Brunello di Montalcino
Wine from Montalcino was only appreciated and understood by locals as recently as the 70's, even though its warm dry climate has much in common with its famous Tuscan cousin, Chianti. However pioneering work from Clemente Santi with various clones of Sangiovese led to what was labelled Brunello di Montalcino. Changes in strict laws have allowed this region to react better to modern trends, reducing mandatory oak ageing from 4 to 2 years. As with Chianti small amount of foreign grapes can now be including within blends.
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Brunello di Montalcino
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£251.32 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (99)Earthy aromas of blue flower, rose, underbrush and leather mingle together on this gorgeous, fragrant red. All about finesse and flavor, the medium-bodied palate is absolutely delicious, featuring juicy morello cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice, star anise and the barest hint of game. It's radiant and beautifully balanced thanks to taut, polished tannins and bright acidity. It's already showing incredibly well but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2036. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£450.35 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (99)Earthy aromas of blue flower, rose, underbrush and leather mingle together on this gorgeous, fragrant red. All about finesse and flavor, the medium-bodied palate is absolutely delicious, featuring juicy morello cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice, star anise and the barest hint of game. It's radiant and beautifully balanced thanks to taut, polished tannins and bright acidity. It's already showing incredibly well but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2036. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£123.86 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Aromas of crushed mint, pressed rose and perfumed berry mingle with warm spice in this dazzling red. Thanks to some of the highest vineyard altitudes in the denomination, it boasts vibrancy and finesse in its flavors of ripe black cherry, juicy blood orange, licorice and crushed mint. Taut, elegant tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and focused. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£386.75 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Aromas of crushed mint, pressed rose and perfumed berry mingle with warm spice in this dazzling red. Thanks to some of the highest vineyard altitudes in the denomination, it boasts vibrancy and finesse in its flavors of ripe black cherry, juicy blood orange, licorice and crushed mint. Taut, elegant tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and focused. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£87.86 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino maintains its exotic, aromatic and spicy profile, which features gorgeous tobacco notes and hints of brown spice. It's graceful, lifted and silken in style, with ripe wild berry fruits and a cascade of violet inner florals, all coasting across a stream of cool-toned acidity. Classically structured but not forbidding, the 2018 leaves the palate classically dry and with a hint of licorice that lingers on and on. The 2018 remains one of the top wines of the vintage. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£491.15 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino maintains its exotic, aromatic and spicy profile, which features gorgeous tobacco notes and hints of brown spice. It's graceful, lifted and silken in style, with ripe wild berry fruits and a cascade of violet inner florals, all coasting across a stream of cool-toned acidity. Classically structured but not forbidding, the 2018 leaves the palate classically dry and with a hint of licorice that lingers on and on. The 2018 remains one of the top wines of the vintage. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£174.52 |
|||||
Vinous (98)Stunning from the first tilt of the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore. This blends an array of dried flowers with autumnal spices, cedar-tinged cherries and clove hints in a way that I find wildly appealing. It sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk guided by bright acidity as depths of wild berry fruits and mineral tones saturate toward the close. The 2019 lingers impossibly long, leaving a staining of primary concentration to mingle with grippy tannins and licorice nuances, yet an airy freshness remains through it all. The combination of house style and vintage character here is otherworldly. It will take much willpower to keep our hands off of the 2019 long enough to watch it properly mature. Spellbinding. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£456.35 |
|||||
Vinous (98)Stunning from the first tilt of the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore. This blends an array of dried flowers with autumnal spices, cedar-tinged cherries and clove hints in a way that I find wildly appealing. It sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk guided by bright acidity as depths of wild berry fruits and mineral tones saturate toward the close. The 2019 lingers impossibly long, leaving a staining of primary concentration to mingle with grippy tannins and licorice nuances, yet an airy freshness remains through it all. The combination of house style and vintage character here is otherworldly. It will take much willpower to keep our hands off of the 2019 long enough to watch it properly mature. Spellbinding. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£109.07 |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£127.72 |
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Tuscany | 2 | 94 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£323.15 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (94)The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is perfumed with high-toned aromatics of fresh rosehip, fresh red cherry, and anise. The palate is crisp and energetic with cherry pit, dried red plum, and fresh tomato leaf, with fine-grained tannins with linear acidity. A vibrant wine to enjoy 2023-2033. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£423.12 |
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Wine Advocate (94)The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is delicate and fine with aromas of wild cherry, licorice, grilled herb and pressed violet. It brings on more power to the palate with medium-rich concentration, pretty freshness and silky tannins. The fine tannic management stands out here, as does its contained alcohol. In a vintage that sees very high alcohol levels across the board, Le Ragnaie should be congratulated on maintaining a more moderate 13.5% alcohol content. Winemaking sees cement and large oak casks. Some 29,000 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£341.15 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (95)A beautiful cologne lifts from the glass of the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino, which pours a red/orange-tinged color. Aromas of wild cherries, truffles, bittersweet chocolate, and dried orange peel are followed by a medium to full-bodied red with fine, coiled tannins, a linear feel, and refreshing lift all the way through the finish. I love the tertiary notes that come through, and this wine will only improve and gain in complexity over time. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£503.60 |
|||||
Vinous (97)Dark and brooding today, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli lifts from the glass with an alluring display of mineral-infused black cherry, complemented by hints of mint leaf, then given further depths, as dark soil tones and a hint of animal musk develops in the glass. The 2015 races across the palate with velvety textures, yet it is somehow lifted, as notes of strawberry and cedar give way to savory herbs and minerals with pretty inner florals. The finish is long, revealing a web of complex tannins upon the senses, as hints of wild berry fruit lingers with just enough residual acids to keep the expression fresh. The 2015 is just a baby today. It shows so much tension and density, with layers of unseen depth that could one day result in this being one of the best wines of the vintage. |
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Tuscany | 9 | 98 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£709.92 |
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Wine Spectator (98)The immediate impression of this Brunello showcases its harmony and charm, evoking black cherry, blackberry, violet, mineral and woodsy flavors. Iron and tobacco accents emerge as this builds on the palate to the long aftertaste, with well-integrated tannins. Concentrated, yet never heavy or imbalanced. Best from 2024 through 2050. 350 cases made, 50 cases imported. — BS |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (KO) |
Inc. VAT
£547.92 |
|||||
Kerin O'Keefe (97)This gorgeous wine starts out with enticing aromas of ripe berry, forest floor, rose hip and wild herb alongside a balsamic note recalling new leather. Racy linear and savory, the extremely elegant, focused palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry baking spice and licorice. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced and youthfully tense. Beautiful wine. It closes on an almond note. Drink 2026–2038. 13.5% abv. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£536.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)Displaying a slightly darker ruby color than the Petroso, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli takes on more depth and opens to notes of wild raspberries, fresh roses, orange peel, and anise. Medium-bodied, it also takes on more structure, with elegant concentration, ripe tannins, and seamless acidity. Long on the palate, with notes of gravelly earth and Mirabelle plum on the finish, this gorgeous wine demands another year or two in cellar. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£437.98 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is laced remarkably pretty display of zesty bright cherry, offset by savory herbs and spice, as dusty minerals and dried florals add further depths. On the palate, silky textures give way to ripe cherry and spice, as saline-minerals and juicy acids add tension, while a hint of fine tannins slowly saturate, yet the 2015 never loses its vibrant persona. The finish is long, resonating with n dried cherry and cranberry over a coating of mineral-laced tannins. This is such a precise Brunello. I’m a huge fan. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£545.98 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Fornace is located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate in the southeast at lower elevations than the rest of the single vineyards of the Le Ragnaie estate. The 2016 Fornace Brunello is perfumed with perfectly ripe cherry, dried roses, sweet herbs, and licorice. The aromatics move seamlessly to the palate and unfold with kirsch, blood orange, and stony earth. Upfront, there is juicy ripe cherry fruit, blood orange, and salty earth. Ordinarily I would gravitate toward the more tension-driven wines, but this was what I felt to be the most pleasurable and joyful wine on this tasting, so much so that I would keep going back to wanting more. There is a seamless integration through the whole experience, and I do feel there will be longevity despite its immediate gratification. Enjoy over the next 15-20 years. 2021-2041. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 5 | 96+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£713.60 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The character of this wine is more accessible and open-knit. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Petroso is less ethereal but more grounded, with an obvious delivery of fruit (and more primary intensity) framed by caramel, light tobacco leaf, redcurrant, cherry and wild plum. An herbal element comes forward too with white pepper and something fun that recalls cashew celery root. The mouthfeel veers toward chalky, and there is a hint of minerality with wet limestone or rose quartz. It shows managed tannins over mid-weight texture for a very elegant finish. These qualities give this 3,000-bottle release reasonable runway to age. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£418.40 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)Wild cherries, dried blueberries and dark currants open the bouquet of Le Ragnaie's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. The cherry signature is forefront, and it emerges with medicinal and balsamic notes towed in close. Fruit comes from the estate's oldest vines (aged 50 years old) planted in the highest part of the appellation (at 600 meters above sea level). The bouquet is seamless, putting forth a chain of similar fruit and spice-related aromas that fall neatly in line. This effect is further reinforced as the wine evolves steadily in the glass. Of the various Brunello Selezioni presented by Le Ragnaie, this wine is the most classic in approach with a slightly more closed and austere personality that will serve it well as it continues its bottle evolution. The wine was bottled in April 2019 and will hit the market in February 2020. Only 3,500 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 98+ (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£589.92 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)The Le Ragnaie V.V. (Vigna Vecchia) is sourced from their highest elevation site of their oldest vines, planted in 1968. The aromatics of the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. are lifted with pine, bright cherry fruit, rosehip, and orange zest. Of the single vineyards, it has the most tension-packed structure, with angular tannins and linear drive. The palate is fresh with crisp cherry fruit, licorice, and a stony mineral feel. This is a wine that certainly needs time to unfold and express its character. It would benefit from at least five years or more in the cellar before checking in. 2027-2042. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 98 (KO) |
Inc. VAT
£632.75 |
|||||
Kerin O'Keefe (98)Made from old vines planted at some of the highest altitudes in the denomination, this stunner opens with forest floor, new leather and camphor aromas that mix with dog rose, ripe berry and pipe tobacco. Boasting a seamless combination of elegance and concentration from the old vines, the delicious palate doles out succulent black cherry, licorice, peppercorn and dried herb framed in velvety tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and youthfully tense. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£728.75 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (99)This wine is a star of the vintage. It is made with fruit from vines planted in 1968 in ancient soils rich in quartz at a very high 600 meters in elevation. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. (the initials stand for “vecchie vigne,” or "old vines") reveals a soulful personality with a very elegant set of aromas and compelling complexity. There is heritage rose, lilac and something earthy like tarragon or marjoram. Underripe cherry and redcurrant are found at the core; however, that ethereal herbal note continues to the palate where it meets a chalky mineral tone. Powdery tannins stick to the side of your mouth for a very long time. Only 4,400 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£390.41 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino makes itself known with a captivating and layered display of sour cherries and animal musk deepening further with crushed dried roses, minty herbs and a dusting of savory spice. It’s silky and pliant, yet energy remains high throughout. The 2018 Rosso showcases a vivid and pure display of wild strawberry with sweet tannins building toward the close. This is lifted and feminine in feel, tapering off classically dry and poised with tactile mineral tones and a hint of licorice lingering long. The 2018 is a harmonious and graceful rendition of Le Ragnaie’s Rosso that will win a lot of hearts right out of the gate. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 99 (WE) |
In Bond
£203.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (99)Earthy aromas of blue flower, rose, underbrush and leather mingle together on this gorgeous, fragrant red. All about finesse and flavor, the medium-bodied palate is absolutely delicious, featuring juicy morello cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice, star anise and the barest hint of game. It's radiant and beautifully balanced thanks to taut, polished tannins and bright acidity. It's already showing incredibly well but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2036. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 99 (WE) |
In Bond
£356.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (99)Earthy aromas of blue flower, rose, underbrush and leather mingle together on this gorgeous, fragrant red. All about finesse and flavor, the medium-bodied palate is absolutely delicious, featuring juicy morello cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice, star anise and the barest hint of game. It's radiant and beautifully balanced thanks to taut, polished tannins and bright acidity. It's already showing incredibly well but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2036. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) |
In Bond
£100.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Aromas of crushed mint, pressed rose and perfumed berry mingle with warm spice in this dazzling red. Thanks to some of the highest vineyard altitudes in the denomination, it boasts vibrancy and finesse in its flavors of ripe black cherry, juicy blood orange, licorice and crushed mint. Taut, elegant tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and focused. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) |
In Bond
£303.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Aromas of crushed mint, pressed rose and perfumed berry mingle with warm spice in this dazzling red. Thanks to some of the highest vineyard altitudes in the denomination, it boasts vibrancy and finesse in its flavors of ripe black cherry, juicy blood orange, licorice and crushed mint. Taut, elegant tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and focused. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£70.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino maintains its exotic, aromatic and spicy profile, which features gorgeous tobacco notes and hints of brown spice. It's graceful, lifted and silken in style, with ripe wild berry fruits and a cascade of violet inner florals, all coasting across a stream of cool-toned acidity. Classically structured but not forbidding, the 2018 leaves the palate classically dry and with a hint of licorice that lingers on and on. The 2018 remains one of the top wines of the vintage. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 2 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£390.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino maintains its exotic, aromatic and spicy profile, which features gorgeous tobacco notes and hints of brown spice. It's graceful, lifted and silken in style, with ripe wild berry fruits and a cascade of violet inner florals, all coasting across a stream of cool-toned acidity. Classically structured but not forbidding, the 2018 leaves the palate classically dry and with a hint of licorice that lingers on and on. The 2018 remains one of the top wines of the vintage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£139.00 |
|||||
Vinous (98)Stunning from the first tilt of the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore. This blends an array of dried flowers with autumnal spices, cedar-tinged cherries and clove hints in a way that I find wildly appealing. It sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk guided by bright acidity as depths of wild berry fruits and mineral tones saturate toward the close. The 2019 lingers impossibly long, leaving a staining of primary concentration to mingle with grippy tannins and licorice nuances, yet an airy freshness remains through it all. The combination of house style and vintage character here is otherworldly. It will take much willpower to keep our hands off of the 2019 long enough to watch it properly mature. Spellbinding. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£361.00 |
|||||
Vinous (98)Stunning from the first tilt of the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore. This blends an array of dried flowers with autumnal spices, cedar-tinged cherries and clove hints in a way that I find wildly appealing. It sweeps across the palate with textures of pure silk guided by bright acidity as depths of wild berry fruits and mineral tones saturate toward the close. The 2019 lingers impossibly long, leaving a staining of primary concentration to mingle with grippy tannins and licorice nuances, yet an airy freshness remains through it all. The combination of house style and vintage character here is otherworldly. It will take much willpower to keep our hands off of the 2019 long enough to watch it properly mature. Spellbinding. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
£84.00 |
|||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
£100.00 |
|||||
|
|
Tuscany | 2 | 94 (JD) |
In Bond
£250.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (94)The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is perfumed with high-toned aromatics of fresh rosehip, fresh red cherry, and anise. The palate is crisp and energetic with cherry pit, dried red plum, and fresh tomato leaf, with fine-grained tannins with linear acidity. A vibrant wine to enjoy 2023-2033. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 10 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£334.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is delicate and fine with aromas of wild cherry, licorice, grilled herb and pressed violet. It brings on more power to the palate with medium-rich concentration, pretty freshness and silky tannins. The fine tannic management stands out here, as does its contained alcohol. In a vintage that sees very high alcohol levels across the board, Le Ragnaie should be congratulated on maintaining a more moderate 13.5% alcohol content. Winemaking sees cement and large oak casks. Some 29,000 bottles were made. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 95 (JD) |
In Bond
£265.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (95)A beautiful cologne lifts from the glass of the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino, which pours a red/orange-tinged color. Aromas of wild cherries, truffles, bittersweet chocolate, and dried orange peel are followed by a medium to full-bodied red with fine, coiled tannins, a linear feel, and refreshing lift all the way through the finish. I love the tertiary notes that come through, and this wine will only improve and gain in complexity over time. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£399.00 |
|||||
Vinous (97)Dark and brooding today, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli lifts from the glass with an alluring display of mineral-infused black cherry, complemented by hints of mint leaf, then given further depths, as dark soil tones and a hint of animal musk develops in the glass. The 2015 races across the palate with velvety textures, yet it is somehow lifted, as notes of strawberry and cedar give way to savory herbs and minerals with pretty inner florals. The finish is long, revealing a web of complex tannins upon the senses, as hints of wild berry fruit lingers with just enough residual acids to keep the expression fresh. The 2015 is just a baby today. It shows so much tension and density, with layers of unseen depth that could one day result in this being one of the best wines of the vintage. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 9 | 98 (WS) |
In Bond
£573.00 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (98)The immediate impression of this Brunello showcases its harmony and charm, evoking black cherry, blackberry, violet, mineral and woodsy flavors. Iron and tobacco accents emerge as this builds on the palate to the long aftertaste, with well-integrated tannins. Concentrated, yet never heavy or imbalanced. Best from 2024 through 2050. 350 cases made, 50 cases imported. — BS |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (KO) |
In Bond
£438.00 |
|||||
Kerin O'Keefe (97)This gorgeous wine starts out with enticing aromas of ripe berry, forest floor, rose hip and wild herb alongside a balsamic note recalling new leather. Racy linear and savory, the extremely elegant, focused palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry baking spice and licorice. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced and youthfully tense. Beautiful wine. It closes on an almond note. Drink 2026–2038. 13.5% abv. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
£426.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)Displaying a slightly darker ruby color than the Petroso, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli takes on more depth and opens to notes of wild raspberries, fresh roses, orange peel, and anise. Medium-bodied, it also takes on more structure, with elegant concentration, ripe tannins, and seamless acidity. Long on the palate, with notes of gravelly earth and Mirabelle plum on the finish, this gorgeous wine demands another year or two in cellar. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£345.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is laced remarkably pretty display of zesty bright cherry, offset by savory herbs and spice, as dusty minerals and dried florals add further depths. On the palate, silky textures give way to ripe cherry and spice, as saline-minerals and juicy acids add tension, while a hint of fine tannins slowly saturate, yet the 2015 never loses its vibrant persona. The finish is long, resonating with n dried cherry and cranberry over a coating of mineral-laced tannins. This is such a precise Brunello. I’m a huge fan. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
£435.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Fornace is located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate in the southeast at lower elevations than the rest of the single vineyards of the Le Ragnaie estate. The 2016 Fornace Brunello is perfumed with perfectly ripe cherry, dried roses, sweet herbs, and licorice. The aromatics move seamlessly to the palate and unfold with kirsch, blood orange, and stony earth. Upfront, there is juicy ripe cherry fruit, blood orange, and salty earth. Ordinarily I would gravitate toward the more tension-driven wines, but this was what I felt to be the most pleasurable and joyful wine on this tasting, so much so that I would keep going back to wanting more. There is a seamless integration through the whole experience, and I do feel there will be longevity despite its immediate gratification. Enjoy over the next 15-20 years. 2021-2041. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 5 | 96+ (WA) |
In Bond
£574.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The character of this wine is more accessible and open-knit. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Petroso is less ethereal but more grounded, with an obvious delivery of fruit (and more primary intensity) framed by caramel, light tobacco leaf, redcurrant, cherry and wild plum. An herbal element comes forward too with white pepper and something fun that recalls cashew celery root. The mouthfeel veers toward chalky, and there is a hint of minerality with wet limestone or rose quartz. It shows managed tannins over mid-weight texture for a very elegant finish. These qualities give this 3,000-bottle release reasonable runway to age. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£328.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)Wild cherries, dried blueberries and dark currants open the bouquet of Le Ragnaie's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. The cherry signature is forefront, and it emerges with medicinal and balsamic notes towed in close. Fruit comes from the estate's oldest vines (aged 50 years old) planted in the highest part of the appellation (at 600 meters above sea level). The bouquet is seamless, putting forth a chain of similar fruit and spice-related aromas that fall neatly in line. This effect is further reinforced as the wine evolves steadily in the glass. Of the various Brunello Selezioni presented by Le Ragnaie, this wine is the most classic in approach with a slightly more closed and austere personality that will serve it well as it continues its bottle evolution. The wine was bottled in April 2019 and will hit the market in February 2020. Only 3,500 bottles were made. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 3 | 98+ (JD) |
In Bond
£473.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98+)The Le Ragnaie V.V. (Vigna Vecchia) is sourced from their highest elevation site of their oldest vines, planted in 1968. The aromatics of the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. are lifted with pine, bright cherry fruit, rosehip, and orange zest. Of the single vineyards, it has the most tension-packed structure, with angular tannins and linear drive. The palate is fresh with crisp cherry fruit, licorice, and a stony mineral feel. This is a wine that certainly needs time to unfold and express its character. It would benefit from at least five years or more in the cellar before checking in. 2027-2042. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 10 | 98 (KO) |
In Bond
£508.00 |
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Kerin O'Keefe (98)Made from old vines planted at some of the highest altitudes in the denomination, this stunner opens with forest floor, new leather and camphor aromas that mix with dog rose, ripe berry and pipe tobacco. Boasting a seamless combination of elegance and concentration from the old vines, the delicious palate doles out succulent black cherry, licorice, peppercorn and dried herb framed in velvety tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and youthfully tense. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (WA) |
In Bond
£588.00 |
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Wine Advocate (99)This wine is a star of the vintage. It is made with fruit from vines planted in 1968 in ancient soils rich in quartz at a very high 600 meters in elevation. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. (the initials stand for “vecchie vigne,” or "old vines") reveals a soulful personality with a very elegant set of aromas and compelling complexity. There is heritage rose, lilac and something earthy like tarragon or marjoram. Underripe cherry and redcurrant are found at the core; however, that ethereal herbal note continues to the palate where it meets a chalky mineral tone. Powdery tannins stick to the side of your mouth for a very long time. Only 4,400 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£284.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino makes itself known with a captivating and layered display of sour cherries and animal musk deepening further with crushed dried roses, minty herbs and a dusting of savory spice. It’s silky and pliant, yet energy remains high throughout. The 2018 Rosso showcases a vivid and pure display of wild strawberry with sweet tannins building toward the close. This is lifted and feminine in feel, tapering off classically dry and poised with tactile mineral tones and a hint of licorice lingering long. The 2018 is a harmonious and graceful rendition of Le Ragnaie’s Rosso that will win a lot of hearts right out of the gate. |
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Wine from Montalcino was only appreciated and understood by locals as recently as the 70's, even though its warm dry climate has much in common with its famous Tuscan cousin, Chianti. However pioneering work from Clemente Santi with various clones of Sangiovese led to what was labelled Brunello di Montalcino. Changes in strict laws have allowed this region to react better to modern trends, reducing mandatory oak ageing from 4 to 2 years. As with Chianti small amount of foreign grapes can now be included within blends.
