Brunello di Montalcino

Score

100

"The drop-dead gorgeous Gianni Brunelli stopped me in my tracks with its stunning fragrance of freshly picked violet, iris, forest berry, leather and eucalyptus. All about extreme elegance, the palate is equally captivating, delivering layers of succulent Morello cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange, dark spice and crushed mint. Taut, ultra-refined tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity keeps it vibrant and impeccably balanced. While it™s already incredibly tempting, it also promises years of graceful aging. Hats off to Laura Brunelli and her team."

Score

97

"Pouring a bright red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is persistent and fantastic, with youthful tension and expressive aromatics of Bing cherries, orange zest, and iron-tinged earth. The palate is medium-bodied and focused, with refined tannins, refreshing acidity, and savory length framed by salty earth and bright fruit through the finish. It™s a complete, elegant Brunello that should continue to improve with time in bottle. Drink 2027-2047."

Score

96+

"A polished and finely detailed expression, the Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2021 Brunello di Montalcino showcases tension and subtle sweetness carried across a taut, silky palate with beautifully textured tannins. Dusty mineral notes add definition and lift, while the overall impression remains ethereal and weightless, a hallmark of the estate™s precision with Sangiovese in this classic vintage. The wine balances finesse and structure with remarkable poise. Production totals 15,715 bottles, including 180 magnums and other larger formats."

Score

95

"Dried flowers mix with crushed rocks, grilled herbs and spiced orange peels as the darkly alluring 2021 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up from the glass. The wine is polished in feel, silken and serene with a harmonious mix of tantalizing acidity, minerals and ripe red and black fruits. While tannic, the tannins are round and refined, leaving a classically dry sensation as hints of licorice and cedary spice fade."

Score

94

"Slightly earthy, almost tarry nose of deep red and dark fruit and hints of chocolate and spices. The palate shows balance and poise, with a medium to full body, very fine tannins and vivid acidity. Smooth and well integrated, with a lingering, lightly savory finish. Better from 2028."

Score

17+

"Youthful-looking mid ruby. Balsamic hints over brooding rich fruit. Supple juicy fruit with plenty of acidity and fine chewy tannins. Very elegant, long and still a little embryonic. -WS"

Score

99

"#9 Top 100 Italian Wines of 2023: 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"

Score

98

"Just below Biondi-Santi in southeast Montalcino, this is one of the most classic estates of the denomination. The 2019 has a deep nose of amazing fruit ranging from cherry to strawberry, soaked with fresh violet, liquorice and vibrant minerality. It's loaded with racy acidity and firm, velvety, super-ripe tannins; lavish and polished. The wine is aged for 29 months in Slavonian oak, of which a third is renewed every year."

Score

98+

"Displaying a deeper though youthful red hue, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is expressive with cherry liqueur notes coaxing from the glass, and it is well-woven with plush, refined aromas of fresh leather, crushed flowers, mocha, and fresh herbs. Expressive, with focused clarity, a great, pure feel, notes of blood orange, and mineral undercurrents all weaving together through the palate, it™s long and pure, with noble structure and balanced energy. Bursting with life and refinement, it offers nervous tension and a lingering perfume of dried apricot on the finish. At this youthful stage, there™s a hint of oak spice that frames the wine beautifully, but it demands cellaring to come together further. This is going to be one to cellar and drink over the coming decades. Drink 2027-2050."

Score

97

"Aromas of ripe berry, forest floor, camphor and new leather form the nose. Juicy and delicious, the elegant palate has an enticing, pristine purity of fruit, delivering succulent red cherry and raspberry compote punctuated with black tea and white pepper before closing on a hint of almond. Vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins provide support. Drink through 2023†2030. 14% abv. Kerin O,Keefe November 2022 'kerinokeefe.com"

Score

96

Score

96

"The nose starts sanguine and savory, with notes of tar and soil, then turns lighter and fresher with aromas of blood orange, cranberries, cherries and roses. The palate is cherry-forward, with a sunny citrus warmth, but a gust of mint provides freshness and balance, while acid sizzles around structured, stoic tannins like flames lapping at the slats of a grill. Skurnik Wines, Inc. ‡D.C."

Score

95+

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino does a great job of capturing the essence and the spirit of Sangiovese, a grape that delivers infinitely nuanced and complex results when in the right hands. This wine reveals wild cherry, blue violet, blood orange, rusty nail and sweet earth. There is a hint of scorched earth or baked clay that underlines the warmest months in this growing cycle. The results are balanced and fresh. I've mentioned alcohol content throughout this report, and although the 14% registered here is still quite high, is it below the average for its peers. This is a job very well done. Some 15,700 bottles, 200 magnums and 30 three-liter bottles were released."

Score

95

"The salty, herbaceous nose features aromas of rocks, tar, herbs, soil, tomato leaf and wild oregano, while sweet cherries and tart raspberries bring a bolt of energy to the palate, and a salty, acidic current creates a buoyant overall feel. " Danielle Callegari"

Score

94

Score

94

Score

94

"Fresh and fruity, boasting cherry, raspberry and plum flavors augmented by underbrush and iron notes. This firms up quickly, with dusty tannins paving the way on the finish. The lasting impression is fruit. Best from 2026 through 2042. "B.S."

Score

93

"As with the 2017 vintage, Laura Brunelli will not be releasing a Riserva. Instead, the Olmo vineyard which typically forms the backbone of the latter is an important component in this annata Brunello, making for a lovely and complete wine. Mint, lavender and fennel lead on the nose while sweet, succulent persimmon and crunchy pomegranate provide the backdrop on the palate, and the chalky tannins are rather sneaky in their grasp. There's a superficial accessibility, but substance, intrigue and backbone suggest even more to come."

Score

93

"Enticing nose of rosemary, wild cherries, lemon peel, chocolate strawberries and praline. It,s medium-bodied with a bright, fruit-forward palate, framed by fine-grained tannins. All in balance. Drink from 2023."

Score

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."

Score

93

"Laced with cherry and raspberry fruit, this red also offers eucalyptus, mineral, earth and almond flavors. Vibrant and balanced, with an intense, mouthwatering finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. ‡B.S."

Score

92

Score

92

Score

91