Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
So much Tuscan dust on the nose. You can smell the soil, not to mention the dark fruits and flowers. Full body with firm, silky tannins and a long, intense finish. Tight and structured.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous expression that will appeal to those who adore the softer and spicier side of Sangiovese. Bold cherry and blackberry stand to immediate attention with secondary aromas of tobacco, cedar and cinnamon in quick succession. The wine delivers more in terms of boldness and power than it does complexity but the overall effect works beautifully considering the quality of fruit in 2010. The style is upfront and bold with deep layers of richness and opulence. The wine is appropriate for medium-term consumption and would pair beautifully with stewed meats.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of wild violet, perfumed red berry, tilled earth and hint of underbrush waft from the glass. The elegant palate delivers layers of wild cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice, coffee and a hint of licorice. It’s well balanced with youthfully austere tannins and bright acidity. It will age beautifully. Drink 2017–2030.
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Wine Spectator
A tightly woven, firmly structured Brunello, this evokes cherry, leather, tobacco and briar aromas and flavors. Lean and athletic, with energy and fine length. Needs time to absorb the tannins. Best from 2019 through 2035. 2,070 cases made.
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.