Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Score

16.5

"Dark ruby with orange tinges. Very closed and compact on the nose. A core of rich, ripe cherry fruit with bittersweet, powdery tannins. Backward on the nose but ready on the palate with tones of ripe fruit. (WS)"

Score

97

"Hauntingly dark, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva displays a lovely elegance. A bouquet of mentholated black cherries and balsamic spices is lifted by whiffs of dried sage and pine shavings. Velvety smooth and nearly creamy in feel, it floods the palate with hints of ripe red and blue fruit. It has a core of zesty acidity maintains amazing energy and freshness. This leaves the senses enshrouded in a veil of fine-grained tannins, dramatically long and structured but with a concentration of primary saturation to balance. Bury this deep in the cellar—it's a masterpiece in the making."

Score

94+

"We have not seen a Riserva from in a few years. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva wears a heavy mantle of oak that adds sweet cinnamon and vanilla stick. Those oak tones are prominent, but they do remain sweet and hydrated nonetheless; and that's a plus, because you don't get drying tannins, although there is a pinch of astringency at this young stage. Blackberry and dried rose potpourri are featured along with sandalwood and sauna wood. The alcohol content is high at 15.5%. This is a release of 10,400 bottles plus larger formats, and it should be interesting to watch its bottle evolution."