Restrained yet intense wine. The nose is fresh with red cherries and pomegranates, integrated violets and a rose-water touch, as well as a vibrant, schist undertone. Full-bodied and graceful, with super elegant tannins, juicy acidity and a long, tense finish. Drinkable now, but best after 2025. Score - 95. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 25, 2024)
The Fattoria dei Barbi 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Fiore adds an extra layer of aromatic intensity compared to the village release. The wine is redolent of forest berry, sour cherry and blue flower. The bouquet remains a little closed initially. This is a wine that will certainly benefit from cellar aging. Drink date: 2026-2040. Score - 95. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Nov. 21, 2024)
This is vibrant and fresh with firm, integrated tannins that melt into the wine. Medium-bodied, but with tension, focus and length. A bitter-orange note comes through. Drinkable now, but better in 2026. Score - 97. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 26, 2024)
Sour cherry, rose hip, sanguine and iron aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this ripe, energetic red. Its texture borders on viscous, buffering the pointed tannins, while the layers of flavor build to the long, flinty and stony aftertaste, which completes the profile. Best from 2027 through 2045. Score - 95. (Bruce Sanderson, winespectator.com, June 30, 2025)
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Pian di Conte is intense, with a burst of split pine, cedar shavings, dried flowers and mentholated herbs forming its smoky bouquet. This envelops the palate with silky textures and ripe wild berry fruits, taking on a flinty-mineral concentration that adds lovely depth toward the close. Sweet tannins frame the experience as the 2019 finishes with a spicy twang as hints of violet pastille and tart cranberry contrast through the finish. The 2019 demands further cellaring to come together, but it's a gorgeous interpretation of Pian di Conte. Drinking window: 2028-2040. Score - 97. (Eric Guido, vinous.com, Nov. 26, 2024)
Very aromatic with cherry and orange-blossom character, following through to a medium to full body with a solid core of fruit and crunchy, creamy tannins that open to a beautiful aftertaste. This needs three or four years to soften and refine, but it's already impressive. Try after 2028. Score - 95. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 24, 2024)
Dusted blackberries, sweet spice, cloves, rubbed sage, cedar box and smoke can all be found in the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino. Velvety, nearly creamy yet lively, it washes across the palate with a dense wave of mineral-tinged dark red fruits underscored by saline minerals, all held together by a core of brisk acidity. It finishes staining, long and concentrated with edgy tannins that will require patience to resolve fully. This is a glorious rendition of Vigna Schiena d'Asino. Drinking window: 2027-2042. Score - 97. (Eric Guido, vinous.com, Dec. 7, 2023)
Sourced from a single, organically farmed hillside vineyard overlooking the Orcia River, this wine's name literally means 'windy hill.' Elegant, dark and distinctive, it's structured to evolve favourably through 2030 and beyond.
This is a really balanced and pretty young Brunello with dark-cherry and citrus character on both the nose and palate. It's medium-bodied with integrated tannins and a beautiful, succulent finish. Nicely done. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years. Score - 95. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 23, 2024)
Filippo Chia and his team kill it in this vintage. The Castello Romitorio 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is a beautiful and balanced wine. This estate is making some of the best Brunellos from Montalcino today. In the not too distant past, its vineyards were once considered too cool for ideal fruit ripening, but with climate change, the vines are now in a prime position for balanced phenolics, sugars and acidity. This wine shows a wide and complete bouquet, spanning many aromas, all delivered with direct vertical intensity. This is one of the delightful oxymorons that occurs with fine wine. It shows soft, building intensity, but most importantly, the fruit quality is bright and fresh (with 7,760 bottles made). This is a keeper. Drink date: 2026-2045. Score - 98. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Nov. 21, 2024)
North-west of the name, solid design, with qualitative results of good constancy. Aroma that opens on notes of white currant, then bergamot and cinnamon, with touches of clementine zest. Salty to the palate, with return of citrus sensations and small fruits. Score - 97+. (Luca Gardini, gardininotes.com, Oct. 2024)
The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne (with 8,700 bottles coming to the market at the new year) has a slightly darker character with more savory tones compared to the already toasty classic Brunello from the same vintage. Made with organic fruit, the wine shows hints of fireplace soot, Viennese coffee and grilled herb over a full-bodied texture. The tannins are well managed and so is the acidity. This is the first vintage in which 'Prime Donne' has earned recognition as an official 'vigna,' or vineyard, in the appellation. Drink date: 2026-2040. Score - 94. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Nov. 21, 2024)
A very attractive young Brunello with cherries and a light sandalwood undertone. It's medium-bodied with a pretty structure of polished tannins and a long, direct finish. Very well crafted. A new, single-parcel wine from here. Best after 2027. Score - 95. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 25, 2024)
Attractive dark berries and orange peel with an orange-blossom undertone. It's medium- to full-bodied with round, chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Needs three or four years to soften, but shows excellent balance. Better after 2027. Score - 96. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 30, 2024)
The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beautifully intense and rich expression of Sangiovese. Only 3,600 bottles and some larger formats were created. The wine is expertly played out with hydrated tannins, bold fruit flavors and a long finish. This epic wine follows in the footsteps of the 2016 vintage, probably the best ever in my view. This estate does an excellent job of combining power and elegance in perfect unison and balance. Drink date: 2025-2045. Score - 97. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Nov. 21, 2024)
This shows aromas of bark and blueberries with meatiness and dried herbs woven in. The medium- to full-bodied palate has pretty, enveloping red fruit as well as firm yet polished tannins. It has lovely tension with a crystalline finish. Better from 2026. Score - 95. (Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, jamessuckling.com, Dec. 11, 2024)
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is a jeweled ruby/red color and has a very lovely, complete feel with aromas of cherry liqueur, raspberries, candied licorice, balsamic herbs, and sage. It's beautiful and saturated and floats on the long palate, with a medium to full frame, a supple, ripe feel, and lovely freshness. It has the ability to improve and drink well over the coming 20 years. Maturity: 2025-2045. Score - 96. (Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com, Jan. 22, 2025)
This is an ultra-fine-textured red with a transparency and vivid nature that shine. Aromas of flowers, cherries and sandalwood follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins and a long and persistent finish. So classy. Try after 2027. Score - 98. (jamessuckling.com, Dec. 12, 2024)
There's a rare depth and richness to this with dark plums and cherries as well as bark and forest-floor undertones. Full-bodied but not overpowering with chewy and polished tannins. Extremely persistent. Needs time to soften. Another great riserva like the 2016. Best after 2028. Score - 97. (jamessuckling.com, Dec. 12, 2024)
A profound wine with vibrancy and complexity, exuding restrained cherries and raspberries, together with touches of ash and fresh orange peel. Leafiness and meaty minerality add an extra dimension. The attack is lush and ripe, with full body, velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and violet-soaked cherries to finish. Real precision here. Drinkable now, but best after 2025. Score - 96. (jamessuckling.com, Sept. 25, 2024)