2020 Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie 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 Madonna delle Grazie (tasted once in the winery and again in my office) is another classical expression of Sangiovese from vintner Alessandro Mori and his son Iacopo. This vintage is best described as more charming compared to the stacked 2019 vintage or the powerful 2016 edition. This is a very pretty wine, elegant and finessed, with pretty floral highlights of rose and violet that lean into a subtle menthol note. There is caramelized sugar and candied orange. The wine lives in oak for 46 months with just a brief time in steel before going into bottle (at the end of July 2024). This vintage is a little closed or tight in terms of mouthfeel, which suggests it needs more time in bottle to spread its wings. Drink 2027-2055.
98 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The undeniably elegant 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie is amazingly fresh and vibrant on the nose, cascading from the glass with a burst of crushed cherries, rose petals, blood oranges and cloves. This displays exceptional elegance and grace, soothing the palate with its silken feel and ripe red and blue fruits. Hints of sour citrus add contrast, a mix of iron-borne minerals and fine tannins that mount toward the close. A saturation of primary concentration remains, offset by residual acidity as this finishes structured and impossibly long, leaving a sour cherry tinge and masses of violet pastille. The 2020 is a showboat yet complex and harmonious from start to finish. It's easily one of the absolute top wines of the vintage. Drink 2028-2042.
98 points
Eric Guido - Vinous

An exquisite mix of elegant aromas dominates the nose, with notes of Parma violets, orange peel, Earl Grey tea, dried cherries, smoky woodland and earthy minerality. Full-bodied, it shows significant tannins, but it’s velvety, sweet and full of aging potential. The flavors are enhanced by energetic, slightly lifted acidity and a super-long, austere finish. It will last for decades. Try after 2025.
99 points
James Suckling

This single-vineyard Brunello is one of the gems of the denomination. The 2020 reflects the vintage conditions wonderfully, trading in the generosity of 2019 for a more structured and thought-provoking wine. ‘2015 and '16 is like '19 and '20 – the exact same combination’, comments Alessandro Mori. Fragrantly perfumed with potpourri and a hint of spice, it's a bright and vital Sangiovese of impeccable precision and poise. Its youthful creaminess supports freshly picked blackberry, intense dark cherry and some sotto bosco notes, with a streak of salinity and some floral uplift to counterpoint its framework of silky, structural tannins and vertical shape. While less immediately striking than the 2019 was at the same stage, this may shine even brighter in the years to come. Drink 2026-2050.
98 points
James Button - Decanter