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2018 Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino

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Latest Sale Price

July 13, 2025 - $56

Estimate

RATINGS

97Jeb Dunnuck

Expressive and beautifully pure...gorgeous, sweet perfume of perfectly ripe raspberry eau de vie, crushed roses, delicate baking spice, and well-integrated cedar spice...medium-bodied, though it is generous and round with fruit in a long arch, fine tannins, and a soft, stony, mineral texture. Polished with more ripe raspberry, oolong tea, and fresh thyme...

94The Wine Advocate

...punchy and bright aromas that recall dried grape skin...pleasant rawness or authenticity presented here with black cherry, plum, blue flower, cola and rusty nail...mid-weight texture and well-managed tannins...concludes with a hint of sweet cherry liqueur.

94Wine Spectator

...ripe cherry, strawberry, white pepper, tobacco and iron notes...expressive red shows equilibrium and fine length. Changes quickly in the glass.

94James Suckling

...savory olive, oregano and iodine undertones to the sour cherry and plum fruit. Baking spices, too. Fresh and layered with very finely-knit tannins, bright acidity and a medium to full body. It’s all in balance.

94Wine Enthusiast

...earthy, umami nose recalls an elderly man, coffee in hand, noticing the button mushrooms at the edges of his flowerbeds. Light blackberry aromas strengthen on the palate, and are joined by a drizzle of chocolate and vanilla to push back on continued metallic earthiness and frisky tannins and acid.

94Decanter Magazine (points)

Aromas are earthy and herbal rather than fruity, with fragrant tobacco, roasted coffee and black tea. Confidently extracted...crisp forest berries and a juicy core lurking underneath...finishes with spiced currants.

93Vinous / IWC

Swirling brings about nuances of dusty rose, dried cherries, flowery underbrush and hints of animal musk. It glides across the palate with finesse, impressing more on its purity of fruit, petty inner florals and delicate nature than power...finishes with medium length, showing sweet inner herbal tones, a twang of sour citrus and a gentle tug of fine tannin...an understated beauty.

92.9CellarTracker

16.5Jancis Robinson

PRODUCER

Le Chiuse

Le Chiuse is in Pullera, just north of Montalcino. It had been part of the Biondi Santi family properties since the 18th century, but in 1986 Simonetta Valliani, a member of the family, leased a piece of the Biondi Santi property and with her husband began making her own Brunello. The property is especially well suited to growing Sangiovese Grosso and before Valliani took over these vineyards had been exclusively used for Riserva bottlings. In 1993 Valliani bought the property outright and began using the name Brunello Le Chiuse for her label. The 13-acres of vineyards are farmed organically and the estate produces 25,000 bottles annually. Gambero Rosso notes that though “Le Chiuse is a relatively young winery … (it is, nevertheless) well established on the dizzying heights of Montalcino winemaking….Sangiovese is interpreted with character and confident technical skill.”

REGION

Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino is regarded as one of Italy’s best appellations. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975. Brunellos in general are bigger, darker, more tannic and more powerful wines than Chiantis or most other Sangioveses. By law they must be aged for four years, and two of those years must be in wooden barrels.

VINTAGE

2018 Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino