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Tension of raw material and compactness for a Brunello for years an embodiment of balance and elegance. Juniper and eucalyptus aromas, with sensations of dogwood and dill jam. The taste is savoury and compact, with great balsamic chime and nuances of small fruits.Luca Gardini | 100 LGAnother perfumed beauty that shows rose, pine cone, red fruit and lilac aromas that follow through to a medium body with firm tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Savory and juicy. Best after 2027.James Suckling | 95 JSDepths of wild strawberry mix with flowery underbrush and crushed violets as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino evolves in the glass. It is vibrant and racy in style, with crisp wild berry fruits and a cascade of inner floral perfumes. Nuances of sour citrus and inner cedar tones add complexity throughout. Its structure comes in late, crunchy and edgy, leaving a tart blackberry saturation that pinches at the cheek as steely mineral tones echo throughout. This is a high-energy Brunello from Sassetti with the balance for medium-term cellaring.Vinous Media | 94 VM

Impeccable protocol between the countryside and the cellar for a fixed point of the typology, played on the freshness and juiciness of the drink. Olfaction that attacks with juniper and redcurrant, lashes of rhubarb and wild fennel. A sip that highlights dense, velvety tannins, puffs of undergrowth.Luca Gardini | 98 LGAromas of sandalwood, dried flowers, black cherries and lavender follow through to a medium body with firm and silky tannins and a firm and crunchy finish. Needs three or four years to soften and come together, but the quality of the fine tannins is very impressive. Best after 2028.James Suckling | 96 JSCrushed ashen stones and dusty sage combine with rose petals and dried black cherries as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Mulino evolves in the glass. It splashes across the palate with mineral-infused wild berry fruits over a wave of soft textures as violet inner florals and cooling lavender tones accumulate toward the close. The 2021 is giving yet refined, leaving a tart blackberry concentration framed by sweet tannins and crisp minerality as hints of licorice fade. This is a more forward vintage for Mulino but with an energy that I find truly seductive.Vinous Media | 95 VM

First bottled in 1978, refined Brunello elevated for 36 months in a mix of medium and large oak barrels. Marjoram, cinnamon and wild sage in olfaction, drink thickly, with brackish tannins, return of the notes of small medicinal plants and persistence.Luca Gardini | 97 LGA medium red hue introduces the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino, which opens with toasted cedar, licorice, red cherries, pressed flowers, rosemary, and polished leather. The palate is medium-bodied and zesty, with pure, ripe red fruit, ripe tannins, and refreshing acidity that keeps it energetic and focused through the finish. It should drink at its best over the next 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDAromas of black cherries, orange peel and crushed stones, Medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a flavorful finish. There’s almost a sandy, terra cotta character in the finish. Lovely balance. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSCamphor, lavender, new leather and forest floor aromas form the nose on the 2021 Brunello from Mastrojanni. The palate shows great intensity, featuring ripe black cherry, raspberry, licorice and fine tobacco blend before an orange zest note lifts the finish. It’s brawny but balanced, with taut, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2029–2036. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KOThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up from the glass with a burst of crushed ashen stone and sage, giving way to mulling spice and dried black cherries. It envelops the palate with silken textures and masses of ripe dark red fruits, soothing, polished and balanced in feel. Edgy tannins mingle with a subtle citrus twang as rosy inner florals resonate through the dramatically long, youthfully structured finale. The balance here is beyond reproach. Mastrojanni blended in the juice from the Vigna Schiena d’Asino to bolster this bottling.Vinous Media | 93 VM

Restrained aromas of red cherries, raspberries, dried flowers, licorice, prunes and tobacco. Full-bodied, juicy and savory, it shows a very tasty palate with velvety tannins and a chalky, refreshing finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is expressive in the glass, with notes of crushed black cherries, sage, mint, cedar shavings and white smoke forming its inviting bouquet. It soothes the senses with silken textures and cool-toned acidity, as ripe plums and wild berries sweep across the palate. Edgy tannins envelop the palate with youthful poise. The 2021 finishes long and spicy, leaving a pleasantly bitter tinge to linger.Vinous Media | 93 VMFramed by an earthy, dusty mineral tone, the Mocali 2021 Brunello di Montalcino delivers pressed blackberry and plum followed by spice and spent ember in a bold, upfront style. A hint of sweetness on the palate softens the texture and keeps the tannins accessible, though the wine ultimately feels fairly one-dimensional on the close. Aging takes place over two years in French oak botte followed by one year in large Slavonian oak casks, an élevage that clearly defines the estate’s stylistic imprint. Production totals 50,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is a youthful ruby red color and is expressive and nicely layered on opening, leading with aromas of cedar, toasted baking spice, redcurrants, orange peel, menthol, and cranberries. Zesty and refreshing, this medium-bodied Brunello has fine tannins, bright acidity, and notes of dusty earth on the finish. Drink 2026-2035.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDIn Montalcino’s southwest, Mocali’s vineyards reach 400m above sea level on limestone-rich marls. The 2021 exudes its Mediterranean landscape with pine, strawberry bush and sundried tomato – hints of soy and vanilla add further nuance. Mouthfilling though not heavy, lush plum is swathed in soft, clayey tannins. Above all, the palate impresses with savoury, saline mineral appeal. Balanced and mellowed without lacking vibrancy, it will please upon release.Decanter Magazine | 92 DEC

This luscious, dense red is packed with cherry, blackberry, pomegranate and violet flavors. Its tannins are ripe and refined, while the vibrant acidity keeps everything focused. An iron streak weaves through the long, energetic finish. This is approachable now yet will be better in 2–3 years. Best from 2026 through 2045. 833 cases made, 400 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WSA deep and complex wine with licorice, dried cherries, pomegranates, bergamot and violets on the nose. Soft on the palate, it’s powerful and extracted yet not without grace due to velvety tannins, a full body and tight-knit acidity. Super-tense finish. Drink or hold.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECA deep and complex wine with licorice, dried cherries, pomegranates, bergamot and violets on the nose. Soft on the palate, it’s powerful and extracted yet not without grace due to velvety tannins, a full body and tight-knit acidity. Super-tense finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is a wine of pedigree and class. Aromatic, vibrant and delineated, the Riserva captures all the best qualities of the year. Crushed flowers, dark red/purplish fruit, mint, blood orange and pomegranate are some of the many notes that build in the glass. This is a sublime effort.Vinous Media | 94 VMThe Monsanto expressions of Sangiovese are uniformly excellent, but all in marvelously different ways. The Riserva always stands out to me for the depth and texture it offers, and for the riot of Tuscan herbs that sprout on the nose, before ripe, snappy cherry notes light up the palate. Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEFrom a terrific vintage, the 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva shows a medium-dark garnet appearance. Like the entry-level Chianti Classico, this Riserva delivers lovely primary fruit intensity. That brightness, with plenty of wild cherry and raspberry, is the calling card of Castello di Monsanto. There is a lot of sweet ripeness with fruit preserves, a hint of earthiness and cinnamon.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

The 2021 Chianti Classico is one of the wines of the vintage in the Chianti Classico ’Annata’ category. Rich, layered and super-expressive, the 2021 offers up red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender and spice race across the palate. The Montesecondo Chianti Classico raises the simple question of why there aren’t more wines like this.Vinous Media | 94 VMEx-jazz musician Silvio Messana makes a variety of wines of the natural ilk – but only one Chianti Classico. It blends fruit from two distinct vineyards in San Casciano – a hot site in the extreme north at just 120 metres, the other in the far south surrounded by forest at a cooler 500 metres. The aggregate is a fantastically textured, layered and appetising annata, offering a sumptuousness of black cherry and raspberry fruit without being heavy. This is broadened by verbena, mineral and woodland accents, while the citrussy acidity is well integrated, and chalky tannins give a firm, tight frame.Decanter | 92 DEC

A restrained wine with a graceful nose of subtle red cherries, wild strawberries, sweet violets and complex earth and tamarind. Full-bodied with licorice flavors, a dense mid-palate and velvety tannins that are powerful yet ripe. Slightly lifted acidity and a long,chewy finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino wafts up with heavenly perfumes as geraniums, bergamot and rose petals mix with lavender and exotic spice. It is lifted and sleek with cool-toned acidity and tart red and blue fruits flowing beneath an air of violet inner florals. The finish has saturating tension, mixing fine-grained tannins with graphite mineral tones and citrus, while hints of sour cherry pinch at the cheeks.Vinous Media | 94 VMPackaged with a gold label, the Pieve Santa Restituta 2021 Brunello di Montalcino marks the return of a wine I personally have not seen in years. In truth, this wine has been produced since 2005, the year the Gaja family acquired a vineyard in the Torrenieri area in the northern part of the appellation where clay-rich soils with high water retention create powerful wines with softer acidity. Fruit from that vineyard was blended with grapes from the Rennina and Sugarille vineyards. However, this wine has recently seen the inclusion of fruit from two new plots, Bolsignano and Villa a Tolli, that bring acidity freshness and mineral tension. The wine presents a medium- to full-bodied texture with notes of dried fruit, cassis, tarry smoke and savory leather. It is lean on the mid-palate yet long and polished. Tight-edged tannins suggest the need for additional bottle aging, a profile consistent with a traditionally structured Brunello. This is a release of 90,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

A complex and minerally wine with aromas of crushed stones, graphite, red cherries, licorice, dried flowers and aromatic herbs. Full-bodied, tense and crisp on the palate, with firm, velvety tannins and a juicy, chalky yet ripe finish with fruity and gamy flavors. Best from 2028.James Suckling | 96 JSThe Pieve Santa Restituta 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina delivers power and a full-bodied style shaped by a warm vintage and carefully calibrated oak aging under the Gaja family’s expert hand. It shows notable volume and texture, with an open-knit feel that reveals black fruit and spice on the close. Tightly wound at present, it requires more time to age and fully integrate its elements. This is a production of 14,400 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina boasts a dark ruby hue and a bouquet of crushed blackberries, dusty sage, talc, nuances of mint and orange zest. It’s racy with bright acidity and crisp wild berry fruits that slowly saturate the senses, further enhanced by an array of grippy tannins. This Brunello finishes with excellent length and heroic structure, leaving a cascade of inner florals and subtle licorice twang.Vinous Media | 95 VMCurrently resting in concrete, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Renina is a jeweled ruby hue and offers aromatics that are compact and pure with liqueur of red cherries. It’s more consistent on the palate, with ripe tannins, seamless acidity, crystalline freshness, and a very even and long finish, but it’s not lacking for ripeness. I predict this will be a very successful vintage for this wine, which is more similar to 2019 in terms of its more noble structure.Jeb Dunnuck | 95-97 JD

A sleek and graceful wine with aromas of Parma violets, licorice, red fruit and a touch of mint. Full-bodied, it shows elegant tannins with freshness and well-tamed power. Amazing length, with a polished cherry pit aftertaste. Drinkable now, but intended for aging. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 98 JSA layered and complex expression, the Pieve Santa Restituta 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille combines dark fruit and oak with a deep plummy core accented by delicate hints of exotic spice. A precise mineral line runs through the wine and leads to fine, powdery tannins. The overall profile remains tightly wound at this young stage and will benefit from time to settle into a more integrated and complete expression. Sugarille is known to make wines with a subtle sweet-edged richness and supple yet structured tannins, shaped by soils rich in galestro and white clay that lend both age-worthy structure and mineral complexity. Production totals 9,500 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille bursts from the glass with masses of thyme, incense, rosemary and cedar before giving way to dried strawberries. It presents a subtle inner sweetness and elegant texture, coming across as weighty yet refined, with polished red berry fruits swirling throughout and leaving a bitter licorice tinge to linger on the palate. A complex web of fine-grained tannins flexes on the palate as a tart wild berry saturation lingers incredibly long. The 2021 is youthfully dense and tightly wound today, with the balance for a long and glorious evolution.Vinous Media | 96+ VMThe 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Sugarille was also resting in concrete when I tasted it in November of 2024. (The blend was completed in July.) It displays a darker red color and is deeper and more layered on the nose, with darker cherry fruit liqueur, sappy herbs, and fresh earth. It’s juicy and ripe at this early stage, with very nice balance, ripe tannins, a full, rounded feel, and a deeper mineral richness.Jeb Dunnuck | 95-97 JD

After not producing the appellation Brunello Di Montalcino in 2020, while still bottling their single-vineyard wines, Salicutti is back in 2021 with a saturated ruby red 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino that’s lush and perfumed on the nose, with rosy florals, raspberry liqueur, mocha, and lavender. The palate is medium to full-bodied and polished, with bright acidity, elegant tannins, and a velvety texture that carries through the finish. It has terrific purity and leans more red-fruited in style. Drink 2026-2045.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThe straight 2021 Brunello from Salicutti is a beautiful, fragrant wine with heady aromas of lavender, Mediterranean scrub, plum and wild mint. Smooth and savory, the elegant palate features ripe black raspberry, Marasca cherry, star anise and cinnamon alongside enveloping, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and lends tension. Drink 2028–2026. Abv: 14% Kerin O’Keefe November 2025Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KOBottled with a gray wax capsule, the Salicutti 2021 Brunello di Montalcino opens with dark, fruity aromas of black cherry, plum, spice and sweet earth that suggest notable richness and concentration. On the palate, however, the wine reveals pretty brightness and freshness, bringing vitality and energy to a medium- to full-bodied texture that feels balanced and lively rather than heavy. Blended from various estate parcels ranging from 420 meters to 500 meters above sea level, this expressive Brunello highlights Salicutti’s ability to combine depth with lift. This is a release of 6,500 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThis red straddles the line between cherry and raspberry fruit and earth, eucalyptus, menthol and Mediterranean scrub flavors. There’s a juicy feel midpalate, and this builds to the long, complex finish. Thick tannins and bright acidity lend structure. Best from 2030 through 2048. 534 cases made, 481 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe wickedly fresh 2021 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a captivating bouquet of wild blueberries, sweet lavender, orange shavings and dusty dried roses. It’s juicy in feel, silken yet energetic, with crisp wild berry fruits elevated by hints of citrus and spice. Steely mineral tones mingle with fine tannins as this finishes with excellent length, airy and perfumed. A total pleasure to taste.Vinous Media | 93 VM

The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is deeply complex and spicy, with a wild bouquet that blends orange shavings, sour cherries, rosemary and nuances of split pine. It possesses an impenetrable core of crunchy red berry fruits and mineral tones, with hints of clove adding a bitter bite under an air of violet inner florals. Youthfully dense yet refined, there is simply so much going on here, as tart cranberry blends with a saturation of fine tannins and inner rose tones swirl throughout. Nearly a minute goes by, and the 2021 can still be sensed through a tinge of licorice and lavender. This is a drop-dead gorgeous and radiant effort for Salvioni, with a bright future in store for patient collectors.Vinous Media | 97 VMAlso tasted from barrel, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino La Cerbaiola takes on notes of blood orange, dark berries, and dark earth. Offering a noble structure with good acidity and a more angular feel, it has a good deal of tension up front and a long finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 95-97 JD

Pouring a medium red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is lush and pure on the nose, with cherry liqueur, crushed lavender, polished leather, and sage. The palate is medium to full-bodied and tightly coiled, with vibrant acidity, ripe tannins, and a compact, restrained feel that carries through the long finish. It’s going to benefit from another year or more in bottle to unfurl and should drink beautifully over the coming two decades. Drink 2026-2046.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JD

A bit shy initially, the San Filippo 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Comunali is crisp and bright, showing a simple, transparent Sangiovese character underlined by wild berry fruit and vibrant acidity. Medium- to full-bodied in texture with greater power expressed through length rather than weight, the wine settles into elegant aromas of crushed stone, white pepper and wild rose. It feels light and streamlined on the palate with drying tannins, again driven by the lift of that bright acidity. The Comunali name reflects a blend of estate parcels across Montalcino.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

A perfumed and enchanting wine that seduces you with its pure aromas of plums, peaches, cedar, sandalwood and roses. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that caress your palate and give a long and beautiful finish. Extremely silky and polished. Crunchy. A great wine that’s a benchmark for the vintage. One of the best ever. Very drinkable now, but better after 2028.James Suckling | 100 JSLocation La Melina, compelling bio label that opens to aromas on raspberry sensations, then black olives, peony and hints of eucalyptus. Drink juiciness and tension, savory tannins. It closes with memories of small fruits and balsamic sensations, accompanied by iodized hints.Luca Gardini | 98+ LGThe San Filippo 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére reveals a darker color compared to the Comunali and greater fruit weight, adding depth and texture to the wine. Where the Comunali feels lean on the palate, Le Lucére shows breadth and a more individual character, shaped by its single-vineyard origin with distinctive yellowish sandstone soils. Flavors of wild plum and dark currant segue to light smoke and a flinty mineral note that reinforces the wine’s sense of freshness, while the tannins feel somewhat sweet (still very tight at the beginning, but they do soften) in this Brunello.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére is vividly fruit-focused. It opens with a blend of crushed black raspberries and blueberries elevated by nuances of pine and rosemary. This wine displays lovely elegance and a velvety feel, with cooling acidity to balance as masses of ripe red berry fruits slowly saturate the palate. Sneaky tannins frame the finish as the 2021 takes a turn toward the serious side, structured and incredibly long. It leaves a bitter dark chocolate resonance and violet inner florals to fade slowly.Vinous Media | 94 VM

Castelnuovo dell’Abate area, vineyards up to 25 years old on clay and tuff, sandstone and galestro soil, for a classic of the type. Espigliato attack on the nose, linden and pomegranate, with a strong floral component, of rose hips. The palate shows iodized tannins, closed by fruity memory.Luca Gardini | 98 LGHands down the best wine I’ve had to date from San Giorgio, the 2021 Brunello Ugolforte opens to heady aromas of pine forest, new leather, ripe dark-skinned fruit and dark spice. Full-bodied and enveloping, the delicious palate features baked plum, cherry compote, star anise, cake spice and blood orange alongside velvety, enveloping tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it lifted and balanced. Drink 2031–2039. Abv: %Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOThe San Giorgio 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte (with 60,000 bottles produced), shows an intentionally accessible personality with dark concentration and sweet blackberry fruit designed for near- to medium-term enjoyment. Aged in large Slavonian oak casks with time in cement, the wine delivers texture and open-knit tannins that give it a cheerful and food-friendly profile. Made by the same team behind Poggio di Sotto, one of Montalcino’s benchmarks for cellar-worthy wines, this bottling favors immediacy without sacrificing balance. The fruit comes from 28 hectares of estate vineyards, reinforcing consistency across the range.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte tempts the senses with a whiff of freshly split pine, giving way to dusty roses, hints of worn leather and dried black cherries. Like pure silk on the palate, it possesses a seamless character and polished red berry fruits that soothe the senses. Sleek and expertly balanced, the 2021 leaves the senses stained in blackberry concentration, enhanced by a tactile mineral tinge. The Brunello of San Giorgio is improving with each passing vintage.Vinous Media | 94+ VMPouring a youthful red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Ugolforte is expressive and forward, with aromas of raspberry liqueur, pressed flowers, rosemary, and pine. The palate is medium-bodied and ripe, with plush tannins, balanced acidity, and an even, seamless finish. Marked by elegance, it’s full but not heavy, with purity and structure that make it a very impressive Brunello to drink over the coming 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2041.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDA ripe version, this red exhibits blackberry, black currant and plum flavors, plus a touch of licorice. Wrapped in a dense matrix of tannins, leaving a tactile sensation on the lingering finish. Iron and eucalyptus notes also chime in. Best from 2030 through 2050. 7,000 cases made, 200 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WSAn excellent Brunello with notes of dried herbs, minerals, grapefruit and raw spices. Medium body with fine-grained tannins and a long, juicy finish. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 93 JS

The 2021 Percarlo is every bit as stunning from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich and vivid in the glass, with striking complexity, the 2021 is a fine follow-up to the 2020. The 2021 is a bit tight relative to the 2020, but that is not a bad thing at all. If anything, I look forward to comparing these two monumental wines in a few years’ time. For now, the 2021 impresses with its purity of Sangiovese fruit and mind-blowing balance. Hints of kirsch, blood orange and pomegranate linger on the vivid, exceptionally polished finish. What a wine.Vinous Media | 99 VMThis fresh red evokes cherry, raspberry, iron, earth and tobacco flavors. There’s an impression of finesse driven by the lively acidity despite the firm tannins. As this builds on the palate, the cherry and raspberry flavors emerge, delivering a pure expression of red fruit. Balanced and long, but requires patience. Best from 2027 through 2045. 1,200 cases made, 220 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 97 WSThis is a complex and deep wine, an old-fashioned sangiovese. There are multifaceted aromas of red cherries, dried cherries, raspberries, camphor, earth and elegant dried flowers. Full-bodied and velvety, with a weighty mid-palate and integrated but tense acidity. Meaty and savory flavors coat the tannins, with a long, precise aftertaste. From organically grown grapes. Almost drinkable now, but great potential for the long haul.James Suckling | 97 JS

Extremely perfumed, with aromas of black cherries, white roses, cedar and sandalwood that follow through to a medium body with gorgeous subtle fruit, fine tannins and a fresh and succulent finish. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better in a couple of years.James Suckling | 96 JSDisplaying a medium red/garnet hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino has a fantastic nose, with ripe cherries, worn leather, wildflowers, balsamic, and a subtle rustic edge. The palate is medium-bodied and both inviting and structured, with outstanding clarity and length, ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a great finish. It’s exceptionally balanced and harmonious and should have no trouble drinking beautifully over the next 15-20 years. Drink 2026-2046.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2021 Brunello from San Polino opens with aromas of lavender, Mediterranean scrub, eucalyptus and forest berry. Made with organically farmed grapes, the full-bodied, savory palate features ripe Morello cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange and star anise set against firm, refined tannins. Fresh acidity provides balance. Drink 2031–2039. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KOWith vineyards in two different zones, San Polino keeps them separate, highlighting the diversity of Montalcino. From plots on the region’s cooler northern slope, this takes some coaxing to tease out exotic spice, walnut and orange zest. A juicy mix of sour red and dark black cherry fills out the palate. Clayey tannins are well formed and persistent. A deftly balanced expression of the ample fruit and ripe sturdy structure in 2021.Decanter Magazine | 93 DEC

The 2021 Brunello Helicrhysum is stunning wine with energy, structure and finesse. Made with organically grown grapes, it opens with heady aromas of new leather, lavender, dark spice and dark-skinned fruit. Firmly structured and showing great intensity, the palate delivers succulent black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and dried mint alongside a backbone of fine-grained tannins. It’s still youthfully austere, with bright acidity. Drink 2023–2046. Abv: 14.5%Kerrin O’Keefe | 98 KOVery perfumed, with sandalwood, dried lavender, strawberries, ripe cherries and cedar on the nose. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit that is nicely framed by broad, integrated tannins that fold in beautifully. Fresh and crisp in the finish. Lovely tension. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better in 2027 and beyond.James Suckling | 97 JSSan Polino encourages spontaneous fermentations with native yeasts across the range. To further augment 2021’s vintage character, Helichrysum also sees a two-month period of lees stirring in barriques. For now, the wine is rather closed. Aromas suggest curry leaf, cardamom, dusty herb and iron. Full yet tight, the palate has yet to cede to graciousness – dense, sandy tannins firmly command. But while not easygoing or upfront, this introspective, textural Brunello simmers with immense personality. Needless to say, it will require further bottle age.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECSporting a saturated deep red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Helichrysum offers a layered, spiced aromatic profile of pine needles, dried cherries, licorice, and plum. The palate is medium to full-bodied, supple, and ripe, with generous fruit richness, silky tannins, and balanced acidity that keeps it composed through the finish. It retains enough freshness to offer longevity over the coming decade. Drink 2026-2036.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

Location La Melina, compelling bio label that opens to aromas on raspberry sensations, then black olives, peony and hints of eucalyptus. Drink juiciness and tension, savory tannins. It closes with memories of small fruits and balsamic sensations, accompanied by iodized hints.Luca Gardini | 98+ LGShavings of cedar combine with dusty stone, licorice and earthy tones as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino slowly evolves in the glass. It is juicy in style with vividly ripe red and blue fruits, while a tactile mineral tinge adds a pleasantly crunchy sensation toward the close. Spicy with a sharp citrus twang, hints of tart wild berry pinch at the cheeks as edgy tannins resonate.Vinous Media | 93 VMBright, spicy raspberries and cherries, together with bark and smoky tones. Medium-bodied, it’s very crunchy, with crisp acidity and chalky yet ripe tannins. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.James Suckling | 93 JS

Prestigious cru, accompanied by a protocol aimed at preserving the tension of the raw material, with incisive juiciness. Black pepper in grains and red plum, then wild fennel, with minty and gardenia puffs. Rightly tannic, officinal and persistent sip.Luca Gardini | 100 LGThe 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Pelagrilli pours a brighter shade than the 2020 and shows a more vertical, tension-driven profile. The nose reveals red cherries, salted orange, leather, cedar, dried flowers, and that classic touch of incense that feels so Pacenti. Medium to full-bodied, it has ripe tannins, brisk acidity, and a long, mouthwatering finish, and it’s hard not to keep coming back to it. Drink 2026-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDGorgeous aromas of blackberries, black cherries, cedar, bark and spices follow through to a medium body with fine, integrated tannins and a succulent finish. Shows drive and intensity at the end. Give this three to four years in the bottle, but it’s already beautiful. Drink after 2028.James Suckling | 97 JSBalsamic black cherries blend with nuances of mocha, brown spice and minty herbs as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli dominates the glass. It has the weight of velvet yet remains lifted and serene, with crisp red and black fruits that slowly penetrate, complemented by a twang of citrus. A bitter dark chocolate tinge adds tension through the close, further enhanced by edgy tannins, yet the 2021 leaves the mouth watering for more. Beautifully done.Vinous Media | 94 VMThe Siro Pacenti 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli shows concentration with dark fruit flavors framed by powdery tannins that extend through a medium- to full-bodied finish. Following fermentation in stainless steel, the wine matures in French barrique, a choice that adds structure and polish to this bold expression. Sourced from 10 hectares of moisture-retaining clay soils in the northern part of the appellation at 330 meters above sea level, the wine delivers notable power and warmth, closing with an evident 15.5% alcohol. This is a release of 24,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

Black cherry, black licorice, graphite, violet and lavender aromas follow through to a full body with a compact center palate and chewy yet very integrated tannins that give drive and great length. Muscular and agile in the finish. Try after 2029.James Suckling | 98 JSSmall barrel and the most ‘historic’ vineyards on the property, combined with sustainable agriculture and non-invasive protocols in the cellar. Aromas of carob, puffs of gardenia and touches of dogwood orange. Savoury-salty sip, intense tannins, closes with a call of undergrowth.Luca Gardini | 98 LGThe Siro Pacenti 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne offers greater concentration and oak spice, presenting a dark and richly layered profile with generous tannins well suited to the character of the warm vintage. Aged in barrique, the wine is built from an intriguing blend of fruit, with half drawn from mineral-rich rocky soils at 150 meters in elevation in the southern sector and half from clay-heavy northern vineyards at 330 meters in elevation, giving it both weight and dimension. This structured and deeply flavored Brunello is produced in 15,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPYouthfully backward in the glass, the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne requires some coaxing to unleash its array of dried black cherries, mentholated herbs, cinnamon sticks and crushed stone. It is seamlessly silky smooth and supple, with depths of chocolate-laced wild berry fruits contrasted by a tactile mineral core. Fresh acidity wins the day as the 2021 finishes with cheek-punching tension, structured yet not severe, while leaving a tart berry twang.Vinous Media | 95 VM

Unmissable from Ilcinese production in a version that does justice to his fame: it starts with dogwood and red plum, then eucalyptus and shades of ginger. A brackish sip, reminiscent of undergrowth and spicy, ends on citric chimes.Luca Gardini | 99 LGA shade or two deeper red in the glass, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Poggio Cerrino leads with minty herbs, blood orange, cranberries, peppery spice, and anise. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch more flesh, yet it remains nervous and tightly wound, with well-defined tannins, a lightly gravelly texture, and a refreshing spine of acidity. It takes the edge over the other 2021s at this tasting and shows terrific promise with time in bottle. Drink 2026-2040.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDSandalwood, violet, camphor and saddle leather are just some of the aromas you’ll find on the fragrant 2021 Brunello Vigna Poggio Cerrino. Showing intensity and a weightless finesse despite its powerful structure, the palate features succulent red cherry, orange zest, star anise and cedar notes before closing on crushed mint. A backbone of velvety tannins provides support. Drink through 2033. Abv: 15% Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KOThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Cerrino entices with minty freshness, as ground cloves and cedar shavings blend with mentholated blackberries and roses. It displays a more serious side of Tiezzi, with silken depths and ripe red and black fruits underscored by tactile mineral tones as fine tannins amass toward the close. Nearly crunchy through the long and potent finish, an herbal thrust and licorice tinge linger.Vinous Media | 93 VMFerrous and complex on the nose, with thyme, lavender, cola and a subtle, meaty note. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with chewy tannins that soften toward the finish, revealing red berries and dried-herb nuances. Better from 2028.James Suckling | 93 JS

New from Tiezzi, also from the Poggio Cerrino vineyard area, with slightly more calcareous soil, a raw material enhanced by the partial use of cement in winemaking: dogwood and red blackberry on the nose, shades of wisteria and cinchona, great gustatory freshness, with an iodized hue.Luca Gardini | 98 LGThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Tre Querci dazzles the senses with a vibrant burst of blackberries and cherries complemented by violet pastille and grounding nuances of dusty worn leather. It is seamless to the core with velvety textures and cooling acidity to balance, as ripe wild berry fruits swirl across the palate. This 2021 leaves a collection of fine tannins through the long and remarkably fresh finish as perfumed inner florals linger.Vinous Media | 93 VMA youthful ruby red color sets the tone for the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Tre Querci, which opens with attractive aromatics of wet stones, fresh cherries, thyme, and toasted incense. The palate is medium-bodied and tangy, with sanguine orange zest, a bright spine of acidity, and chalky tannins that give it shape through the finish. It should take things up a notch with another six months in bottle and offer a lot of pleasure over the next decade or more. Drink 2026-2038.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDBlackberries and red berries with notes of thyme and dried herbs. The palate is incisive, showing a saline edge and firm, chewy tannins, complemented by a savory and cedary nuance on the finish. Better from 2027.James Suckling | 92 JSBold and high toned, the Tiezzi 2021 Brunello Tre Querci has aromas of violet, baked plum, spiced blueberry and dark exotic spice. On the concentrated, rather monolithic palate, the warmth of evident alcohol, vanilla and licorice accompany black cherry extract and raspberry jam. A backbone of tightly woven tannins provide enveloping support before leaving a firm, grippy finish. Drink 2028–2035. Abv: 15% Kerin O’Keefe | 92 KO

Miraculous plot located a stone’s throw from the center of Montalcino, one of the most traditional and elevated incarnations of the typology. Gardenia and red plum in jam, smoked touches with lavender and pepper leaf. Savoury and officinal when drunk, it ends in floral puffs.Luca Gardini | 100 LGDistinct notes of cherry, plum, flowers and spice. A model of Montalcino authority whose sapid, flavoursome and lengthy development express a rich texture, ripe tannins, visceral energy and dynamism. From a 560-metre-high historic estate adjacent to Montalcino’s 14th century walls and the Madonna del Soccorso Sanctuary (hence the name). Historic Montalcino oenologist, Enzo Tiezzi and daughter Monica, manage the six hectares organically.Decanter Magazine | 96 DECThe 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Soccorso opens with a burst of spiced orange mixed with spearmint before giving way to tart cherries, wafting up with its seductive bouquet. It presents elegance and refinement, with fleshy textures and ripe red berry fruits offset by a slight dark chocolate tinge. The 2021 leaves a framework of sweet tannins and an air of violet inner florals while finishing potent yet remarkably fresh. Pure pleasure to taste.Vinous Media | 94 VMThis wine shows oxidative aromas of dried cherries, dried flowers and hints of prunes and smoke. Full-bodied, it shows vibrancy and tension with firm, chewy and grainy tannins, crisp acidity and a tight, youth finish. Try from 2028.James Suckling | 94 JSCamphor, underbrush, violet and spice aromas come to the forefront on the 2021 Brunello Vigna Soccorso. Full-bodied and showing youthful tension, the palate offers succulent Morello cherry, raspberry, ground nutmeg and cocoa set against fine-grained, coiled tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2029–2041. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KOMore transparent in color with a red-orange tinge, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Soccorso is focused and spiced on the nose, with redcurrants, bergamot, dusty earth, and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and vertical, with driving acidity, fine, coiled tannins, and a stony texture that firms up through the finish. It’s tightly wound today and will need another 6-12 months to start showing its best, but the structure is impressive. Drink 2026-2037.Jeb Dunnuck | 92+ JD

Andrea Cortonesi and his unique project in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, featuring refined and sensitive readings of Sangiovese. Very floral at the smell, with wild iris and gardenia, then red mulberry and cloves. Refined to the sip, with spicy nuances.Luca Gardini | 98 LGPouring a reflective red/garnet hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is floral and detailed on the nose, with preserved cranberries, cherries, anise, fresh roses, and polished leather. The palate is medium-bodied, structured, and bright, with chalky, angular tannins, refreshing acidity, and fabulous fruit purity that carries through a long finish. It’s exceptional and crisp, and it should easily hold up for 20 years. Drink 2026-2046.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDA spicy and classic Brunello with vibrant aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, violets, smoky wood and licorice. Full-bodied, it shows balanced extraction, tamed velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and a super-savory, minerally finish. Juicy and long. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 96 JSMinty herbs mix with shavings of pine, dried strawberries and dusty earth as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. It displays exceptional finesse and grace, with silken waves of ripe red and blue fruits elevated by fresh acidity. Inner rose tones and a tactile mineral crunch add form toward the close. The 2021 leaves a pleasantly chewy sensation and a tart blackberry twang, tapering off with excellent length and a totally classic feel.Vinous Media | 95 VMBold and beautiful, the Uccelliera 2021 opens with aromas of dark exotic spice, Mediterranean scrub, lavender and eucalyptus. On the full-bodied, enveloping palate, notes of vanilla, licorice and oak accent a black cherry core. It’s young but balanced, with firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2031–2041. Abv: 15% Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KOThe Uccelliera 2021 Brunello di Montalcino, produced in 34,733 bottles plus 900 magnums, shows a deep core of dark fruit and black cherry while remaining gracefully vertical and bright. Notes of spice, forest floor and sweet earth weave through the fruit, creating balance and a steady sense of richness that carries seamlessly across the palate. Grapes are harvested with the use of dry ice and fermented in stainless steel on indigenous yeasts, followed by 36 months of aging in oak vessels of varying sizes. All of this locks in aromas. The fruit comes from Castelnuovo dell’Abate at elevations ranging from 150 to 350 meters on mineral-rich, rocky soils, and this bottling once again underscores Andrea Cortonesi’s ability to translate terroir with precision and consistency.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThere are no single-vineyard bottlings at Uccelliera. Instead, owner Andrea Cortonesi brings together a diversity of plots from various altitudes, exposures, soils, vine age and clones for one complex sum. The 2021 divulges its balmy, southeastern origins with all the robustness and vigour one would expect, while managing to remain surprisingly poised. Nevertheless, this veers more to power than grace. A youthful wood imprint is absorbed by the fleshy, dark-toned fruit. Eucalypt, nutmeg and tarragon infuse. The bold and grainy tannins need more time to resolve.Decanter Magazine | 92 DEC