2019 Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino

When it comes to Brunello, there is Biondi-Santi, and then there is everyone else. While most legendary wine regions evolved over centuries of collective effort, Brunello di Montalcino was essentially the "invention" of this single estate. In the late 1800s, while the rest of Tuscany was focused on high-volume blends meant for immediate drinking, Ferruccio Biondi-Santi made the radical choice to bottle 100% Sangiovese and age it for years in large Slavonian oak. This wasn't just a stylistic preference; it was the birth of the appellation itself. Under the current direction of Federico Radi, the winemaking has seen a subtle refinement, focusing on vineyard precision and slightly more supple textures, without abandoning the structural tension that makes these wines some of the longest-lived reds in Italy. For the collector, these releases represent the traditional benchmark: they are lean, savory, and aromatically complex wines that prioritize elegance and transparency over power.

The 2019 release originates from a widely acclaimed "5-star" vintage, characterized by a cool, rainy spring followed by a steady summer without extreme heat spikes. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in a mix of oak, concrete, and steel, and subsequently aged for 30 months in Slavonian casks, this vintage exemplifies the structural precision and high-altitude freshness typical of Tenuta Greppo.

Other Reviews....
This wine will be released in March 2025. The Biondi-Santi 2019 Brunello di Montalcino was born in a generous vintage that provided abundant high-quality fruit. The growing season became progressively warmer throughout summer, without heat spikes, and it ended with well-timed rains and a warm autumn. Harvest started in mid-September, and the grapes ripened according to the right parameters without over-ripeness. The wine shows a natural textural richness that is supported by dark fruit, navel orange, tobacco, laurel leaf and Mediterranean herb. There are flinty mineral notes that add to the complexity. This beautiful wine hits a special mark: it offers the ethereal qualities you expect of this celebrated estate, with a good level of austerity to match. Drink 2028-2055.
97 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino pulls the taster close to the glass, darkly floral and balsamic at the first tilt. This blossoms with a textbook profile of worn leather, dried rose, dusty earth, spice and dried black cherry. It sweeps across the palate, silky-smooth with hints of ripe red and black fruit underscored by saline mineral tones that add a crunchy yet salty sensation toward the close. It finishes with tremendous length and concentration, lifted by a tinge of sour citrus. Fine-grained tannins resonate under an air of sweet lavender. The 2019 is classic to the core. With this level of depth coming from the anatta, one can only imagine what the riserva will reveal. Drink 2028-2040.
97 points
Eric Guido - Vinous

Very perfumed and fragrant with sweet berries and fresh roses that follow through to a medium body with pretty depth of fruit and balance. Racy and driven, there’s a lot going on in the center-palate. The legend lives. Give this a few years to open, but already impressive. Best after 2027.
97 points
James Suckling

A bright red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino was bottled in March of 2024 and will be released in March of 2025. The aromas are layered and complex with notes of red berries, cranberries, rosemary, orange peel, and black licorice that are constantly evolving in the glass as it opens. Medium-bodied and structured, but also elegant with a weightless feel, it has a long and savory finish. It feels as though it's going to gain in intensity with more time in bottle. Drink 2027-2050.
98 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

Bottled in late-March 2024, Biondi Santi’s latest Brunello is built solidly on classic lines. Captivatingly austere, it hints at pomegranate and tea leaf to begin, with balsamic rosemary and sage blossom taking hold as it opens. Neither overtly dense nor powerful, it trades instead on grace and linearity. Firm, al dente tannins stretch out, sculpting a sinewy core of blood orange and pink grapefruit. Nervous energy brings edgy tension, and appetising bitter herbs bring this to an auspicious conclusion. Drink 2029-2047.
98 points
Michaela Morris - Decanter