The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is a benchmark wine for the estate and one of the clear standouts of the vintage. It shows gorgeous transparency on the nose, with bergamot, incense, fresh red berries, cherries, and a saline mineral drive. Medium to full-bodied, it’s weightless and incredibly precise, with ripe tannins, focused acidity, and a finish that carries for ages without feeling heavy. This captures what makes the 2019 vintage so compelling, and it should evolve beautifully over the next several decades. Drink 2028-2058.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDHead winemaker Federico Radi describes 2019 as intrinsically generous in every way – even in the quantity of grapes produced. Intense and captivating, the Riserva is already forthcoming with scents of wet earth, porcini, dark red berries, sage and dried mint. Neither opulent nor lean, it is tastefully generous. Dark violet, fresh moss and bittersweet orange perfume the mid-palate. Long, fine tannins are intricately knit giving textural complexity, while steely acidity amplifies the whole. Oily herbs and sweet spice linger leisurely. Complete and aristocratic with nothing out of place, this exudes its impeccable sartorial style and should continue to do so at a steady cadence.Decanter Magazine | 99 DECKeeping with tradition, the 2019 Biondi Santi Brunello Riserva is an absolutely gorgeous wine with class, finesse, depth and serious aging potential. It beguiles with heady scents of violet, wild rose, perfumed berry and Mediterranean brush that on the elegantly structured palate seamlessly segue into succulent wild cherry, licorice, crushed mint and blood orange. Taut, fine-grained tannins provide support while bright acidity keeps it energized and impeccably balanced. What a stunner. It’s still youthfully austere so have patience. Drink 2031–2049. Abv: 13.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 99 KOIntense and expressive, this red evokes plum, raspberry and cherry flavors accented by iron and tobacco. The mouthcoating tannins are dusty and inform the finish, with ample fruit up front that should offset these in the long run. The overriding impression is of elegance, yet patience is required. Best from 2030 through 2050. 1,067 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 98 WSA classy wine with restrained aromas of embers, incense, stony minerality, fresh violets, dried cherries, red currants, leaves and vibrant orange peel. Full-bodied and juicy on the palate, with firm acidity and tannins, a slightly chalky yet ripe texture and flavors of red cherries and graphite. Super-polished and cleansing finish. Outstanding tannins. Biondi-Santi is back! Drink or hold. It will last for decades.James Suckling | 98 JSThe Biondi-Santi 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows balanced fruit weight and clear definition, with dark currant and cherry at the core. Retasted one day later, the wine had opened nicely, gaining cohesion and improved harmony. The 2019 growing season delivered healthy, well-ripened fruit with natural concentration, a profile that emphasizes structure and richness. This Riserva is made from a strict selection of the estate’s best fruit, sourced from its oldest vineyards. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, followed by extended aging in large Slavonian oak casks (which has been somewhat shortened in recent years). At Tenuta Il Greppo, the historic home of Biondi-Santi in Montalcino, some of the estate’s vines date back to the 1930s, making the oldest plantings over 80 years old. These heritage vines contribute to the depth and lineage of the estate’s Brunello and Riserva wines.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva reveals a darkly floral, balsamic profile as it slowly unfolds in the glass. With coaxing, the nose impresses with a classic array of dried roses, worn leather, dusty earth and spice-encrusted black cherries. The finessed palate displays silky-smooth textures and a pure core of ripe red and black fruit. Saline mineral tones frame the palate and provide a crunchy, savory sensation toward the close. The 2019 concludes with tremendous length and concentration, violet and lavender florals, fine-grained tannins and a persistent lift of sour citrus. This is a stunning Riserva from Biondi-Santi that showcases the estate’s successful pursuit of purity over the last six to seven years. This will require considerable patience for its textures to flesh out. I wouldn’t approach it today without a long decant.Vinous Media | 97+ VM
