2019 Brunello di Montalcino

Ian d'Agata

100/100

Bright, full red. Nuanced, extremely deep and complex nose offers raspberry, redcurrant, superripe red cherry, tobacco, sandalwood, warm stones, vanilla and a violet nuance. Suave, juicy and multilayered, with harmonious acidity nicely framing the wine’s concentrated red plum, tobacco and mocha flavors. This subtle but very concentrated Brunello finishes delicately savoury and mineral, with substantial but smooth tannins and lovely lingering perfume of sweet spices and perfume. A huge success for an estate that has known many over the years, this may well be the wine of the vintage.

99/100

The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a jeweled ruby color and has more concentration than the 2018, but it's going to need time to reach its full potential of complexity. Rich notes of kirsch, licorice, sapid herbs, and dark stones are followed by a medium to full-bodied red that's deep and rich through the palate, with ripe and noble tannins, a seamless feel, and a long-lasting finish. A profound wine and one of the best of the vintage.

Falstaff

98/100

Bright ruby-red. Lush cherry fruit on the nose, a hint of rosemary, great juiciness on the palate, clear red berryish fruit, with a nice salinity, also light paprika (??) and fresh figs (??), elegant, on the borderline of narrow . Second bottle: Slightly vegetal notes, geranium, cranberry, fresh cherry. Elegant, polished on the palate, with lots of juiciness and a slightly salty undertone, very old-school, albeit with minimal vegetal-rough tannin, what's going on there?

Luca Gardini

98/100

The Ilchinese gem of Collemassari Wine Estates in an impeccable version of Brunello. Nose with notes of red currant jam, hints of powder licorice, myrtle and close of wild sage. Crunchy-dense mouthfeel, briny-iodized tannins, closes with a return of small fruit notes and myrtle.

Robert Parker

98/100

Although this wine was very shy initially, the Poggio di Sotto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino eventually hits all the high notes of Sangiovese. This is a wine of enormous inner tension, showing a punchy, lifted personality with aromas of cherry skin and blackberry. You get brandied cherry, strawberry glazed pie with the gelatin, underbrush, blue flower, forget-me-nots, balsam herb, mint and licorice. A few hours later, the wine had developed into a classic beauty with slender lines, firm structure and a sparkle of brilliant acidity. The oak is integrated to the point of invisibility, the tannins are elegant and fine and the acidity is that proverbial cherry on top.

96/100

Sweet cherry and flower aromas with some orange peel and lilac character. Medium-bodied with pretty depth and focus. Ripe, fine tannins and an attractive finish. Subtle richness and class. From organically grown grapes.

Vinous

96/100

Dusty roses, worn leather, dried strawberries and arid earth form a classic bouquet as the dynamic 2019 Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. This is feminine yet deep and textural, with ripe plums and black cherries motivated by brisk acidity. Violet inner florals and licorice hints form toward the close. The 2019 leaves a salty mineral staining to mingle with fine-grained tannins and spice, as it finishes with incredible length, yet still so fresh. This is incredibly youthful and inward today, but the potential is off the charts. I expect the 2019 to put on some weight and blossom over the next five to ten years. Glorious.