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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.

2012 Marchesi Antinori Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne

WS  94   
VN  91   
JR  16   

2007 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

WA  95+    
WS  92   
VN  91   

1955 Biondi-Santi Tenuta Il Greppo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

CT  96   
VN  95   
WA  94   
JR  18   

1964 Biondi-Santi Tenuta Il Greppo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; very top shoulder fill

VN  97   
JR  18   

1964 Biondi-Santi Tenuta Il Greppo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

VN  97   
JR  18   

1971 Biondi-Santi Tenuta Il Greppo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Lightly elevated cork; top shoulder fill

DE  97   
VN  94   
JR  17.5   

1971 Biondi-Santi Tenuta Il Greppo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Light capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill; light label condition issue

DE  97   
VN  94   
JR  17.5   

1988 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Pianrosso

1997 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli

WS  98   
RP  93   
VN  92   
JR  17   
WS  #22 of 2002   

1997 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino

VN  96   
WS  91   
JR  17   

2018 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino

Lightly depressed cork

WS  95   
JS  94   
JD  94   
WA  93   
VN  92   
JR  16.5   
WS  #1 of 2023   

2013 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino

Light label condition issue

WA  94   
VN  94   
WS  91   
JR  17+    

2009 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie

WE  94   

1995 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino

1993 Fuligni Brunello Di Montalcino Dei Cottimelli Riserva

Light capsule condition issue

WS  92   

1991 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; mid shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1993 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

RP  90   
WS  90   

2004 Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino

12-bottle Lot, Cardboard Case

See item details for bottle notes

WS  93   

2001 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino

6-bottle Lot

WS  97   
WA  95   
ST  93   
WS  #12 of 2006   

1997 Tenuta Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino

Light label condition issue

WS  91   
VN  90   

1997 Tenuta Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino La Casa

1.5ltr

Light capsule condition issue; very top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

WS  94   
JR  17   
DE  ****   

1990 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino

Light label condition issue

VN  97   
JS  95   
RP  92   

1993 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino

Light label condition issue

1982 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino

12-bottle Lot, Wood Case

See item details for bottle notes; Case condition issue

1979 Tenimenti Angelini - Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino

Signs of past seepage; base neck fill; label condition issue