice and game. A tactile, full, traditional Brunello with good vinosity and big, mouthdusting tannins. I would have rated this higher but for its rather pronounced meaty character and slight finishing dryness. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WS) |
Inc. TAX
€593.99 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Laced with ripe cherry, strawberry, floral, spice, iron and leather flavors, this red is complex and charming, yet with serious tannins that ply the structure and lift the long finish. The fine balance should facilitate longevity. Best from 2024 through 2048. 1,600 cases made. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€743.99 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva holds tight to its unique character and power. The classic 2016 vintage produced generous wines that are layered and rich but also coiled tightly at their core. This wine exemplifies this point, adding lots of tart Sangiovese fruit and freshness along the way. It also shows an impressive richness of flavors with dried cherry, licorice, pressed violets, balsam herb and dusty limestone. The caveat with this wine, should you decide to drink it early, is that it needs extra time to open (and a double decanting would also help). This 10,000-bottle production opens beautifully in time. |
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Tuscany | 40 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€428.39 |
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Vinous (90)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger. The vintage has left its mark on the 2017 Riserva, yet cellaring will help relieve its youthful structure. That said, I don’t see it as a candidate for extended aging. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€577.43 |
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James Suckling (96)Lots of candied-orange, dark-fruit and dried-flower character on the nose. Full body with soft, silky tannins and a chewy finish. Funky and intense. Lots of smoked-meat, berry and dark-chocolate character. Very rich and delicious. Best Brunello from here in a long time. |
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Tuscany | 7 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€435.83 |
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Vinous (94)The nose shows an alluring display of hauntingly dark florals giving way to crushed black cherry, plums, and tobacco, with hints of spiced citrus and undergrowth adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures flood the senses with ripe red and black fruits, carried by vibrant acids, as sweet spices and minerals slowly saturate, and fine tannin begins to mount toward the finale. The finish is long and structured, resonating on zesty wild berry fruits, spice, and minerals; yet its tannic heft keeps it all in check. The 2015 Pian delle Vigne is one of the few wines of the vintage that requires some time in the cellar, and with this balance of primary fruits, acids, and structure, it should emerge as something to behold. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€525.18 |
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Vinous (93)The 2016 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino from Antinori is dark and rich, displaying notes of brown spice, mocha and tobacco, before giving way to musky black cherries and sage. Its cooling, creamy textures usher in a dense wave of ripe red and hints of black fruit, with salty minerals and fine-grained tannins providing grip. Licorice and violets resonate, along with inner earth tones throughout the long and structured finish. The Pian delle Vigne will require many years of cellaring to show its best, but it is well worth the wait. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€208.39 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and powerful, with wave after wave of balsamic spices, wild herbs and crushed black cherries emanating from the glass. The depth of texture here is something to behold, weighty and fleshy in feel, yet perfectly in balance, as brisk acids enliven the gobs of red and black fruits within. The tannins take a backseat as nuances of plum, clove, licorice and cocoa appear under an air of purple-tinged flowers. The 2017 tapers off remarkably long and potent, with a structure that will carry it for years to come. It’s a total success for such a difficult vintage. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€364.79 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and powerful, with wave after wave of balsamic spices, wild herbs and crushed black cherries emanating from the glass. The depth of texture here is something to behold, weighty and fleshy in feel, yet perfectly in balance, as brisk acids enliven the gobs of red and black fruits within. The tannins take a backseat as nuances of plum, clove, licorice and cocoa appear under an air of purple-tinged flowers. The 2017 tapers off remarkably long and potent, with a structure that will carry it for years to come. It’s a total success for such a difficult vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€318.38 |
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Tuscany | 5 | - |
Inc. TAX
€428.39 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€313.43 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (92)The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a saturated magenta/red color and is generous on the nose with notes of mixed berry compote, licorice candies, leather, and mocha. It fills the palate and has well-defined broad shoulders, with chalky tannins and a grounding mineral texture. A red consistent with what lovers of these wines can expect, it should have another 10 years ahead. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€809.32 |
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Vinous (92)The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vignaferrovia, a new bottling, is sweet, rich and layered in its fruit. This is a decidedly firm Brunello in need of a few years in the cellar to soften the firm yet refined tannins. Red raspberries, flowers and sweet spices are some of the nuances that emerge on the round, creamy finish. There is quite a bit of volume and richness, due in part to the greater use of French barrels, but the oak has also left the Riserva with some slightly oxidative qualities and less overall freshness than is typically the case here. |
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Tuscany | 6 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€461.18 |
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Vinous (91)The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Ferrovia is warm, open and supple, with considerable French oak influence lending shape to the fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, tobacco, iron, grilled herbs, raisin and soy are laced into an expressive finish laced with distinctly wild, ferrous notes. The 2009 is quite brooding in style, but it also shows good freshness for the year and outstanding overall balance. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€808.25 |
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Vinous (91)The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Ferrovia is warm, open and supple, with considerable French oak influence lending shape to the fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, tobacco, iron, grilled herbs, raisin and soy are laced into an expressive finish laced with distinctly wild, ferrous notes. The 2009 is quite brooding in style, but it also shows good freshness for the year and outstanding overall balance. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tuscany | 2 | 95+ (JD) |
In Bond
€293.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (95+)The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has remarkably consistent integration from the nose to the palate. There are generous aromatics of fresh raspberry, rosemary, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. The palate opens up with ripe and inviting cherry fruit and tea leaf, with supple tannin and freshness on the finish. Its drinkability now should not be confused for a lack of structure, as it is true to the energetic nature of the vintage. Drink 2021-2036. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) |
In Bond
€434.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Balancing power and grace, this wine delivers alluring aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, grilled herb, licorice and tar. Vibrant acidity and firm, velvety tannins provide freshness and structure, while a hint of pipe tobacco closes the lingering finish. Drink 2020–2032. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
€375.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)Good full pale ruby-red. Knockout aromas and flavors of red cherry, raspberry, licorice and minerals, complicated by hints of iris and violet. Extremely suave and polished on the extremely long, pure, mineral finish. Deeper, richer, more tannic and longer than the lovely 2013 Brunello Classico from Altesino, this is an absolutely beautiful Brunello. I especially like that the pristine, refined aromas and flavors of the famed Montosoli site are showcased to maximum effect here. One of the best Brunellos of the vintage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€435.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures of vivacious red fruit. A beautiful, nimble Brunello 2015. Drink from 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 5 | 97 (WS) |
In Bond
€453.00 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (97)Packed with sweet, ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit and framed by loamy earth and woodsy notes, this red is intense, lively and light on its feet. Balanced, with firm tannins and a salty, minerally impression on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. 1,200 cases made. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 10 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€740.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)This is one of the icon wines of Montalcino and one of the bottles that best captures the character of this prized vineyard cru. Altesino farms 4.5 hectares in Montosoli at 350 meters in elevation with galestro soils. The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is darkly concentrated and rich. It shows an almost creamy consistency that was not easy to achieve in this hot vintage that tends to underline tannic power and alcohol. Instead, this wine offers a steady stream of dark fruit flavors that transition to spice, leather and sweet tobacco. Production is limited to 15,000 bottles. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 8 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
€319.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)This has a complex nose of cranberries, dried pineapple, soy, bark, cardamom, mocha, iodine and wet leather. Full-bodied, with firm and very fine tannins. It really builds in intensity, expanding into a broad array of fresh and dried fruit and espresso bean, before converging again on a long and driven finish. Fantastic already. Try now or in a couple of years. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 88 (VN) |
In Bond
€941.00 |
|||||
Vinous (88)Full ruby-red color. Gamey aromas of currant, espresso and nutty oak. Deep, rich and very ripe, with concentrated, sappy flavors of currant, licorice and game. A tactile, full, traditional Brunello with good vinosity and big, mouthdusting tannins. I would have rated this higher but for its rather pronounced meaty character and slight finishing dryness. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WS) |
In Bond
€472.00 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Laced with ripe cherry, strawberry, floral, spice, iron and leather flavors, this red is complex and charming, yet with serious tannins that ply the structure and lift the long finish. The fine balance should facilitate longevity. Best from 2024 through 2048. 1,600 cases made. |
|||||||||
|
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
In Bond
€597.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva holds tight to its unique character and power. The classic 2016 vintage produced generous wines that are layered and rich but also coiled tightly at their core. This wine exemplifies this point, adding lots of tart Sangiovese fruit and freshness along the way. It also shows an impressive richness of flavors with dried cherry, licorice, pressed violets, balsam herb and dusty limestone. The caveat with this wine, should you decide to drink it early, is that it needs extra time to open (and a double decanting would also help). This 10,000-bottle production opens beautifully in time. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 40 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
€334.00 |
|||||
Vinous (90)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger. The vintage has left its mark on the 2017 Riserva, yet cellaring will help relieve its youthful structure. That said, I don’t see it as a candidate for extended aging. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
€459.00 |
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James Suckling (96)Lots of candied-orange, dark-fruit and dried-flower character on the nose. Full body with soft, silky tannins and a chewy finish. Funky and intense. Lots of smoked-meat, berry and dark-chocolate character. Very rich and delicious. Best Brunello from here in a long time. |
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|
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Tuscany | 7 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
€341.00 |
|||||
Vinous (94)The nose shows an alluring display of hauntingly dark florals giving way to crushed black cherry, plums, and tobacco, with hints of spiced citrus and undergrowth adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures flood the senses with ripe red and black fruits, carried by vibrant acids, as sweet spices and minerals slowly saturate, and fine tannin begins to mount toward the finale. The finish is long and structured, resonating on zesty wild berry fruits, spice, and minerals; yet its tannic heft keeps it all in check. The 2015 Pian delle Vigne is one of the few wines of the vintage that requires some time in the cellar, and with this balance of primary fruits, acids, and structure, it should emerge as something to behold. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 3 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
€419.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2016 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino from Antinori is dark and rich, displaying notes of brown spice, mocha and tobacco, before giving way to musky black cherries and sage. Its cooling, creamy textures usher in a dense wave of ripe red and hints of black fruit, with salty minerals and fine-grained tannins providing grip. Licorice and violets resonate, along with inner earth tones throughout the long and structured finish. The Pian delle Vigne will require many years of cellaring to show its best, but it is well worth the wait. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€166.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and powerful, with wave after wave of balsamic spices, wild herbs and crushed black cherries emanating from the glass. The depth of texture here is something to behold, weighty and fleshy in feel, yet perfectly in balance, as brisk acids enliven the gobs of red and black fruits within. The tannins take a backseat as nuances of plum, clove, licorice and cocoa appear under an air of purple-tinged flowers. The 2017 tapers off remarkably long and potent, with a structure that will carry it for years to come. It’s a total success for such a difficult vintage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 4 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€281.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and powerful, with wave after wave of balsamic spices, wild herbs and crushed black cherries emanating from the glass. The depth of texture here is something to behold, weighty and fleshy in feel, yet perfectly in balance, as brisk acids enliven the gobs of red and black fruits within. The tannins take a backseat as nuances of plum, clove, licorice and cocoa appear under an air of purple-tinged flowers. The 2017 tapers off remarkably long and potent, with a structure that will carry it for years to come. It’s a total success for such a difficult vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
€250.00 |
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Tuscany | 5 | - |
In Bond
€334.00 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (JD) |
In Bond
€239.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (92)The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a saturated magenta/red color and is generous on the nose with notes of mixed berry compote, licorice candies, leather, and mocha. It fills the palate and has well-defined broad shoulders, with chalky tannins and a grounding mineral texture. A red consistent with what lovers of these wines can expect, it should have another 10 years ahead. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€648.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vignaferrovia, a new bottling, is sweet, rich and layered in its fruit. This is a decidedly firm Brunello in need of a few years in the cellar to soften the firm yet refined tannins. Red raspberries, flowers and sweet spices are some of the nuances that emerge on the round, creamy finish. There is quite a bit of volume and richness, due in part to the greater use of French barrels, but the oak has also left the Riserva with some slightly oxidative qualities and less overall freshness than is typically the case here. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 6 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
€369.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91)The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Ferrovia is warm, open and supple, with considerable French oak influence lending shape to the fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, tobacco, iron, grilled herbs, raisin and soy are laced into an expressive finish laced with distinctly wild, ferrous notes. The 2009 is quite brooding in style, but it also shows good freshness for the year and outstanding overall balance. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
€648.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91)The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Ferrovia is warm, open and supple, with considerable French oak influence lending shape to the fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, tobacco, iron, grilled herbs, raisin and soy are laced into an expressive finish laced with distinctly wild, ferrous notes. The 2009 is quite brooding in style, but it also shows good freshness for the year and outstanding overall balance. |
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Wine from Montalcino was only appreciated and understood by locals as recently as the 70's, even though its warm dry climate has much in common with its famous Tuscan cousin, Chianti. However pioneering work from Clemente Santi with various clones of Sangiovese led to what was labelled Brunello di Montalcino. Changes in strict laws have allowed this region to react better to modern trends, reducing mandatory oak ageing from 4 to 2 years. As with Chianti small amount of foreign grapes can now be included within blends.
