Brunello

This dazzling wine is something for Sangiovese purists and lovers of extreme finesse. It literally vibrates with electric energy and charm. Opening with enticing aromas of roses, violets, berries, ploughed earth and new leather, it is youthfully intense but already a classic at this stage. With its velvety texture, it envelops everything it touches with masses of dark red fruit, liquid violet blossom, notes of lavender and sage, plus a subtle savoury note. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity ensure a perfect balance and a promising, long ageing potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling ruby garnet colour. Appealing, compact nose of dark cherry and plum, then some tobacco and cigar box, with a background of molasses and balsamic flavours. Spreads out richly on the palate, hearty, pithy tannin that is very well integrated into the overall context, builds steadily towards the final, juicy and with firm pressure." Falstaff

"Deep, youthful ruby red colour. Compared to the estate wine from Il Marroneto from 2019, it is one step higher. Minerals infused with rich raspberry with hints of fresh garden herbs and mace. Wonderfully juicy fruit with enormous focus and amazing, fine, long, deep tannins." Jancis Robinson

"This is a racy wine with deep layers, infinite complexity and a wild, almost mischievous personality. I've noticed other Brunellos imitating this style, but none come close to this one and only. Il Marroneto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie immediately exudes aromas that are lively, elegant and full of energy. This wine is light and powerful, especially when you consider that it has a unique vigour. Sweet cranberries, coriander seeds, cola, liquorice and white pepper stand out clearly. There is a hint of sweetness that feels like summer is singing from the glass. The mouthfeel is very lively, with great freshness and fine, dusty tannins that coat the whole mouth." Wine Advocate

"The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie seduces the imagination with a dark veil of exotic flowers and spices that slowly lifts to reveal dried blackberries and cherries enlivened by a hint of mint and a touch of clove. The silky texture and ripe red berry fruit soothe as a mix of savoury minerals and fine tannins slowly build towards the finish. Structured yet incredibly long and deep, it tapers like a black hole, inward and youthfully tense, mingling sweet tannins with soaked plums and balsamic herbs. The 2019 is one of the most energetic yet complex offerings from Madonna delle Grazie I've tasted. I could lose myself in this wine for days." Vinous

"A beautiful and intense young Brunello with terrific depth, power and deep fruit notes. So much fruit and powerful tannins, yet they are velvety, caressing and glorious. It spent 42 months in large casks. A unique expression of Brunello. Super complex." James Suckling

"The winery is located on the northern flank of Montalcino on a Jurassic soil, one of the oldest in Italy. An old "botte grande" gurgles, murmurs and bubbles slowly in the cellar. Fermentation here takes place naturally, including malolactic fermentation, exclusively in oak. This 2019 is supple and fresh on the nose, with redcurrants and dark cherries and a graceful depth of incense and smoky woods, sweet violet, cinnamon and orange peel. Vibrancy dominates the palate, with long, powerful acidity and dense, velvety tannins leading to a sweet, lingering aftertaste." Decanter

"Alessandro Mori's Brunello, which in the best sense resembles only himself. Notes of cranberry jam on the nose, with a hint of marjoram and star anise. The flavour is dense and salty, with a hint of freshness and balsamic vinegar. Very long-lasting, spicy finish." Luca Gardini

Cerretalto 2018 is an expressive, exuberant and impressive wine that opens with a dark ruby red colour and a rich texture. The bouquet is endlessly intense, closely followed by finely tuned aromas of black cherries, spices, grilled herbs, cloves, tobacco, damp earth and white truffle. Over time, elegant mineral tones unfold, and later these flavours transition into cola, liquorice and tar. The mouthfeel is silky and supple, and there is enough power to move the wine seamlessly across the palate. Cerretalto continues to develop endlessly over 24 hours in the glass. Clear case: this is a bottle for the back of your cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark, rich ruby red colour. Beautiful, ripe, open nose, accessible, plums, wild raspberries, tobacco, liquorice in the finish. Surprisingly juicy on the palate, great fruit freshness, opens up with present, silky tannins, good tension, still a little drying on the final." Falstaff

"This intense red wine has a solid structure that emphasises the aromas of plums, cherries, eucalyptus and iron, with a solid mid-palate that develops into a lingering aftertaste of red fruits, hibiscus and minerals. It shows excellent length and freshness." Wine Spectator

"With dried blackberries, balsamic herbs and a hint of charred chilli spice, this wine offers an aromatic profile that is very well suited to a vintage that experienced cool spring temperatures and a hot summer. The Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a wine with depth, dusty tannins and a slightly developed fruit character. I tasted this 2018 Cerretalto alongside the winery's new releases from 2019, and the latter vintage certainly offers more clarity and bite overall. The Neri family does a great job of handling the tannins, and although there is some chalkiness here, the structure of the wine is skilfully embedded in the fruit concentration." Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is exotic and perfumed, displaying all of the vibrancy of the vintage through a deep core of dark red fruit, lavender tones and foreign spices. It's lifted and finessed, displaying remarkable balance. Cooling acidity combines with tactile mineral tones and citrus-laced wild berry fruits that swirl throughout. It finishes crunchy and long, leaving crystalline tannins, a blackberry concentration and a tinge of licorice. Despite the conditions of the year, this is a genuinely harmonious Brunello that will excel with cellaring. The 2018 benefitted from an extra week of hang-time leading up to harvest." Vinous

"Black cherries and dried cherries combine with notes of balsamic, leather and minty earth, but it needs time to open up. Full-bodied on the palate, with good fruit concentration and refined tannins. Still youthful, with grainy oak notes. A hint of graphite on the polished finish. Very flavoursome." James Suckling

Cerretalto 2018 is an expressive, exuberant and impressive wine that opens with a dark ruby red colour and a rich texture. The bouquet is endlessly intense, closely followed by finely tuned aromas of black cherries, spices, grilled herbs, cloves, tobacco, damp earth and white truffle. Over time, elegant mineral tones unfold, and later these flavours transition into cola, liquorice and tar. The mouthfeel is silky and supple, and there is enough power to move the wine seamlessly across the palate. Cerretalto continues to develop endlessly over 24 hours in the glass. Clear case: this is a bottle for the back of your cellar. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark, rich ruby red colour. Beautiful, ripe, open nose, accessible, plums, wild raspberries, tobacco, liquorice in the finish. Surprisingly juicy on the palate, great fruit freshness, opens up with present, silky tannins, good tension, still a little drying on the final." Falstaff

"This intense red wine has a solid structure that emphasises the aromas of plums, cherries, eucalyptus and iron, with a solid mid-palate that develops into a lingering aftertaste of red fruits, hibiscus and minerals. It shows excellent length and freshness." Wine Spectator

"With dried blackberries, balsamic herbs and a hint of charred chilli spice, this wine offers an aromatic profile that is very well suited to a vintage that experienced cool spring temperatures and a hot summer. The Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a wine with depth, dusty tannins and a slightly developed fruit character. I tasted this 2018 Cerretalto alongside the winery's new releases from 2019, and the latter vintage certainly offers more clarity and bite overall. The Neri family does a great job of handling the tannins, and although there is some chalkiness here, the structure of the wine is skilfully embedded in the fruit concentration." Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is exotic and perfumed, displaying all of the vibrancy of the vintage through a deep core of dark red fruit, lavender tones and foreign spices. It's lifted and finessed, displaying remarkable balance. Cooling acidity combines with tactile mineral tones and citrus-laced wild berry fruits that swirl throughout. It finishes crunchy and long, leaving crystalline tannins, a blackberry concentration and a tinge of licorice. Despite the conditions of the year, this is a genuinely harmonious Brunello that will excel with cellaring. The 2018 benefitted from an extra week of hang-time leading up to harvest." Vinous

"Black cherries and dried cherries combine with notes of balsamic, leather and minty earth, but it needs time to open up. Full-bodied on the palate, with good fruit concentration and refined tannins. Still youthful, with grainy oak notes. A hint of graphite on the polished finish. Very flavoursome." James Suckling