Wine Advocate (92)

The La Fortuna 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a balanced and forthcoming wine that offers a bright core of berry fruit that is evenly offset by spicy notes of allspice and cardamom seed. The wine boasts a great sense of balance throughout with savory tones of tobacco and cured meat that underline its recent aging evolution. This Riserva should promise a solid ten-year drinking window.

Vinous (95)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino displays depths of rich blackberry and cherry sauce with mentholated herbal tones adding lift, while notes of cedar and clove develop in the glass. Its textures are like pure silk, draped slowly across the palate, showing admirable density and weight, balanced by bright acids and minerals. This is so tightly wound up in its youthful state, yet it’s packed full of potential with a core of dark primary fruit that isn’t quite ready to reveal its charms. A web of fine tannin makes itself known only at the very end, as the 2016 slowly tapers off to hints of tobacco. The 2016 will take some time for this to come fully into focus, but it will be well worth the wait.

Kerin O'Keefe (97)

The nose is classic forest floor, violet, new leather and ripe berry while the luminous, full-bodied palate offers layers of depth and finesse even at this young age, including succulent Morello cherry, strawberry compote, licorice and black tea. It’s delicious and beautifully balanced, with bright acidity and tightly woven, fine-grained tannins.

James Suckling (96)

Incredible purity of fruit to this red with plums, cherries and berries. Full body, ripe and silky tannins and a fantastically long finish. Love the bitter-orange undertone to this. Drink in 2020.

Indulge in the alluring allure of the La Serena Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gemini 2006. Exquisitely hailing from the renowned Italian region of Montalcino, this exceptional wine is produced by the esteemed Mantengoli family, who have passionately honed their winemaking craft since 1933. This illustrious expression emphasises their commitment to artisanal methods, matured for an extended period in both Slovenian oak casks and French oak barriques. The result is a wine that effortlessly balances complexity and elegance.

The La Serena Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gemini 2006 reveals a captivating bouquet steeped in dark fruit, earthy underbrush, and spice nuances, culminating in a harmonious finish. It further impresses with a robust structure and remarkable ageing potential, promising to reward patient enthusiasts. Savour the craftsmanship that the Mantengoli family has imparted into this laudable Brunello di Montalcino."

Experience lavish refinement with the Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino 2015. Cultivated in the commendable Tuscan vineyards of Italy, this majestic red reveals the highest expression of Sangiovese grapes. Enthusing connoisseurs with an array of layered aromas, prominent notes of black cherry, plum and mulberry lead, effortlessly intertwined with undertones of spice and vanilla. With its robust structure and rich palate, each glass boasts a lasting, velvety finish.

This prized Brunello is the creation of Marco Lazzeretti, a third-generation wine producer with an undying passion towards viticulture. Founded in 1978, Lazzeretti and his family have worked meticulously to create this 'Super Tuscan', ageing the wine for 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels to reach its impeccable balance. This meticulous process reflects Lazzeretti’s masterful approach to winemaking, and his loyalty to traditional Tuscan techniques.

Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino 2015 is the epitome of Italian refinement, a timeless choice for every fine wine lover.

Vinous (97)

Deep red. Perfumed aromas of raspberry, strawberry, tea leaf and crushed stone are lifted by a lovely violet topnote. Bright, dense and juicy, this features lively, harmonious acidity extending the very precise, pure, multilayered flavors of red currant, sweet spices and red cherry on the long vibrant finish. A really beautiful wine. Bravi! Real Italian wine experts know that Le Chiuse owns vineyards in one of the best areas for Sangiovese in all of Montalcino; for example, it is from this area that Biondi-Santi sourced its Sangiovese grapes for many of its famous Brunello Riservas.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

The 2015 Le Chiuse Brunello is layered with black cherry, leather, sage, and forest floor. The palate is full-bodied and fruit-forward, with fresh fig, tomato leaf, warming amaro spice, and dark-mineral earth. Its structure is generous with ripe tannin and fresh acidity and does not feel weighed down by the warmth of the vintage. Another incredible, classic, and savory wine from the Le Chiuse estate worthy of enjoyment over many years. 2023-2040.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is lifted with aromatics of soft medicinal herbs, fresh soil, cherry fruit, and dried flowers. The palate is fresh with black cherry fruit, tea leaf, orange peel, and mineral-rich, stony earth. There is well-integrated structure, with crispness, fresh acidity, and a beautifully long finish. This is one of my favorite wines of the vintage for its classic structure, high complexity, and nuanced, balanced style.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

One of the best wines of the vintage, this stunner opens with compelling aromas of new leather, forest floor, perfumed berry and menthol. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Marasca cherry, baking spice and licorice set against firm, refined tannins. It boasts remarkable freshness and balance for the hot vintage.

Kerin O'Keefe (99)

Le Chiuse 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is fragrant, radiant and practically bursting with finesse. Made with organically grown grapes, this is an absolute stunner, offering enticing scents of woodland berry, forest floor, blue flower, eucalyptus and culinary spice. It’s energized and linear, delivering delicious layers of flavor including juicy red cherry, cinnamon, black tea and blood orange accompanied by taut, extremely refined tannins and vibrant acidity. Already showing beautifully, it also has the intensity and radiance to age well for 20 years or more.

Wine Enthusiast (99)

Released after 10 years aging in the estate's cellars, this drop-dead gorgeous, classy red shows its celebrated pedigree. Made from vineyards that once supplied grapes for the famous Biondi Santi Riservas, this stunning red opens with classic aromas of red berry, rose, dark spice and crushed herb, while the radiant, elegantly structured palate delivers juicy red cherry, orange zest, licorice and crushed mint before a mineral note graces the long finish. Taut, refined tannins and fresh acidity keep it impeccably balanced.

Vinous (97)

Le Potazzine 's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is fabulous. The bouquet is showing an earthy display, with smoky minerals and dark soil tones up front, evolving with time in the glass, as crushed black cherry mixes with wild, savory herbs and dried dusty florals. On the palate, gorgeously ripe red fruits are balanced by a mix of saline-minerals, savory spice and zesty acidity, as fine tannin slowly mounts beneath its pretty inner floral tones. The finish is long with a salty-savory twang of minerals and spice, as hints of hard red candies and a bit of citrus lingers over a core of tannic heft. There is so much to like about the 2015, from its classic and earthy bouquet to its fleshy yet balanced palate and totally classic finish. Simply stunning and so pleasurable.

Vinous (95)

The remarkably pretty 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows a pure bouquet full of wild strawberries, woodland berries and herbs with a hint of crushed stone. It’s soft and enveloping, displaying fleshy red fruits, savory spice and salty minerals, while vibrant acids maintain wonderful freshness. It’s only at the very end that its youthful structure comes forward, grippy and classically drying, yet under an air of red licorice and inner rose. There’s a beautiful harmony to this vintage of Le Potazzine, which should provide a long and wide drinking window.

Vinous (95)

The remarkably pretty 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows a pure bouquet full of wild strawberries, woodland berries and herbs with a hint of crushed stone. It’s soft and enveloping, displaying fleshy red fruits, savory spice and salty minerals, while vibrant acids maintain wonderful freshness. It’s only at the very end that its youthful structure comes forward, grippy and classically drying, yet under an air of red licorice and inner rose. There’s a beautiful harmony to this vintage of Le Potazzine, which should provide a long and wide drinking window.

Vinous (95)

The remarkably pretty 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows a pure bouquet full of wild strawberries, woodland berries and herbs with a hint of crushed stone. It’s soft and enveloping, displaying fleshy red fruits, savory spice and salty minerals, while vibrant acids maintain wonderful freshness. It’s only at the very end that its youthful structure comes forward, grippy and classically drying, yet under an air of red licorice and inner rose. There’s a beautiful harmony to this vintage of Le Potazzine, which should provide a long and wide drinking window.

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.

Kerin O'Keefe (97)

The beautiful floral nose reveals violet and rose that mingle with perfumed berry and spicy notes. Juicy and savory, the linear palate is all about finesse and energy, delivering tart red cherry, strawberry compote, cinnamon and star anise framed in tense, refined tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2024–2033.

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.

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.

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.

Wine Advocate (94)

The Le Ragnaie 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is a delicate and graceful expression that unfolds carefully to reveal wild berry, dried lilac and pretty earthy tones. This 26,000-bottle release fits into that enviable school of Brunello that prioritizes tradition, elegance and purity. These are the basic traits of a great Sangiovese, but they are not easily achieved by all. Le Ragnaie's identity is deeply linked with these efforts. Lifted notes of dried mint or Mediterranean herb appear on the close.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.