Wine Advocate (98)

Here's a wine that embodies the spirit of the vintage. It comes from a small one-hectare vineyard site located on the crest of a hill, or the so-called "donkey's spine" maybe because it looks like a schiena d'asino or maybe because the labor-intensive farming broke its proverbial back. The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino shows a sweet spot with ripe red cherry and plump blackberry or plum. It segues slowly to spice, tar and licorice. This wine is a bit more streamlined and linear compared to the Vigna Loreto, and the Vigna Schiena d'Asino is also longer, deeper and more nuanced in comparison. It finishes with a beautiful blast of bight cherry. This wine is truly beautiful. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and we can look forward to this wine's release in September 2020.

Wine Advocate (98)

Here's a wine that embodies the spirit of the vintage. It comes from a small one-hectare vineyard site located on the crest of a hill, or the so-called "donkey's spine" maybe because it looks like a schiena d'asino or maybe because the labor-intensive farming broke its proverbial back. The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino shows a sweet spot with ripe red cherry and plump blackberry or plum. It segues slowly to spice, tar and licorice. This wine is a bit more streamlined and linear compared to the Vigna Loreto, and the Vigna Schiena d'Asino is also longer, deeper and more nuanced in comparison. It finishes with a beautiful blast of bight cherry. This wine is truly beautiful. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and we can look forward to this wine's release in September 2020.

Expressing an unmatched elegance, the Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino 2018 is an exquisite Italian wine effortlessly encapsulating the rich terroir of the Montalcino region, Tuscany. This exceptional Brunello, crafted by the esteemed Mastrojanni Estate, is born from the meticulous selection of Sangiovese grapes harvested from the vineyard Schiena d'Asino. This south-east facing vineyard at 350m above sea level, benefits from a sunny and dry climate yielding grapes with a perfect balance of sugar and acidity.

Following fermenting in concrete vats, the wine matures gracefully for three years in oak barrels, which imparts complex flavour profiles and a polished texture. On the palate, expect profound notes of dark cherries and delicate hints of Mediterranean herbs, followed by elegantly structured tannins. The Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino 2018 is an eloquent testament to the estate's commitment to winemaking excellence.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

Expressive and pure, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Schiena D'Asino offers layered aromatics of cherry cordial, pressed roses, incense, and candied licorice. The palate is medium-bodied, with resonating volume, focused acidity, and brisk, well-defined tannins, as well as persistent mouthwatering salinity and orange peel notes that last long on the finish. It’s a fabulous Brunello to drink over the coming 15 years or more. Drink 2026-2045.

Indulge in the exquisite Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto 2020, a standout Tuscan red from the prestigious Mastrojanni winery. Internationally recognised, Mastrojanni sources its grapes from the fabled Montalcino region, using traditional winemaking methods to capture Italy's heritage in every bottle. The 2020 Vigna Palazzetto, handcrafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, captivates us with remarkable elegance and depth.

Matured for a year in Allier tonneaux, this fine wine epitomises boldness and durability, characteristic of the region's robust terroir. The palate reveals intriguing notes of ripe red fruits, subtle spices and earthy undertones, underpinned by balanced acidity and a textured finish. It pairs excellently with rich meats and bold flavours, elevating every dining experience.

With only limited bottles produced annually, the Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto 2020 is indeed a rare find for any wine lover, and an aromatic journey through one of Italy's most revered wine regions.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

This is savoury, dry in the best possible way, with a ton of red fruits, dried roses and herbs, and waves of fragrance. It’s a successful blend where the Sangiovese is dominant, conferring the wine with its warm personality but the Cabernet Sauvignon adds a touch of austerity to the tannins and a sense of quiet confidence. Turmeric and olive tapenade as it opens, alongside raspberry, red cherry and smoky oak, the whole thing both extremely delicate and intensely fragrant. Can drink now with a short carafe - there are tannins here but they are well defined and finely layered - but it will also age. Small amounts of the 2018 were released last winter, but this September sees the first proper release through the Place de Bordeaux. Ageing 18 months in small French oak barrels, 70% new, plus four months in concrete tanks afterwards. One to look out for - great stuff from the Mazzei family, that has been making wine in Tuscany since the 15th century.

Vinous (89+)

Medium bright red. Subdued, slightly warm aromas and flavors of red cherry, sweet spices and underbrush. Then at once sweet and sturdy in the mid-palate, with precise red cherry and redcurrant fruit flavors, but turns a touch dry on the back end. This kght come around in a few years.

James Suckling (94)

A big and rich Brunello with lots of walnuts, coffee and berries. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful aftertaste. Plenty here. Needs time to soften and come together. Try in 2019.

Kerin O'Keefe (97)

Showing intensity and elegance, the delicious Padelletti 2019 Brunello is a stunner, starting with enticing aromas of dog rose, violet, forest berry, dark spice, crushed mint and a whiff of flint. On the linear, precise palate, a backbone of firm but refined tannins and bright acidity support juicy red cherry, orange zest, licorice and tobacco. Lay this down for several more years and you’ll be rewarded with even more complexity. Drink 2028–2044.

Vinous (97)

Pian dell’Orino’s 2006 Brunello di Montalcino was another towering wine. Though not quite as overt and powerful as the Cerbaoina, it too, was remarkably polished and sophisticated. Pian dell’Orino remains one of the most overlooked estates in Montalcino, but the wines rarely fail to deliver the goods.

Vinous (97)

Pian dell’Orino’s 2006 Brunello di Montalcino was another towering wine. Though not quite as overt and powerful as the Cerbaoina, it too, was remarkably polished and sophisticated. Pian dell’Orino remains one of the most overlooked estates in Montalcino, but the wines rarely fail to deliver the goods.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is more than a worthy follow up to the spectacular 2006. Freshly cut flowers, violets, licorice, leather and tar meld into layers of dark fruit in a dazzling display of elegance and power. Silky tannins and expressive perfumed notes both add further refinement on the huge, explosive finish. The combination of ripeness of the year allied to a classic sense of structure is immensely appealing. This is one of the few 2007s I tasted that still needs time in the cellar, even though today it is flat-out stunning. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is more than a worthy follow up to the spectacular 2006. Freshly cut flowers, violets, licorice, leather and tar meld into layers of dark fruit in a dazzling display of elegance and power. Silky tannins and expressive perfumed notes both add further refinement on the huge, explosive finish. The combination of ripeness of the year allied to a classic sense of structure is immensely appealing. This is one of the few 2007s I tasted that still needs time in the cellar, even though today it is flat-out stunning. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Vinous (93)

Good bright medium red. Captivating aromas of red cherry, violet, licorice and tobacco are complicated by a note of gunflint. Lush and sweet but with outstanding definition and lift to the flavors of raspberry, red cherry jelly, minerals and mocha. The juicy, long finish features smooth, sweet tannins that expand with air and repeating notes of red cherry and flint. A fleshier than usual style of Brunello for owners Jan Erbach and Caroline Pobizer, but this creamy, ripe wine is once again one of the handful of top wines of the Denominazione. In fact, Erbach told me he much prefers this wine to the wonderful '08 he made last year.

The Pian dell'Orino Brunello di Montalcino 2010 hails from the idyllic hills of Tuscany, crafted meticulously by the esteemed Pian dell'Orino winery. The distinctive terroir, consisting of marl and limestone-rich hills, provides the stage for these exceptional Sangiovese grapes.

Savour the garnet hue and aroma of wild cherries and spices, a testament to the artisanal biodynamic farming methods. The Brunello di Montalcino 2010 offers a rich, full-bodied palate, laced with velvety tannins. But it's the persistence of its classically Tuscan bright, tart, and tangy flavour that sets this vintage apart.

Jan Hendrik Erbach and Caroline Pobitzer, Pian dell'Orino's passionate custodians, produce a limited quantity to ensure impeccable quality. Their philosophy of 'less is more' is echoed in every sip of the Pian dell'Orino Brunello di Montalcino 2010, underlining its status as a paragon amongst Italian wines. Truly, a treasure for every connoisseur's cellar.

Vinous (97+)

Autumnal spices, sweet herbs and white smoke give way to ripe cherries and hints of licorice as the deeply seductive 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra unfolds in the glass. This envelops the palate in opulent textural fruits (red and hints of blue), with balsam herbs and nuances of candied citrus lifted by bright acidity. Sweet tannins frame the expression nicely through the slightly candied finish; yet make no mistake, while the Bassolino di Sopra may show the sunny nature of the 2015 vintage, it does so in a wonderfully harmonious way. This single-vineyard Brunello is simply a pleasure to taste and will continue to wow readers over the next 15–20 years.

Vinous (97)

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneti del Versante is impossible to ignore. It entices the senses with a burst of crushed cherries and strawberries before giving way to hints of cedar shavings and worn leather. This displays remarkable balance, silken yet energetic, with red berry fruit and tinges of blood orange and spice swirling throughout. It leaves a tart cranberry concentration offset by violet inner florals and balsam herbs, tapering off long and gently tannic while leaving a lingering, pleasantly chewy sensation.

Vinous (97)

Luminous red. Very deep, complex, expressive aromas of red cherry, raspberry, balsamic oils, violet, and sweet spices on the highly perfumed nose; you can definitely recognize the terroir of Sesta here. Clean, juicy and suave, with multilayered, rich flavors similar to the aromas and an almost smoky nuance. Finishes very long with rising, noble tannins and a saline note. This is an absolutely knockout Brunello that is drinking already very well but will have no difficulty lasting another 12-15 years. Made with grapes from the Scopeta, Cancello Rosso and Bassolino di Sopra vineyards.

Vinous (97)

Luminous deep red. Aromas of herbs (thyme, rosemary, bay leaf), sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) and ripe red cherry. Very saline, juicy acidity lifts and extends the blue and red berry flavors on the long delicately herbal and spicy finish. Very ready to drink, but will age well. This will go on sale at the end of this year.

Vinous (98)

Crushed stone, wild herbs and tart black cherries lift up from the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneti del Versante, but that’s only the beginning. With time, this blossoms further, gaining a sweeter fruit profile and autumnal spices with hints of shaved cedar. Its textures are remarkably refined and silky in feel, with an intense concentration of tart red fruits, yet energy is maintained through brilliant acidity, as grippy tannins build steadily toward the close. The Vigneti del Versante tapers off with amazing length, youthful poise and a balanced structure, promising many, many years of positive evolution. This is really something to behold. I tasted the 2016 from a freshly opened bottle and from one that had been opened for two days prior that showed no signs of decline; in fact, it blossomed further. Simply stunning.