Wine Advocate (95+)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a pure and classic expression of the vintage with bright fruit tones, wild cherry, toasted nut, blue flower and forest floor. Whereas the other wines in the Poggio Antico portfolio undergo aging in smaller tonneaux, this wine is aged in large Slavonian casks instead. You taste the lift and brightness of the fruit, and it's all quite lovely. Grapes are sourced across a 13-hectare site at a very high 500 meters in elevation. The name of this area is I Poggi, and the soils here are a bit lighter and rockier with both schistous galestro and limestone alberese. I love the delicate approach here, the intensity of those floral aromas, and the silky nature of the mouthfeel. Some 34,000 bottles will be released in January 2021. This classic Brunello really stands out.

Wine Advocate (97)

The Poggio Antico 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,000 bottles going to market in January 2021) is a thickly textured and rich wine with fruit-driven flavors and extra fiber. The wine sings with the characteristics of this vintage that will be remembered for the sunshine, the warmth and the picture-perfect fruit. Each cluster hung from the vine with glorious perfection. There is more warmth and dark plum intensity here for sure, and you also get greater latitude in terms of those savory tones of leather, tobacco and tilled earth. The Riserva is sourced from the Il Vignone site at a high 500 meters above sea level where summer breezes keep the grapes healthy and ripe.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.

Vinous (96)

Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine.

Falstaff (99)

Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.

Wine Advocate (97)

Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

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, give it some time while drinking the 2018s and 2020s.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

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, give it some time while drinking the 2018s and 2020s.

Wine Advocate (98)

The Poggio di Sotto 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows extra muscle definition, power and heady layers of rich fruit. This is all in line with the personality of the vintage, which was sunny and warm with golden sunlight throughout the summer season. This wine stands out for its fine-gained texture, which is smooth and polished. This Riserva offers aromas of cherry and blackberry and shows the depth that you should expect of a classic Riserva bottling.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (99)

This excellent wine is slated to be released in January 2025. The Poggio di Sotto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a point of brilliant fruit over a medium-plus texture. The wine exhibits dusty tannins from the galestro-rich schistic soils that have a huge impact on the elegance and complexity of this exceptional and cellar-worthy Sangiovese. The palate salivates when you taste this wine. The bouquet is refined and bright with floral tones, red fruit and pencil shaving. Everything is in perfect form and balance. The 2019 vintage has the power and muscle for a long bottle evolution.

Vinous (92)

The 2017 Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino will need some time to fully open up. The nose is reticent, requiring quite a bit of coaxing, before a bouquet of fresh sweet strawberry, cherry, Tuscan spice box, dusty florals and hints of mint lift from the glass. On the palate, soft textures flood the senses, offset by tart red fruits, minerals and spice, as the 2018 seems to hover - well poised, almost weightless, yet still fully satisfying. The finish is long and very pretty, as fresh red fruits resonate above a tactile mix of acid, minerals and light tannin, giving way to a singular red floral note that seems to go on for minutes.

Wine Advocate (95)

This wine has more in common with a Brunello than it does a Rosso. Made with certified-organic fruit, Poggio di Sotto's 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a very fine and smooth expression that caresses the senses. The bouquet is enlivened by forest berry, peat moss, lilac and wildflowers. The 2018 vintage is usually understated in personality, but this wine speaks of elegance and nuance. It's just stunning.

Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity.

Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure.

With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition.

James Suckling (100)

Earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood rise up from the deep with Burgundian poise; fruitier orange zest and preserved lemons glimmer in their wake, while riper incense and tar lurk in this dense forest of aromas. Physics itself gives way as the line between reduction and oxidation is blurred. There’s such richness to the center palate, but the fruit there is vivacious and elegant, swaddled in robust but generous tannins that breach the outermost reaches of the mouth. The finish is hauntingly long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. This is certainly in a quiet, reserved stage of evolution, and will need time to fully mature in bottle. Drink in 2025.

Decanter (100)

Mocha notes on the nose, coffee, cola, vanilla, cinnamon and pink flowers. Fresh with a tannic hold, ample, massy and fleshy but with such clear definition - tannins are mouthfilling but detailed and nuanced so you feel the precision going on as well as the flavours themselves. Feels extremely well worked, all in its place. I love the chewiness, the concentrated ripeness and overall 'in your face' expression because you feel the detail behind it as well as the nuance ranging from primary blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant fruit to more tertiary elements of tobacco, coffee beans, leather, sweet exotic spices and peppery tones. It's lifted and sophisticated, powerful but poised. What a wine! Amazing potential here. It gives you the chills tasting a wine like this. From vines at 450m on schist-based Galestro soils.

Vinous (95)

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it's soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long.

Wine Advocate (95)

The Castello Romitorio 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a classic expression of the vintage, showing lots of ripe fruit, crushed mineral, herbal nuances and varietal-driven purity. This wine nails that sweet spot between elegance and power that is not easily achieved. It offers an expanded array of Sangiovese flavors with wild cherry, forest floor, crushed clove and medicinal herb, but it also shows plump density and a velvety texture. Filippo Chia and his team have created a sold wine for medium or long-term drinking. Production is exactly 58,874 bottles.

James Suckling (96)

Extremely perfumed and pure on the nose with bright and vivid, crushed cherry and berry character. Full body. Tight and poised with rich yet polished tannins and an ever so long finish. Needs at least three or four years to come together. Better after 2021.

Vinous (97)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is a remarkably pretty and pure expression of the vintage. It impresses with a lifted yet stimulating display of bright red fruits and savory spice, framed by notes of crushed stone, animal musk and dusty florals. This boasts striking depth and elegant textures, all offset by a mix of tart wild berries and cool-toned acids, as salty minerals create an almost-crunchy feel toward the close. The tannins are firm yet rounded, displaying tremendous balance and length, as the 2016 Filo di Seta never grows tiring or youthfully clenched. That said, the best is yet to come for this complex and age-worthy effort.

Wine Spectator (98)

This stunning red exudes bright cherry, blackberry, plum, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, all knit together almost seamlessly, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins. Shows a combination of power and grace, with a long fruit and savory aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2047. 620 cases made, 150 cases imported.

Vinous (97)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva lifts up with elegance and richness, as sweet lavender and violets give way to a more savory display of black cherries, Tuscan dust and cedar box with hints of cooling mint. This rushes the palate with sweet red fruits and spices, silky yet lifted, and displaying a delicacy not expected from the Riserva category, yet quite welcome. Beneath is a core of power and density just waiting to unfold. Minerality comes through in the finale, mingling with a fine coating of tannin and hints of spicy citrus. This harmonious Brunello will have a very long life. The Riserva is a selection of two Brunello barrels, one tonneau and one large cask, from Romitorio’s cellar. Simply stunning.

Falstaff (96)

Clear ruby. Charming nose with rich notes of ripe plums, some cranberry and wild raspberry, liquorice in the background. Characterised on the palate by grippy, gripping tannin, hearty, fine ripe fruit, seems a bit rough on the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

Also expressive, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Piaggione is ruby with a magenta tinge and offers notes of raspberry liqueur, violets, and polished wood spices. Refined with fine tannins and a very balanced texture, it’s velvety and has a long finish. Drink 2025-2045.

Introducing the distinguished Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione Riserva 2013, a profound embodiment of Italian winemaking. Produced in the globally renowned Montalcino region, this exceptional wine hails from Salicutti, a prestigious estate committed to biodynamic practices and dedicated to preserving the purity of Sangiovese. The Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione Riserva 2013 is birthed from grapes harvested from the Piaggione vineyard, known for its uniquely diverse microclimate and rich soil composition.

Aged for over 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels, this rich, ruby-red coloured Brunello offers a complex bouquet of ripe cherries, blackberries, and tobacco, all underpinned by a solid structure and velvety tannins. The lengthy ageing process enhances the wine’s depth and ensures its long-term potential, allowing connoisseurs to appreciate its evolving character. Offering an unparalleled taste experience, it is a testimony to Salicutti's commitment to creating an excellent and environmentally conscious winemaking.

Kerin O'Keefe (98)

Smooth and delicious, the 2019 Salicutti Sorgente Brunello is gorgeous. The latest vintages are among the best I’ve had from Salicutti, and this wine is the best of all so far. It delivers classic Sangiovese aromas of violet, ripe forest berry, underbrush, leather and spice that on the delicious palate become more defined as ripe Morello cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco. Firm, ultra-refined tannins offer enveloping support while bright acidity keeps it balanced.

Kerin O'Keefe (97)

Earthy aromas of truffle, underbrush, rose and new leather shape the nose along with scents of dark-skinned berry and eucalyptus. Full-bodied and youthfully tense, the savory palate delivers crushed black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, refined tannins and fresh acidity.