2020 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino

Il Marroneto produce some of the purest and most perfumed expressions of Sangiovese made anywhere. Part of the secret lies in their prime location within Brunello's traditional top class territory, situated at 450m above sea level with a cool northern exposure. Combined with the much lauded talents of gifted winemaker Alessandro Mori, and it's clear to see why Il Marroneto are so highly coveted by Brunello fans worldwide.

Alessandro Mori has always adopted a traditional approach, aiming for elegance and purity, without sacrificing depth or impact in his wines. Organic practices have been used in the vineyards since 1988, while natural fermentation occurs and there is neither fining nor filtration before bottling.

Other Reviews....
The Il Marroneto 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of special depth and elegance. Alessandro Mori tells me that fermentation in 2020 proceeded nicely with what he describes as a "primordial stew" of grape must, resulting in high pressure "geysers" or "liquid bombs" that rip right through the cap because of pressure build-up. Someone is having tons of fun in the winery. High temperatures (between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius) serve to fix the wine's ruby color and the elegance of its perfumes, which are more floral than fruity. At the end of fermentation, he manages the skins with light wetting by hand with a tube. This vintage offers softness and a silky texture that feels glossy to the palate. Drink 2026-2048.
96 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is an understated beauty, slowly emerging with a delicate blend of rose petals, fresh mint, crushed rocks and vividly ripe black cherries. It hovers across the palate, lifted and finessed yet spry, with ripe red berry fruits and hints of lavender, taking on a liquid floral concentration toward the close. Pleasantly chewy and long, the 2020 leaves the senses stained in primary concentration, with a tinge of bitter cranberry and pretty inner florals that resonate over a bed of classically dry tannins. This is a more concentrated and intense yet wonderfully balanced rendition of Il Marroneto's Brunello. Drink 2028-2038.
96 points
Eric Guido - Vinous

A restrained wine that’s complex and deep, with aromas of cherry stones, butter, fresh violets, orange peel and prunes. Firm tannins with a grainy texture, yet it has a sweet finish, super-energetic acidity and a full body. Flavors of blood oranges and violets. Perfect balance and incredible aging potential. A super classic. Drink or hold.
97 points
James Suckling

‘I'd never seen the green [of the vegetation] like that before’, remarks Alessandro Mori of 2020, putting the vibrancy of the colour down to less pollution as the population remained in their homes. Calling 2020 an easy vintage, much like 2016, the estate now practices accapamento – a ‘wall’ of leaves which act to shade the bunches and also take up some resources, causing the vine to struggle slightly more. There's great freshness here, with coiled potency of vibrant plum and sour and dark cherry at the ripe core. A lick of salinity and a brush of wood accompany silky tannins. One of very few 2020s I have tasted which may be an improvement on the stunning 2019s. Time will tell. Drink 2026-2040.
96 points
James Button - Decanter