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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Vinous (95)
A taster would never know that the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino hailed from a warm vintage, with its bright and airy bouquet that blends mentholated herbs with exotic spice, worn leather and dusty dried strawberries. This coasts across the palate with ease, zesty and fresh, with tart red berries and sour citrus tones that add tension, yet also maintains a marvelous vibrancy. While long and gently structured still, there’s a finesse here that keeps me looking back to the glass for more, as the 2012 leaves the mouth watering with a tart cherry pit twang. Production was down around 30% in 2012, with a strict selection in the vineyards and a much earlier harvest that ended around September 15th. While drinking this today is certainly an option, there are still many years of evolution in store.Inc. TAX€1,504.38 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Poggio di Sotto doesn't miss a beat with this very special release. This is a glorious expression of the vintage, and the wine has absorbed the golden sunlight of Tuscany, delivering beautifully ripe, round and subtle fruit layers. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows concentration, but not too much, and richness, but not too much. You get the power and the opulence of the vintage presented with the elegance and grace that is the house style at this venerated estate. Poggio di Sotto is one of the benchmarks of Montalcino, and the winery team continues the tradition with this 22,000-bottle release. There's a lot of red fruit energy deep inside that should stir this wine on course as it ages over the next two decades.Inc. TAX€1,056.78 -
Falstaff (99)
Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.Inc. TAX€1,306.38 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.Inc. TAX€1,189.98 -
Falstaff (98)
Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.Inc. TAX€1,072.21 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)
I was able to taste the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino three times for this report, and it’s one of the great wines of the vintage. It takes on a bit more muscular style for the Poggio di Sotto estate, but it retains the DNA of the estate at large with its outstanding clarity. It’s medium ruby-colored and reveals notes of pure cherry, anise, wildflowers, wet stone, and tea leaf. Structured and long on the palate, it has ripe, chiseled tannins, a balanced spine of acidity, and notes of salted orange through the finish, with a long-lasting perfume. Its transparency, balanced with its complexity, makes this one of the most intriguing wines, and if stored properly, it will only improve with time in the cellar.Inc. TAX€1,396.42 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The Poggio di Sotto 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows extra muscle definition, power and heady layers of rich fruit. This is all in line with the personality of the vintage, which was sunny and warm with golden sunlight throughout the summer season. This wine stands out for its fine-gained texture, which is smooth and polished. This Riserva offers aromas of cherry and blackberry and shows the depth that you should expect of a classic Riserva bottling.Inc. TAX€2,182.38 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.Inc. TAX€2,932.38 -
Vinous (92)
The 2017 Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino will need some time to fully open up. The nose is reticent, requiring quite a bit of coaxing, before a bouquet of fresh sweet strawberry, cherry, Tuscan spice box, dusty florals and hints of mint lift from the glass. On the palate, soft textures flood the senses, offset by tart red fruits, minerals and spice, as the 2018 seems to hover - well poised, almost weightless, yet still fully satisfying. The finish is long and very pretty, as fresh red fruits resonate above a tactile mix of acid, minerals and light tannin, giving way to a singular red floral note that seems to go on for minutes.Inc. TAX€379.98 -
Wine Advocate (95)
This wine has more in common with a Brunello than it does a Rosso. Made with certified-organic fruit, Poggio di Sotto's 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a very fine and smooth expression that caresses the senses. The bouquet is enlivened by forest berry, peat moss, lilac and wildflowers. The 2018 vintage is usually understated in personality, but this wine speaks of elegance and nuance. It's just stunning.Inc. TAX€411.18 -
Vinous (95)
Shavings of cedar, blood orange, crushed cherries, dried flowers and stone dust form a mesmerizing bouquet as the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino slowly opens in the glass. There are depths of ripe textural fruits here, offset by zesty spices and bright acidity that sweeten the expression while energizing it as well. A web of fine tannins coats the palate through the finish, coupled with a core of primary concentration and sweet inner florals that seem to never truly fade. What a glorious achievement from Poggio di Sotto. The 2019 spent a whopping 43 days macerating on the skins, followed by 29 months of refinement in cask. It’s undoubtedly a baby Brunello.Inc. TAX€514.38 -
Inc. TAX€437.58 -
Inc. TAX€591.25 -
Inc. TAX€971.27 -
Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity.
Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure.
With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition.
Inc. TAX€594.59 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is an ambitious wine with a clear message that underlines a quality winemaking philosophy. The wine boasts a plump and rich personality that is flanked by a generous bouquet of dark fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. This is a standout Brunello from a classic vintage. That sense of fullness continues to the palate where the wine reveals especially firm tannins and extra fruit extraction. It will be fascinating to revisit this wine in ten years' time.Inc. TAX€1,036.30 -
In the prestigious wine-growing region of Tuscany lies the renowned Poggio San Polo estate, producer of the exquisite Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015. This distinguished wine is cultivated in harmony with the environment from 100% Sangiovese grapes grown on the estate's vineyards, embracing the slopes of Montalcino. Pogo San Polo's distinctive touch is its meticulous fermentation process, completed in custom-built concrete vats, followed by a significant ageing period in large Slavonian oak barrels.
The resultant Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015 is a sophisticated red bursting with robust tannins and a complex nose of blackcurrant, plum, and earthy herbs. Decadent dark chocolate and spicy oak undertones further highlight its profound depth and elegance, promising an enriching, lingering finish. Truly, a magnificent embodiment of Italian artisan tradition, expressing terroir with remarkable finesse.
Inc. TAX€2,180.87 -
The exquisite Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia 2015 is a spectacular expression of stellar winemaking from the heart of Italy's Tuscany region. This exceptional vintage boasts a 100% Sangiovese composition, hand-harvested from the prestigious vineyards of San Polo estate. It imbues the traditional aspects of "Brunello di Montalcino" DOCG with a splendid complexity and depth. Ageing in French oak barrels for 24 months followed by further refinement in the bottle, it embodies multilayered aromas of black cherry, spice, tobacco, and earth which blend harmoniously with the rich velvety tannins and balanced acidity. Crafted by the gifted team of Poggio San Polo, renowned for their commitment to sustainability and premium quality, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia 2015 is a testament to their meticulous approach and deserving of its commendations from industry experts worldwide. A stunning embodiment of Tuscan winemaking that promises an unparalleled sipping experience.
Inc. TAX€2,733.10 -
James Suckling (97)
Intense aromas of blue fruit, lavender and violets. Some sandalwood, too. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and beautiful fruit. Really racy and refined with excellent length. Drinkable now, but a few years of bottle age will make it even more beautiful. Try after 2023.Inc. TAX€533.58 -
Vinous (91)
A powerful, authoritative wine, Renieri's 2011 Brunello di Montalcino possesses terrific depth and overall intensity. Sweet red cherries, mint and dried herbs open up first, followed by expressive floral notes that add attractive aromatic overtones as the wine continues to open up. The 2011 is both deep yet also medium in body, with a layered feel that only adds to its considerable appeal. This is a strong showing from Renieri and proprietor Marco Bacci.Inc. TAX€591.18 -
James Suckling (100)
Earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood rise up from the deep with Burgundian poise; fruitier orange zest and preserved lemons glimmer in their wake, while riper incense and tar lurk in this dense forest of aromas. Physics itself gives way as the line between reduction and oxidation is blurred. There’s such richness to the center palate, but the fruit there is vivacious and elegant, swaddled in robust but generous tannins that breach the outermost reaches of the mouth. The finish is hauntingly long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. This is certainly in a quiet, reserved stage of evolution, and will need time to fully mature in bottle. Drink in 2025.Inc. TAX€450.78 -
James Suckling (100)
A young Brunello with precision and complexity showing violets, blackberries, bramble berries, tea leaf and minerals. Stone undertones, too. Full body, a compressed palate and firm and velvety tannins. Powerful and long. Truly fantastic. Breathtaking. Better in 2018.Inc. TAX€955.98 -
Vinous (92)
A powerful, authoritative wine, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino packs a serious punch. A host of savory, feral notes hit the palate first, followed by an array of dried cherry, dried flowers, tobacco, smoke, leather and cedar. This is one of the rare 2011s with tannins that need time to soften, as well as the density to develop nicely with further time in bottle.Inc. TAX€622.07 -
Vinous (95)
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it's soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long.Inc. TAX€469.98 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Castello Romitorio 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a classic expression of the vintage, showing lots of ripe fruit, crushed mineral, herbal nuances and varietal-driven purity. This wine nails that sweet spot between elegance and power that is not easily achieved. It offers an expanded array of Sangiovese flavors with wild cherry, forest floor, crushed clove and medicinal herb, but it also shows plump density and a velvety texture. Filippo Chia and his team have created a sold wine for medium or long-term drinking. Production is exactly 58,874 bottles.Inc. TAX€379.98 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The Castello Romitorio 2017 Brunello di Montalcino comes from an estate that is quickly becoming a leader in a special niche of the Montalcino market. The wine is modern and soft, showing lots of contained ripeness and creaminess, yet it successfully embraces the fundamentals of the appellation and Sangiovese, thanks to its bright acidity and finely tuned structure. Few wines reach this level of precision, especially in a challenging vintage such as this.Inc. TAX€299.27 -
James Suckling (96)
Extremely perfumed and pure on the nose with bright and vivid, crushed cherry and berry character. Full body. Tight and poised with rich yet polished tannins and an ever so long finish. Needs at least three or four years to come together. Better after 2021.Inc. TAX€1,026.78 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is a remarkably pretty and pure expression of the vintage. It impresses with a lifted yet stimulating display of bright red fruits and savory spice, framed by notes of crushed stone, animal musk and dusty florals. This boasts striking depth and elegant textures, all offset by a mix of tart wild berries and cool-toned acids, as salty minerals create an almost-crunchy feel toward the close. The tannins are firm yet rounded, displaying tremendous balance and length, as the 2016 Filo di Seta never grows tiring or youthfully clenched. That said, the best is yet to come for this complex and age-worthy effort.Inc. TAX€883.98 -
Vinous (93)
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark brooding effort that emerges from the glass with warm notes of mocha, spices, dark fruit, licorice and tar. Rich and voluminous, the wine blossoms on the palate with tons of depth. Sweet notes from the French oak appear on the finish, but everything about this wine is totally seamless and elegant. Though delicious today, the 2004 Riserva is sure to improve in bottle. Sweet tobacco, incense and fennel add complexity on the close.Inc. TAX€1,834.38 -
Wine Spectator (98)
This stunning red exudes bright cherry, blackberry, plum, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, all knit together almost seamlessly, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins. Shows a combination of power and grace, with a long fruit and savory aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2047. 620 cases made, 150 cases imported.Inc. TAX€1,570.38
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Vinous (95)
A taster would never know that the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino hailed from a warm vintage, with its bright and airy bouquet that blends mentholated herbs with exotic spice, worn leather and dusty dried strawberries. This coasts across the palate with ease, zesty and fresh, with tart red berries and sour citrus tones that add tension, yet also maintains a marvelous vibrancy. While long and gently structured still, there’s a finesse here that keeps me looking back to the glass for more, as the 2012 leaves the mouth watering with a tart cherry pit twang. Production was down around 30% in 2012, with a strict selection in the vineyards and a much earlier harvest that ended around September 15th. While drinking this today is certainly an option, there are still many years of evolution in store.In Bond€1,235.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Poggio di Sotto doesn't miss a beat with this very special release. This is a glorious expression of the vintage, and the wine has absorbed the golden sunlight of Tuscany, delivering beautifully ripe, round and subtle fruit layers. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows concentration, but not too much, and richness, but not too much. You get the power and the opulence of the vintage presented with the elegance and grace that is the house style at this venerated estate. Poggio di Sotto is one of the benchmarks of Montalcino, and the winery team continues the tradition with this 22,000-bottle release. There's a lot of red fruit energy deep inside that should stir this wine on course as it ages over the next two decades.In Bond€862.00 -
Falstaff (99)
Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.In Bond€1,070.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.In Bond€973.00 -
Falstaff (98)
Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.In Bond€875.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)
I was able to taste the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino three times for this report, and it’s one of the great wines of the vintage. It takes on a bit more muscular style for the Poggio di Sotto estate, but it retains the DNA of the estate at large with its outstanding clarity. It’s medium ruby-colored and reveals notes of pure cherry, anise, wildflowers, wet stone, and tea leaf. Structured and long on the palate, it has ripe, chiseled tannins, a balanced spine of acidity, and notes of salted orange through the finish, with a long-lasting perfume. Its transparency, balanced with its complexity, makes this one of the most intriguing wines, and if stored properly, it will only improve with time in the cellar.In Bond€1,145.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The Poggio di Sotto 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows extra muscle definition, power and heady layers of rich fruit. This is all in line with the personality of the vintage, which was sunny and warm with golden sunlight throughout the summer season. This wine stands out for its fine-gained texture, which is smooth and polished. This Riserva offers aromas of cherry and blackberry and shows the depth that you should expect of a classic Riserva bottling.In Bond€1,800.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.In Bond€2,425.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2017 Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino will need some time to fully open up. The nose is reticent, requiring quite a bit of coaxing, before a bouquet of fresh sweet strawberry, cherry, Tuscan spice box, dusty florals and hints of mint lift from the glass. On the palate, soft textures flood the senses, offset by tart red fruits, minerals and spice, as the 2018 seems to hover - well poised, almost weightless, yet still fully satisfying. The finish is long and very pretty, as fresh red fruits resonate above a tactile mix of acid, minerals and light tannin, giving way to a singular red floral note that seems to go on for minutes.In Bond€298.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
This wine has more in common with a Brunello than it does a Rosso. Made with certified-organic fruit, Poggio di Sotto's 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a very fine and smooth expression that caresses the senses. The bouquet is enlivened by forest berry, peat moss, lilac and wildflowers. The 2018 vintage is usually understated in personality, but this wine speaks of elegance and nuance. It's just stunning.In Bond€324.00 -
Vinous (95)
Shavings of cedar, blood orange, crushed cherries, dried flowers and stone dust form a mesmerizing bouquet as the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino slowly opens in the glass. There are depths of ripe textural fruits here, offset by zesty spices and bright acidity that sweeten the expression while energizing it as well. A web of fine tannins coats the palate through the finish, coupled with a core of primary concentration and sweet inner florals that seem to never truly fade. What a glorious achievement from Poggio di Sotto. The 2019 spent a whopping 43 days macerating on the skins, followed by 29 months of refinement in cask. It’s undoubtedly a baby Brunello.In Bond€410.00 -
In Bond€346.00
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In Bond€474.00
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In Bond€787.00
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Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity.
Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure.
With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition.
In Bond€477.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is an ambitious wine with a clear message that underlines a quality winemaking philosophy. The wine boasts a plump and rich personality that is flanked by a generous bouquet of dark fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. This is a standout Brunello from a classic vintage. That sense of fullness continues to the palate where the wine reveals especially firm tannins and extra fruit extraction. It will be fascinating to revisit this wine in ten years' time.In Bond€841.00 -
In the prestigious wine-growing region of Tuscany lies the renowned Poggio San Polo estate, producer of the exquisite Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015. This distinguished wine is cultivated in harmony with the environment from 100% Sangiovese grapes grown on the estate's vineyards, embracing the slopes of Montalcino. Pogo San Polo's distinctive touch is its meticulous fermentation process, completed in custom-built concrete vats, followed by a significant ageing period in large Slavonian oak barrels.
The resultant Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015 is a sophisticated red bursting with robust tannins and a complex nose of blackcurrant, plum, and earthy herbs. Decadent dark chocolate and spicy oak undertones further highlight its profound depth and elegance, promising an enriching, lingering finish. Truly, a magnificent embodiment of Italian artisan tradition, expressing terroir with remarkable finesse.
In Bond€1,795.00 -
The exquisite Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia 2015 is a spectacular expression of stellar winemaking from the heart of Italy's Tuscany region. This exceptional vintage boasts a 100% Sangiovese composition, hand-harvested from the prestigious vineyards of San Polo estate. It imbues the traditional aspects of "Brunello di Montalcino" DOCG with a splendid complexity and depth. Ageing in French oak barrels for 24 months followed by further refinement in the bottle, it embodies multilayered aromas of black cherry, spice, tobacco, and earth which blend harmoniously with the rich velvety tannins and balanced acidity. Crafted by the gifted team of Poggio San Polo, renowned for their commitment to sustainability and premium quality, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia 2015 is a testament to their meticulous approach and deserving of its commendations from industry experts worldwide. A stunning embodiment of Tuscan winemaking that promises an unparalleled sipping experience.
In Bond€2,255.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Intense aromas of blue fruit, lavender and violets. Some sandalwood, too. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and beautiful fruit. Really racy and refined with excellent length. Drinkable now, but a few years of bottle age will make it even more beautiful. Try after 2023.In Bond€426.00 -
Vinous (91)
A powerful, authoritative wine, Renieri's 2011 Brunello di Montalcino possesses terrific depth and overall intensity. Sweet red cherries, mint and dried herbs open up first, followed by expressive floral notes that add attractive aromatic overtones as the wine continues to open up. The 2011 is both deep yet also medium in body, with a layered feel that only adds to its considerable appeal. This is a strong showing from Renieri and proprietor Marco Bacci.In Bond€474.00 -
James Suckling (100)
Earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood rise up from the deep with Burgundian poise; fruitier orange zest and preserved lemons glimmer in their wake, while riper incense and tar lurk in this dense forest of aromas. Physics itself gives way as the line between reduction and oxidation is blurred. There’s such richness to the center palate, but the fruit there is vivacious and elegant, swaddled in robust but generous tannins that breach the outermost reaches of the mouth. The finish is hauntingly long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. This is certainly in a quiet, reserved stage of evolution, and will need time to fully mature in bottle. Drink in 2025.In Bond€357.00 -
James Suckling (100)
A young Brunello with precision and complexity showing violets, blackberries, bramble berries, tea leaf and minerals. Stone undertones, too. Full body, a compressed palate and firm and velvety tannins. Powerful and long. Truly fantastic. Breathtaking. Better in 2018.In Bond€778.00 -
Vinous (92)
A powerful, authoritative wine, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino packs a serious punch. A host of savory, feral notes hit the palate first, followed by an array of dried cherry, dried flowers, tobacco, smoke, leather and cedar. This is one of the rare 2011s with tannins that need time to soften, as well as the density to develop nicely with further time in bottle.In Bond€496.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it's soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long.In Bond€373.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Castello Romitorio 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a classic expression of the vintage, showing lots of ripe fruit, crushed mineral, herbal nuances and varietal-driven purity. This wine nails that sweet spot between elegance and power that is not easily achieved. It offers an expanded array of Sangiovese flavors with wild cherry, forest floor, crushed clove and medicinal herb, but it also shows plump density and a velvety texture. Filippo Chia and his team have created a sold wine for medium or long-term drinking. Production is exactly 58,874 bottles.In Bond€298.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The Castello Romitorio 2017 Brunello di Montalcino comes from an estate that is quickly becoming a leader in a special niche of the Montalcino market. The wine is modern and soft, showing lots of contained ripeness and creaminess, yet it successfully embraces the fundamentals of the appellation and Sangiovese, thanks to its bright acidity and finely tuned structure. Few wines reach this level of precision, especially in a challenging vintage such as this.In Bond€227.00 -
James Suckling (96)
Extremely perfumed and pure on the nose with bright and vivid, crushed cherry and berry character. Full body. Tight and poised with rich yet polished tannins and an ever so long finish. Needs at least three or four years to come together. Better after 2021.In Bond€837.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is a remarkably pretty and pure expression of the vintage. It impresses with a lifted yet stimulating display of bright red fruits and savory spice, framed by notes of crushed stone, animal musk and dusty florals. This boasts striking depth and elegant textures, all offset by a mix of tart wild berries and cool-toned acids, as salty minerals create an almost-crunchy feel toward the close. The tannins are firm yet rounded, displaying tremendous balance and length, as the 2016 Filo di Seta never grows tiring or youthfully clenched. That said, the best is yet to come for this complex and age-worthy effort.In Bond€718.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark brooding effort that emerges from the glass with warm notes of mocha, spices, dark fruit, licorice and tar. Rich and voluminous, the wine blossoms on the palate with tons of depth. Sweet notes from the French oak appear on the finish, but everything about this wine is totally seamless and elegant. Though delicious today, the 2004 Riserva is sure to improve in bottle. Sweet tobacco, incense and fennel add complexity on the close.In Bond€1,510.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
This stunning red exudes bright cherry, blackberry, plum, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, all knit together almost seamlessly, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins. Shows a combination of power and grace, with a long fruit and savory aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2047. 620 cases made, 150 cases imported.In Bond€1,290.00
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.
