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 | 1 | 91+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€105.42 |
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Vinous (91+)The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino comes across as very, very young and in need of serious bottle age. I suspect the 2008 will always be a bit of a brute, but at the same time it is quite beautiful. Savory herbs, licorice, tobacco, incense and leather wrap around the palate as the 2008 shows off its considerable personality. The 2008 doesn't have the immediate appeal of some other recent vintages, but I will not be surprised if it turns out to be even better than this note suggests. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€137.64 |
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Vinous (95+)The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as impressive as it was last year. Explosive, intense and beautifully delineated, the Riserva deftly balances finesse and power. Sweet dark cherry, plum, mint, spice and new leather meld together in a sumptuous, layered Brunello built on class. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€133.15 |
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Vinous (95+)Bright medium red. Flint and tar complicate aromas of strawberry and tobacco. Sweet and lush on the palate, showing outstanding lift and floral perfume to the wild red cherry and herbal flavors. Rich, deep and very well balanced, this finishes long with subtly building sweetness and lovely floral lift. Superb Brunello. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€140.64 |
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Vinous (96)The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a bouquet that is dark and captivating, reminding me of picking ripe strawberries right off the vine, as its pretty, dark red fruits mingle with earth tones and hints of floral stems, then spiced orange and sweet minerality slowly develope in the glass. On the palate, it floods the senses with textures like fine velvet, yet not heavy in any way, instead guided by brisk acids and minerals, carrying fleshy dark red fruits with hints of savory herbs and spice. As the textural experience comes to a close, it reveals a coating of round tannins, with sweet red fruits, spices and pretty floral tones lingering on and on. What a gorgeous expression of vintage character complemented by this house's classic style. Even in its youth, the 2015 Gianni Brunelli will have a lot of fans, but it should also do well over the next ten to fifteen years in the cellar. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€849.18 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a stunning wine with so much vitality, life and energy. It shows a brazen level of clarity and frankness. If you seek the truth in Sangiovese, I think you find it here. This Brunello unfolds to lasting purity, elegance and length. It is luminous and radiant. When tasted next to the 2015 Riserva from this estate (something I did on multiple passes), I continued to recognize the lifted and exciting personality of this wine next to the broader and heavier character of the Riserva. This Brunello shows extreme precision and focus, both to the bouquet and the mouthfeel. Wild berry, blue flower and licorice converge to perfection, and it's impossible to beat this quality at this price. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€401.03 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is deeply expressive, showing peppery red berries and pomegranate plus hints of tomato leaf and sage, reminding me of that moment you add fresh herbs to a just-finished ragù. This is pure silk on the palate, rich and pliant, as it slowly saturates the senses with mineral-laced red and hints of blue fruit. Intensely primary and licorice-tinged, it tapers off grippy and classically dry to lasting rosy florals. The 2017 is a bit like a tamed beast of a Brunello. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€341.03 |
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Vinous (93)The darkly alluring 2018 Brunello di Montalcino grumbles up from the glass, with a mix of crushed plums and black cherries complemented by rubbed sage nuances. It’s soft-textured and deep, engulfing the palate in ripe wild berry fruit and spice, underscored by a savory herbaceous steak. A web of fine tannins is left to linger, creating a truly classic impression, as mentholated herbs and hints of wild strawberry linger on and on. This youthfully masked beauty will only require minimal cellaring to show its best. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (KO) |
Inc. TAX
€489.83 |
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Kerin O'Keefe (99)The gorgeous 2019 Brunello from Gianni Brunelli pulls you in, with its quintessential Brunello fragrance composed of underbrush, woodland berry, botanical herb and wild rose. Savory and all about finesse, the delicious palate shows elegant restraint and energy, delivering juicy red cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and crushed mint alongside polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it beautifully balanced. Hats off to Laura Brunelli, this is an absolutely enthralling wine. Drink 2027–2039. Abv: 14% Kerin O’Keefe November 2023 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€131.95 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96+)Pouring a medium red hue, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino shows more depth at first impression, with darker cherry fruit, licorice, and deeper mineral tones on the nose, while still holding onto terrific clarity. The palate is medium to full-bodied and long, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a salty finish that stays focused and energetic without drifting toward oxidation. It’s showing beautifully today and should drink well for 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046. |
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Tuscany | 40 | 96+ (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€402.94 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96+)Pouring a medium red hue, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino shows more depth at first impression, with darker cherry fruit, licorice, and deeper mineral tones on the nose, while still holding onto terrific clarity. The palate is medium to full-bodied and long, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a salty finish that stays focused and energetic without drifting toward oxidation. It’s showing beautifully today and should drink well for 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€793.43 |
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Tuscany | 3 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€836.63 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)Pouring a bright red hue, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is expressive and pure, with layered notes of cherry cordial, blood orange, cranberries, and a touch of white smoke. The palate is full-bodied yet weightless, with coiled, ripe tannins, bright acidity, and mouthwatering salinity that amplifies everything without feeling heavy. It’s exceptionally young and tense today, with a long, resonant finish, and it should be a brilliant wine to cellar for decades. Drink 2027-2057. |
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Tuscany | 6 | 93 (DC) |
Inc. TAX
€206.63 |
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Decanter (93)Recent years have seen Gianni Brunelli’s fame and reputation rise. After his passing in 2008, his wife, Laura continued to manage the estate and today it is one of the most sought after producers of Brunello, whose wines are tightly allocated. To experience her meticulous, fastidious style, pick up this Rosso which is complete and harmonious, with fresh fruit, attractive notes of liquorice and tea leaf, and excellent balance. All in all, a lovely expression of Montalcino Sangiovese that has been given a year’s ageing in cask. A little less open than some, this could benefit from another year in bottle before starting to drink. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€353.28 |
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James Suckling (100)This is a splendid Brunello, showing extraordinary purity of sangiovese character. Cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with incredibly integrated tannins that seem like they are not there. But they are and are comprehensive on the palate. Great depth and agility. Just floats on the palate. Magic carpet. Drinkable, to enjoy the magic, but needs three or four years to come around. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€750.23 |
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James Suckling (100)This is a splendid Brunello, showing extraordinary purity of sangiovese character. Cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with incredibly integrated tannins that seem like they are not there. But they are and are comprehensive on the palate. Great depth and agility. Just floats on the palate. Magic carpet. Drinkable, to enjoy the magic, but needs three or four years to come around. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€335.28 |
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James Suckling (100)Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023. |
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Tuscany | 29 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. TAX
€861.35 |
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James Suckling (100)Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 91+ (VN) |
In Bond
€84.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91+)The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino comes across as very, very young and in need of serious bottle age. I suspect the 2008 will always be a bit of a brute, but at the same time it is quite beautiful. Savory herbs, licorice, tobacco, incense and leather wrap around the palate as the 2008 shows off its considerable personality. The 2008 doesn't have the immediate appeal of some other recent vintages, but I will not be surprised if it turns out to be even better than this note suggests. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
€111.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95+)The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as impressive as it was last year. Explosive, intense and beautifully delineated, the Riserva deftly balances finesse and power. Sweet dark cherry, plum, mint, spice and new leather meld together in a sumptuous, layered Brunello built on class. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
€107.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95+)Bright medium red. Flint and tar complicate aromas of strawberry and tobacco. Sweet and lush on the palate, showing outstanding lift and floral perfume to the wild red cherry and herbal flavors. Rich, deep and very well balanced, this finishes long with subtly building sweetness and lovely floral lift. Superb Brunello. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
€114.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a bouquet that is dark and captivating, reminding me of picking ripe strawberries right off the vine, as its pretty, dark red fruits mingle with earth tones and hints of floral stems, then spiced orange and sweet minerality slowly develope in the glass. On the palate, it floods the senses with textures like fine velvet, yet not heavy in any way, instead guided by brisk acids and minerals, carrying fleshy dark red fruits with hints of savory herbs and spice. As the textural experience comes to a close, it reveals a coating of round tannins, with sweet red fruits, spices and pretty floral tones lingering on and on. What a gorgeous expression of vintage character complemented by this house's classic style. Even in its youth, the 2015 Gianni Brunelli will have a lot of fans, but it should also do well over the next ten to fifteen years in the cellar. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
€689.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a stunning wine with so much vitality, life and energy. It shows a brazen level of clarity and frankness. If you seek the truth in Sangiovese, I think you find it here. This Brunello unfolds to lasting purity, elegance and length. It is luminous and radiant. When tasted next to the 2015 Riserva from this estate (something I did on multiple passes), I continued to recognize the lifted and exciting personality of this wine next to the broader and heavier character of the Riserva. This Brunello shows extreme precision and focus, both to the bouquet and the mouthfeel. Wild berry, blue flower and licorice converge to perfection, and it's impossible to beat this quality at this price. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
€312.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is deeply expressive, showing peppery red berries and pomegranate plus hints of tomato leaf and sage, reminding me of that moment you add fresh herbs to a just-finished ragù. This is pure silk on the palate, rich and pliant, as it slowly saturates the senses with mineral-laced red and hints of blue fruit. Intensely primary and licorice-tinged, it tapers off grippy and classically dry to lasting rosy florals. The 2017 is a bit like a tamed beast of a Brunello. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
€262.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The darkly alluring 2018 Brunello di Montalcino grumbles up from the glass, with a mix of crushed plums and black cherries complemented by rubbed sage nuances. It’s soft-textured and deep, engulfing the palate in ripe wild berry fruit and spice, underscored by a savory herbaceous steak. A web of fine tannins is left to linger, creating a truly classic impression, as mentholated herbs and hints of wild strawberry linger on and on. This youthfully masked beauty will only require minimal cellaring to show its best. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 99 (KO) |
In Bond
€386.00 |
|||||
Kerin O'Keefe (99)The gorgeous 2019 Brunello from Gianni Brunelli pulls you in, with its quintessential Brunello fragrance composed of underbrush, woodland berry, botanical herb and wild rose. Savory and all about finesse, the delicious palate shows elegant restraint and energy, delivering juicy red cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and crushed mint alongside polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it beautifully balanced. Hats off to Laura Brunelli, this is an absolutely enthralling wine. Drink 2027–2039. Abv: 14% Kerin O’Keefe November 2023 |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (JD) |
In Bond
€106.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)Pouring a medium red hue, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino shows more depth at first impression, with darker cherry fruit, licorice, and deeper mineral tones on the nose, while still holding onto terrific clarity. The palate is medium to full-bodied and long, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a salty finish that stays focused and energetic without drifting toward oxidation. It’s showing beautifully today and should drink well for 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 40 | 96+ (JD) |
In Bond
€312.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)Pouring a medium red hue, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino shows more depth at first impression, with darker cherry fruit, licorice, and deeper mineral tones on the nose, while still holding onto terrific clarity. The palate is medium to full-bodied and long, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a salty finish that stays focused and energetic without drifting toward oxidation. It’s showing beautifully today and should drink well for 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
€639.00 |
|||||
|
|
Tuscany | 3 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
€675.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Pouring a bright red hue, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is expressive and pure, with layered notes of cherry cordial, blood orange, cranberries, and a touch of white smoke. The palate is full-bodied yet weightless, with coiled, ripe tannins, bright acidity, and mouthwatering salinity that amplifies everything without feeling heavy. It’s exceptionally young and tense today, with a long, resonant finish, and it should be a brilliant wine to cellar for decades. Drink 2027-2057. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 6 | 93 (DC) |
In Bond
€150.00 |
|||||
Decanter (93)Recent years have seen Gianni Brunelli’s fame and reputation rise. After his passing in 2008, his wife, Laura continued to manage the estate and today it is one of the most sought after producers of Brunello, whose wines are tightly allocated. To experience her meticulous, fastidious style, pick up this Rosso which is complete and harmonious, with fresh fruit, attractive notes of liquorice and tea leaf, and excellent balance. All in all, a lovely expression of Montalcino Sangiovese that has been given a year’s ageing in cask. A little less open than some, this could benefit from another year in bottle before starting to drink. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€287.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)This is a splendid Brunello, showing extraordinary purity of sangiovese character. Cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with incredibly integrated tannins that seem like they are not there. But they are and are comprehensive on the palate. Great depth and agility. Just floats on the palate. Magic carpet. Drinkable, to enjoy the magic, but needs three or four years to come around. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€603.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)This is a splendid Brunello, showing extraordinary purity of sangiovese character. Cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with incredibly integrated tannins that seem like they are not there. But they are and are comprehensive on the palate. Great depth and agility. Just floats on the palate. Magic carpet. Drinkable, to enjoy the magic, but needs three or four years to come around. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 3 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€272.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 29 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
€703.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)Seamless is a great way to describe this red wine with intense aromas of plums, cherries, walnut and sandalwood. Some lightly toasted oak, roses and lavender as well. Really aromatic. The palate is full and extremely polished with super fine tannins that go on for minutes and spread across your palate. A great wine, following the perfect, 100-point 2015. Better to start drinking this after 2023. |
|||||||||
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.
