Winemaker Notes
The nose is extremely complex and broad. Classic Sangiovese notes are on display, particularly marasca cherry and flowers, but there are also scents of orange peel, sage, and balsamic, among others. Dense, structured, and savory in the mouth with silky, integrated tannins and a fragrant acidity. Very long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
This sleek, delineated red grabs your attention with a beam of cherry and black currant, while pointed tannins line the finish. Shows earth, menthol, white pepper and juicy red berry flavors that are expressive and mouthwatering. Superlong finish. Best from 2026 through 2048. 415 cases made, 84 cases imported.
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James Suckling
A very fine and polished Brunello with fine, creamy tannins that are polished and very curated. Cherry and bark character. Medium to full body with ripe tannins. Juicy. Orange peel. Try this after 2025, but already delicious.
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Decanter
Winemaker Bernardino Sani describes Vigna del Suolo simply as the best fruit of the estate. It hails from the oldest plantings on a limestone-rich soil reaching an elevation of 320 metres. While it demonstrates greater density than the estate bottling, do not expect a brawny beast - this is exquisitely refined and midweight, though not insubstantial. Gorgeous scents of raspberry, rooibos tea and rhubarb greet the nose. The palate is pure-fruited and invigorating, with crunchy acidity. Grainy tannins grip confidently, and it closes with a long, energetic and mouthwatering finish. Very appealing now but should charm for the next dozen years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A more serious and mysterious profile emerges in the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Del Suolo, with unfolding layers of cherry liqueur, leather, smoky cedar, licorice, and rocky earth. Medium to full-bodied, with fantastic structure and balance, it has depth without weight, offering ripe tannins that are well-integrated and driving acidity that creates fantastic tension throughout. Notes of tea leaves, bergamot, clove, and turned soil all work together harmoniously. Drink 2025-2045.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.