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 | 3 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,092.02 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)Showing dried blackberry, balsam herb, vapor rub and a hint of charred chili spice, this wine offers an aromatic profile that is very much in line with a vintage that saw cool spring temperatures and a hot summer. The Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a wine of depth, dusty tannins and a slightly evolved fruit character. I tasted this 2018 Cerretalto next to the estate's new releases from 2019, and the latter vintage certainly offers more overall clarity and crunch. The Neri family does great work with tannin management, and although there is some chalkiness here, the wine's structure is expertly folded into the fruit concentration. Only 9,700 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£768.74 |
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James Suckling (100)Cherry, flower and cedar aromas follow through to a full body with lots of pure and juicy fruit character. Creamy and savory with a crushed bean and cherry aftertaste. Defining today’s Brunello with purity and perfection of fruit. Making the most of an outstanding vintage. A selection from a seven-hectare parcel of 50-year-old vines. Drink after 2026. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,155.64 |
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James Suckling (100)So much ripe fruit here with currants and sultanas, yet fresh and very clean. Dark berries too. Incredible ripe Sangiovese character. Full body, with masses of fruit and chewy tan nins. Plus, there's black licorice and dried berries. Give it time to soften. What a bottle. Will it ultimately be better than 2001 Tenuta Nuova? Yes. Best after 2013. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,238.20 |
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Wine Advocate (100)This is a gorgeous wine. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is just as impressive now as when I first tasted it three years ago. The only edit I would make to my original 100-point review is an extension to the drinking window. The bouquet is absolutely seamless, yet it shows pencil-point precision with dark fruit that flows into spice, tobacco and crushed mineral. The wine's aromatic intensity is forthright and compelling, as is the polished and fine nature of the mouthfeel. This is a cellar keeper. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,463.09 |
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Wine Advocate (100)This is a gorgeous wine. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is just as impressive now as when I first tasted it three years ago. The only edit I would make to my original 100-point review is an extension to the drinking window. The bouquet is absolutely seamless, yet it shows pencil-point precision with dark fruit that flows into spice, tobacco and crushed mineral. The wine's aromatic intensity is forthright and compelling, as is the polished and fine nature of the mouthfeel. This is a cellar keeper. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£868.84 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)This edition of Casanova di Neri's celebrated single-vineyard wine opens to a luminous garnet color and exuberant fruit aromas. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova offers a lot to the bouquet, from sweet cherry aromas to savory tones of tobacco and leather. This wine shows a powerful inner motor of flavor concentration and density that propels it forward. All that density and richness wraps thickly over the palate. This is a lasting wine of brawn and muscle. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£619.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)A vivid and bright red with intense blueberries and raspberries. Floral undertones and tons of citrus, too! Full-bodied, dense and layered. Polished tannins and fantastic fruit. The muscularity of the structure is what gives this wine focus and intensity. So serious for the vintage. Give it time to show its greatness. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£568.84 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)The purity of fruit in this wine really strikes you with black cherries, combined with sage, lavender and rosemary. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with incredible tannin structure that gives the wine an endless mouth feel of caressing tannins, acidity and fruit. There’s a fabulous saltiness and oyster-shell undertone to the fruit. Unique. Drinkable already, but this year there’s the structure to last decades. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£570.04 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)Aromas of blackberries, cherries, violets and bark with mahogany. It’s full-bodied and chewy with intense tannins that are layered and focused. The fruit is pure and purposeful, yet not over done. Wonderful strength and purity to this. Class is the word. Try it after 2024. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£533.09 |
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Wine Advocate (96)This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine (helped by a hot growing season and 15% alcohol) ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage. |
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Tuscany | 9 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£644.69 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Elegant and perfumed nose of dried roses, violets, lemon zest, slate, cherries, aniseed and truffles. Very fine, tight and precise tannins. Medium to full body. I like the floral and saline undertones. So precise and fresh with a tight finish. Crushed stones at the end. Try in 2025, but already attractive to taste and drink. |
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Tuscany | 5 | - |
Inc. VAT
£268.84 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£442.84 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is deeply alluring and remarkably pretty, lifting up with masses of floral-laced black cherries, sweet herbs and crushed stone. It’s silky and feminine in feel, lifted by juicy acids and minerals with a pure expression of ripe, red berry fruit. This turns spicy toward the close; yet energy remains high, with a gentle tug of round tannins lingering under an air of violet florals. The word that comes to mind here is seamless. |
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|
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Tuscany | 10 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£325.24 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is hauntingly dark, with masses of ashen crushed stone and exotic spices that unfold to reveal rich blackberry and plum. This is so soft and silky yet vibrant, cascading ripe red and black fruits across the palate with ease, as minerals slowly saturate. It’s lightly structured with ripe plums and spice, hints of licorice and a flourish of salty minerals. The 2019 will be enjoyable right out of the gate, but it will also hold up nicely through short-term cellaring. |
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Tuscany | 6 | - |
Inc. VAT
£318.29 |
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£639.64 |
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Tuscany | 4 | - |
Inc. VAT
£545.09 |
|||||
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Tuscany | 7 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£864.58 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Beautiful clarity on the nose with lavender, raspberry and violet aromas. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, fresh and simply fantastic finish. Best ever. Better in 2021. |
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£545.09 |
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|
One cannot go past the beautifully crafted Casisano Colombaio Brunello Montalcino Riserva 2015. Expertly produced by the historical estate of Casisano Colombaio, which traces its viticulture roots back to the early 20th century in the prestigious Tuscan region of Montalcino. Crafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, this enchanting red wine expresses the distinct qualities of its terroir, with floral notes and hints of wild berries, balanced effortlessly by an elegant oak structure. Aged for four years in oak barrels, followed by a four-month stint in bottle, its bright acidity and firm tannins underscore a harmonious fusion of fruit and spice. The Casisano Colombaio Brunello Montalcino Riserva 2015 will indeed gratify even the most discerning palate with its balanced full body, intense ruby hue, and enduring finish. It is a perfect candidate for long cellaring and an example of the uncompromised quality and intricate dedication that places Casisano Colombaio amongst the top producers in Montalcino. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£563.09 |
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|
Sourced from Tuscany's prestigious wine-growing regions, the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 exemplifies true Italian artistry. This highly esteemed product of the venerated Castello Banfi estate exhibits its deep Tuscan heritage through its robust Sangiovese grape. Meticulously cultivated in the Marrucheto vineyard, the Sangiovese grape reveals its rich character, yielding an impressive structure and elegance. Having undergone fermentation in custom hybrid French oak and stainless-steel tanks, the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 nestles in Slovenian oak barrels for vital maturation, creating a balance between traditional and modern winemaking. Hints of ripe blackberry and chocolate interweave with a touch of tobacco and white pepper, a seductive palate left lingering on the senses. Standing testament to the mastery of Castello Banfi, the Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 confirms why this region remains an iconic viticultural hotspot. A timeless investment for fine wine lovers and collectors alike. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£772.84 |
|||||
Vinous (100)The 2017 D'Alceo possesses mind-blowing intensity and pedigree to burn. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2017 is magnificently impressive right out of the gate. Lavender, rose petal, spice, kirsch, mint and violet lead into a core of inky dark blue/purplish berry fruit. Soft contours and suave, silky tannins give the 2017 so much immediacy, but there is plenty of cellaring potential too. In a word: epic. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£355.24 |
|||||
Vinous (98)The 2016 Sammarco is a dense, flamboyant wine. Inky red fruit, spice, cedar, tobacco, menthol and licorice are some of the notes that build in a statuesque Sammarco that dazzles from start to finish. A wine of stunning textural richness and intensity, Sammarco is translucent, sculpted and full of character. All the elements are so well balanced. Rose petal, cedar, tobacco and mint linger on the eternal finish. The 2016 is a magical wine that can be, surprisingly, enjoyed now or cellared for a number of years. Time in the glass just brings out its energy and vertical drive. Sammarco is quite possibly the single greatest value in high-end Italian wine. Don't miss it. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£217.84 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)A blend of mostly Sangiovese with Cabernet Franc and Merlot in supporting roles, the Castello di Ama 2018 Haiku is a very interesting and somewhat unexpected expression that delivers big richness and lovely concentration, yet the fruit is never too ripe. In fact, it might be a tad underripe in this vintage that saw a few cooler weeks in early summer and some rain toward the end of the growing season. In all, it shows careful balance with an elegant, medium-bodied approach that is propped up by fresh and lively fruit. There are some Cabernet Franc-driven aromas of black olive tapenade. Like the other wines in this portfolio, Haiku is distinctively Mediterranean in personality. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£385.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Wonderful aromas of flowers, plums, terracotta and white pepper. Intense, yet ever so subtle. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and intense finish. Shows excellent length. Drink after 2021. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£325.84 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)The complexity and beauty to this is really something with cherry, walnut, tobacco and cigar-box character. Sweet cherries. It’s full-bodied and deep with super intensity and power. Layered and beautiful. Really refined tannins. Some whole-berry fermentation gives this added character. Goes on for minutes. Try after 2025. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£491.09 |
|||||
Vinous (93)A dusty blend of cedary spice, mentholated herbs, rose petals and sour cherry wafts up from the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino. It’s round and supple in feel, with floral-laced red and black fruits complemented by a subtle tinge of sweet spice. This leaves a bitter twang of sour berries, while a burst of residual acidity adds a cheek-puckering freshness, and a gentle tug of tannin slowly recedes. The 2018 has improved each time I’ve tasted it in the last five months, and it now shows the ruggedness of Northwestern Montalcino Sangiovese, but in a wonderfully balanced way. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£523.49 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)This is really fine on the palate with wonderfully integrated tannins that give tension and focus. It’s medium-bodied with lovely berry, cherry, cedar and spice. Peaches and flower stems, too. Creamy texture. Extremely long and vivid. Structured, but showing beautiful drinkability with wonderful balance and form. One to drink or hold. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,048.84 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)This is the best Campo del Drago I have ever had. It really shows the unique character of the elevated single vineyard of 1.5 hectares. Black cherries and flowers with hints of sandalwood and tree bark. Always pure and beautiful. Medium to full body. Ultra-fine tannins. Lightly salty character to the cherry and berry flavors. Extremely long and beautiful. Drink after 2021. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£733.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Another structured, layered red with blackberry, plum, walnut and cigar-box aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with depth and intensity. Tight and structured. A wine with a long future. Fine-grained and refined. Try after 2025. |
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Tuscany | 4 | - |
Inc. VAT
£822.29 |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tuscany | 3 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£902.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)Showing dried blackberry, balsam herb, vapor rub and a hint of charred chili spice, this wine offers an aromatic profile that is very much in line with a vintage that saw cool spring temperatures and a hot summer. The Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is a wine of depth, dusty tannins and a slightly evolved fruit character. I tasted this 2018 Cerretalto next to the estate's new releases from 2019, and the latter vintage certainly offers more overall clarity and crunch. The Neri family does great work with tannin management, and although there is some chalkiness here, the wine's structure is expertly folded into the fruit concentration. Only 9,700 bottles were made. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 2 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£631.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)Cherry, flower and cedar aromas follow through to a full body with lots of pure and juicy fruit character. Creamy and savory with a crushed bean and cherry aftertaste. Defining today’s Brunello with purity and perfection of fruit. Making the most of an outstanding vintage. A selection from a seven-hectare parcel of 50-year-old vines. Drink after 2026. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£947.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (100)So much ripe fruit here with currants and sultanas, yet fresh and very clean. Dark berries too. Incredible ripe Sangiovese character. Full body, with masses of fruit and chewy tan nins. Plus, there's black licorice and dried berries. Give it time to soften. What a bottle. Will it ultimately be better than 2001 Tenuta Nuova? Yes. Best after 2013. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,019.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)This is a gorgeous wine. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is just as impressive now as when I first tasted it three years ago. The only edit I would make to my original 100-point review is an extension to the drinking window. The bouquet is absolutely seamless, yet it shows pencil-point precision with dark fruit that flows into spice, tobacco and crushed mineral. The wine's aromatic intensity is forthright and compelling, as is the polished and fine nature of the mouthfeel. This is a cellar keeper. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,200.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (100)This is a gorgeous wine. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is just as impressive now as when I first tasted it three years ago. The only edit I would make to my original 100-point review is an extension to the drinking window. The bouquet is absolutely seamless, yet it shows pencil-point precision with dark fruit that flows into spice, tobacco and crushed mineral. The wine's aromatic intensity is forthright and compelling, as is the polished and fine nature of the mouthfeel. This is a cellar keeper. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£708.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)This edition of Casanova di Neri's celebrated single-vineyard wine opens to a luminous garnet color and exuberant fruit aromas. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova offers a lot to the bouquet, from sweet cherry aromas to savory tones of tobacco and leather. This wine shows a powerful inner motor of flavor concentration and density that propels it forward. All that density and richness wraps thickly over the palate. This is a lasting wine of brawn and muscle. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 2 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£500.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98)A vivid and bright red with intense blueberries and raspberries. Floral undertones and tons of citrus, too! Full-bodied, dense and layered. Polished tannins and fantastic fruit. The muscularity of the structure is what gives this wine focus and intensity. So serious for the vintage. Give it time to show its greatness. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£458.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)The purity of fruit in this wine really strikes you with black cherries, combined with sage, lavender and rosemary. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with incredible tannin structure that gives the wine an endless mouth feel of caressing tannins, acidity and fruit. There’s a fabulous saltiness and oyster-shell undertone to the fruit. Unique. Drinkable already, but this year there’s the structure to last decades. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£459.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)Aromas of blackberries, cherries, violets and bark with mahogany. It’s full-bodied and chewy with intense tannins that are layered and focused. The fruit is pure and purposeful, yet not over done. Wonderful strength and purity to this. Class is the word. Try it after 2024. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£425.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)This is one of my all-time favorite Brunellos, and although personal tastes are fluid and may change from time to time, there is something timeless and solid about this wine. It's like a touchstone. The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is graced with a similar interlude of elegant rose or crushed flower that we saw in the annata wine. It appears more prominently here, and with more shape and focused intensity. Make no mistake, Giacomo Neri builds wines for pleasure and sensual impact, and this wine (helped by a hot growing season and 15% alcohol) ticks all those boxes. But it also shows floral elegance and sour cherry freshness that defies our expectations of the vintage. |
|||||||||
|
|
Tuscany | 9 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£518.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Elegant and perfumed nose of dried roses, violets, lemon zest, slate, cherries, aniseed and truffles. Very fine, tight and precise tannins. Medium to full body. I like the floral and saline undertones. So precise and fresh with a tight finish. Crushed stones at the end. Try in 2025, but already attractive to taste and drink. |
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|
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Tuscany | 5 | - |
In Bond
£208.00 |
|||||
|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£353.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is deeply alluring and remarkably pretty, lifting up with masses of floral-laced black cherries, sweet herbs and crushed stone. It’s silky and feminine in feel, lifted by juicy acids and minerals with a pure expression of ripe, red berry fruit. This turns spicy toward the close; yet energy remains high, with a gentle tug of round tannins lingering under an air of violet florals. The word that comes to mind here is seamless. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 10 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£255.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93)The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is hauntingly dark, with masses of ashen crushed stone and exotic spices that unfold to reveal rich blackberry and plum. This is so soft and silky yet vibrant, cascading ripe red and black fruits across the palate with ease, as minerals slowly saturate. It’s lightly structured with ripe plums and spice, hints of licorice and a flourish of salty minerals. The 2019 will be enjoyable right out of the gate, but it will also hold up nicely through short-term cellaring. |
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Tuscany | 6 | - |
In Bond
£246.00 |
|||||
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
In Bond
£517.00 |
|||||
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Tuscany | 4 | - |
In Bond
£435.00 |
|||||
|
|
Tuscany | 7 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£682.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Beautiful clarity on the nose with lavender, raspberry and violet aromas. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, fresh and simply fantastic finish. Best ever. Better in 2021. |
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|
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
In Bond
£435.00 |
|||||
|
One cannot go past the beautifully crafted Casisano Colombaio Brunello Montalcino Riserva 2015. Expertly produced by the historical estate of Casisano Colombaio, which traces its viticulture roots back to the early 20th century in the prestigious Tuscan region of Montalcino. Crafted from 100% Sangiovese grapes, this enchanting red wine expresses the distinct qualities of its terroir, with floral notes and hints of wild berries, balanced effortlessly by an elegant oak structure. Aged for four years in oak barrels, followed by a four-month stint in bottle, its bright acidity and firm tannins underscore a harmonious fusion of fruit and spice. The Casisano Colombaio Brunello Montalcino Riserva 2015 will indeed gratify even the most discerning palate with its balanced full body, intense ruby hue, and enduring finish. It is a perfect candidate for long cellaring and an example of the uncompromised quality and intricate dedication that places Casisano Colombaio amongst the top producers in Montalcino. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
£450.00 |
|||||
|
Sourced from Tuscany's prestigious wine-growing regions, the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 exemplifies true Italian artistry. This highly esteemed product of the venerated Castello Banfi estate exhibits its deep Tuscan heritage through its robust Sangiovese grape. Meticulously cultivated in the Marrucheto vineyard, the Sangiovese grape reveals its rich character, yielding an impressive structure and elegance. Having undergone fermentation in custom hybrid French oak and stainless-steel tanks, the Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 nestles in Slovenian oak barrels for vital maturation, creating a balance between traditional and modern winemaking. Hints of ripe blackberry and chocolate interweave with a touch of tobacco and white pepper, a seductive palate left lingering on the senses. Standing testament to the mastery of Castello Banfi, the Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Marrucheto 2017 confirms why this region remains an iconic viticultural hotspot. A timeless investment for fine wine lovers and collectors alike. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£628.00 |
|||||
Vinous (100)The 2017 D'Alceo possesses mind-blowing intensity and pedigree to burn. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2017 is magnificently impressive right out of the gate. Lavender, rose petal, spice, kirsch, mint and violet lead into a core of inky dark blue/purplish berry fruit. Soft contours and suave, silky tannins give the 2017 so much immediacy, but there is plenty of cellaring potential too. In a word: epic. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£280.00 |
|||||
Vinous (98)The 2016 Sammarco is a dense, flamboyant wine. Inky red fruit, spice, cedar, tobacco, menthol and licorice are some of the notes that build in a statuesque Sammarco that dazzles from start to finish. A wine of stunning textural richness and intensity, Sammarco is translucent, sculpted and full of character. All the elements are so well balanced. Rose petal, cedar, tobacco and mint linger on the eternal finish. The 2016 is a magical wine that can be, surprisingly, enjoyed now or cellared for a number of years. Time in the glass just brings out its energy and vertical drive. Sammarco is quite possibly the single greatest value in high-end Italian wine. Don't miss it. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£165.50 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)A blend of mostly Sangiovese with Cabernet Franc and Merlot in supporting roles, the Castello di Ama 2018 Haiku is a very interesting and somewhat unexpected expression that delivers big richness and lovely concentration, yet the fruit is never too ripe. In fact, it might be a tad underripe in this vintage that saw a few cooler weeks in early summer and some rain toward the end of the growing season. In all, it shows careful balance with an elegant, medium-bodied approach that is propped up by fresh and lively fruit. There are some Cabernet Franc-driven aromas of black olive tapenade. Like the other wines in this portfolio, Haiku is distinctively Mediterranean in personality. |
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|
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£305.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Wonderful aromas of flowers, plums, terracotta and white pepper. Intense, yet ever so subtle. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and intense finish. Shows excellent length. Drink after 2021. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£255.50 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)The complexity and beauty to this is really something with cherry, walnut, tobacco and cigar-box character. Sweet cherries. It’s full-bodied and deep with super intensity and power. Layered and beautiful. Really refined tannins. Some whole-berry fermentation gives this added character. Goes on for minutes. Try after 2025. |
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|
|
Tuscany | 10 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£390.00 |
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Vinous (93)A dusty blend of cedary spice, mentholated herbs, rose petals and sour cherry wafts up from the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino. It’s round and supple in feel, with floral-laced red and black fruits complemented by a subtle tinge of sweet spice. This leaves a bitter twang of sour berries, while a burst of residual acidity adds a cheek-puckering freshness, and a gentle tug of tannin slowly recedes. The 2018 has improved each time I’ve tasted it in the last five months, and it now shows the ruggedness of Northwestern Montalcino Sangiovese, but in a wonderfully balanced way. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£417.00 |
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James Suckling (96)This is really fine on the palate with wonderfully integrated tannins that give tension and focus. It’s medium-bodied with lovely berry, cherry, cedar and spice. Peaches and flower stems, too. Creamy texture. Extremely long and vivid. Structured, but showing beautiful drinkability with wonderful balance and form. One to drink or hold. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£858.00 |
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James Suckling (98)This is the best Campo del Drago I have ever had. It really shows the unique character of the elevated single vineyard of 1.5 hectares. Black cherries and flowers with hints of sandalwood and tree bark. Always pure and beautiful. Medium to full body. Ultra-fine tannins. Lightly salty character to the cherry and berry flavors. Extremely long and beautiful. Drink after 2021. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£595.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Another structured, layered red with blackberry, plum, walnut and cigar-box aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with depth and intensity. Tight and structured. A wine with a long future. Fine-grained and refined. Try after 2025. |
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Tuscany | 4 | - |
In Bond
£666.00 |
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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.
