25 products

2016 Brunello di Montalcino

Eric Guido of Vinous asks "Is There Really Any Such Thing as a Perfect Vintage? Many producers throughout Montalcino would say that there is, and the example that they would give you would be the 2016 vintage." Given the success of the 2015 vintage in Tuscany, it may be hard to expect the follow up 2016 vintage to be as successful. Yet as we're now seeing, these wines are not only a match for their predecessor, they often surpass those already highly regarded wines. While 2015 had ample warmth to ensure a successful year, 2016 added a level of freshness and purity due to a more moderate and extended growing season. The resultant wines show exceptional depth of flavour, and will be very long lived.

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    2016 Salicutti Piaggione Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $240. 00
    Bottle
    $2880.00 Dozen
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The Salicutti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione draws its fruit from a small 1.2-hectare parcel that sits a little lower in altitude on this beautiful bijou estate. Piaggione is one of the historic single-vineyard wines made here, and its personality is generous, open knit and elegant. The oak is well integrated and the wine offers taut, fresh and pure fruit intensity. There are bright berry and sour cherry aromas with blue flower, rosemary and a touch of crushed stone. Production for this pretty wine is 7,760 bottles. Drink 2024 - 2044.
    95 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    This red is fresh and vibrant, but with a meatiness to its cherry, plum, earth, tar and cigar box flavors. A hint of spice on the lingering finish suggests a light touch of new oak. Best from 2024 through 2045.
    94 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    Aromas of baked plum, coconut, camphor and rose mingle together on this enveloping red. The concentrated, full-bodied palate offers cherries marinated in spirits, licorice and tobacco set against tightly packed, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2026–2036.
    94 points
    Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

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    2016 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $145. 00
    Bottle
    $1740.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2021-2031)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork
    Deep dark red in colour with black tinged edges and a slightly rustic red hue. Spiralling out of the glass are spicy red to dark currant, red cherry and subtle tobacco scents which are followed by dusty cedar and dried herb notes. Layered across the mid weighted palate is a delicious flavour profile of ripe red currant and dark cherry fruits. Dried herb, earthy tobacco, vanillin cedar and spice the back drop. Polished in its feel with sturdily built tannins imposing some light grip onto the long refined finish.
    Drink over the next 8-10 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews....
    The San Filippo 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a slightly exotic personality with smoked cedar, mahogany or teak followed by dark fruit, pressed blackberry and plum. The wine ages in large oak cask for two years. This is a robustly textured and muscular Brunello with full-bodied intensity that transcends both the bouquet and the mouthfeel. There's a lot going on, especially in terms of the wine's smokiness and spiciness, and there is good acidity and tannic structure to frame it all. Production is 15,000 bottles.
    93 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    A serene and intensely structured Brunello with cherry, cedar, walnut and dry-earth aromas with some burnt-lemon undertones. Full-bodied, yet with very fine tannins that are extremely polished and beautiful. Goes on for minutes. A gorgeous young wine.
    96 points
    jamessuckling.com

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has aromatics of dried cherry, licorice, and menthol and cedar. The palate is upfront with firmly structured tannins, crunchy red plum, tomato leaf, incense, and orange zest. It was aged for two years in a combination of barriques and large barrel. Allow 3-5 years in cellar to harmonize and drink 2024-2040.
    95 points
    Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

    Plenty of balsamic aromas preview this red, settling into a core of macerated cherry and plum fruit, framed by juniper, thyme, Scotch broom, tar and iodine. Racy and harmonious, with a solid layer of tannins underneath. Best from 2024 through 2047.
    97 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

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    2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $350. 00
    Bottle
    $4200.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Canalicchio di Sopra was founded by Primo Pacenti in 1962, and is now run by his grandchildren Francesco, Simonetta and Marco. Their 19 hectares of vineyards are planted in Canalicchio and Montosoli on northern side of Montalcino, and each of these locations lend an elegance and grace to these exquisite Sangiovese wines. All wines are aged in medium sized Slavonian oak botti.

    Other Reviews....
    This is a newish single-vineyard wine (it's the second vintage) created by Francesco Ripaccioli and the team at Canalicchio di Sopra at the conclusion of an ambitious estate-wide mapping project. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia draws its fruit from a two-hectare site planted in 1990 with clay soils and rich in mineral components. A precious 4,133 bottles were made. What I like most is the tightness of the fruit, which you chip away at slowly as the wine softens and yields in the glass. Each layer brings you forest fruit, sour cherry, almond, lilac and candied orange peel. On a second swirl, you might get black olive, bay leaf and scorched earth. There are subtle mineral notes, but what La Casaccia ultimately offers is that uniquely compact and extremely polished quality of fruit. Drink 2024 - 2045.
    96 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    Lifting up with gorgeous floral perfumes and hints of white smoke, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia from Canalicchio di Sopra keeps you at the edge of your glass. It opens up with a dark and dramatic display of balsamic-tinged black cherry, sage and Indian spice, contrasted by savory notes of tobacco, rich earth tones and flowery undergrowth. There’s an amazing density of fruit here, offset by salty minerals, zesty acids and a hint of sour citrus. The textures are velvety-smooth, yet the expression remains feminine and lifted. In fact, you can hardly notice its underlying tannic heft until it’s too late, as the 2016 La Casaccia seems to youthfully fold in on itself, halting the expression but promising over a decade of further development. Drink 2026 - 2040.
    98 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    A red with cherry, walnut, bark and hints of dried flowers. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a tight finish. Really reserved now. Needs three or four years to open. Best after 2024.
    96 points
    James Suckling

    Initially closed, this eventually reveals aromas of grilled porcini, rose, camphor and citrus zest. Linear and elegantly structured, the palate is still youthfully austere, recalling morello cherry, blood orange, licorice and a hint of salt while firm, close-grained tannins provide the backbone. It closes on a coffee-bean note. Drink 2026–2041.
    95 points
    Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

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    2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $160. 00
    Bottle
    $1920.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Canalicchio di Sopra was founded by Primo Pacenti in 1962, and is now run by his grandchildren Francesco, Simonetta and Marco. Their 19 hectares of vineyards are planted in Canalicchio and Montosoli on northern side of Montalcino, and each of these locations lend an elegance and grace to these exquisite Sangiovese wines. All wines are aged in medium sized Slavonian oak botti.

    Other Reviews....
    The Canalicchio di Sopra 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows balance and symmetry with that difficult twofold delivery of power and elegance. This terrific new release shows dark fruit and tart cherry, but then unwinds slowly to reveal light spice, toasted nut, blue flower and crushed limestone. The wine affords a genuine sense of place with roots in the northern half of the appellation where the light is whiter and the nights are cooler. That brilliant luminosity appears in the pure quality of fruit and the sharp focus of the mouthfeel, driven by balanced tannins and acidity. The sensation it gives is compact and long, without too much extra volume or padding. This wine is like a contoured, chiseled and carefully polished marble statue that you would see in a Renaissance church. Drink 2024 - 2044.
    95 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    The 2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino is flat-out stunning, remarkably vibrant and an almost-ethereal expression. There’s an exotic citrusy tinge to its ripe black cherries, taking on hints of sage, cedar and allspice, all grounded by moist earth tones. It’s focused and remarkably pure with a noticeable inner sweetness to the red and hints of blackberry fruit, all cast across a silky, feminine frame. The structure builds like a crescendo, as minerals fade to youthful tannins. Juicy acids maintain perfect balance from start to finish, making for a surprisingly fresh expression yet with amazing length. There’s simply so much going on here, and there are promises of more good things to come. Drink 2024 - 2038.
    95 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    A dusty, tannic red with plum, red berry and cedar, chocolate and walnut undertones. It’s full-bodied, yet reserved and tight with ultra fine tannins and a vivid finish. A pretty, polished red. Drink after 2022.
    94 points
    James Suckling

    Intense aromas of underbrush, wild berry, new leather and pipe tobacco lead the way on this fragrant Brunello. Full bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate features ripe morello cherry, licorice and truffle before a black-tea finish. Firm, refined tannins and fresh acidity keep balanced and give it an ageworthy structure. Drink 2024–2036.
    97 points
    Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

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    2016 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $240. 00
    Bottle
    $2880.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Aromas of blackberries, cherries, violets and bark with mahogany. It’s full-bodied and chewy with intense tannins that are layered and focused. The fruit is pure and purposeful, yet not over done. Wonderful strength and purity to this. Class is the word. Try it after 2024.
    99 points
    jamessuckling.com

    This is one of my sweetheart wines from Montalcino. The Casanova di Neri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova offers a long list of aromas on an ever-shifting and fluid bouquet. You get bright cherry, rose potpourri, black truffle, caramel, butterscotch, sandalwood, road pavement and chalky mineral. In fact, each time I come back to this wine, that mineral element seemed to grow in intensity and scope. The wine offers a grounded fruit side that is contrasted nicely against a grounded oak component. The mouthfeel is creamy and long, and the wine shows terrific tannic integration. When you come back hours later, you might find black olive, bresaola and licorice.
    97+ points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova drawing you in with a display of exotic brown spice, mint and cedar dust. Further coaxing unlocks depths of cherry, plum, hints of dark chocolate and roses. It coasts along a medium-bodied frame with velvety richness, complemented by polished red and black fruits while contrasted by brisk acids and hints of sour citrus. This coats the teeth in concentration, as if you can feel the pulp, seeds and skins of its fruit, while a layer of fine tannin slowly grounds you back to earth. The Tenuta Nuova already has so much to give, yet it will be many years before it reaches its apex. Wow. Thinking back to my tasting of the 2015, I can’t say that the 2016 is necessarily a better wine, just a little less immediate. Either way, both wines are beautiful expressions of vintage.
    96 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    A bright, pure version, boasting raspberry, black cherry and blackberry flavors married to a fluid profile. The structure is present, yet both the lively acidity and fine-grained tannins are in harmony. The focus is really on the fruit here, with accents of graphite, earth, tobacco and underbrush. Best from 2023 through 2045.
    95 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    Tenuta Nuova is Casanova di Neri’s southern expression of Brunello. Vines were planted in 1989 and Gianlorenzo Neri says they are now hitting their stride, giving wines with more persistence and depth than earlier vintages. The 2016 clearly demonstrates both of these attributes. It is not as immediate as the white label but unfolds decorously with earth, tar, leather, black currants and cinnamon. The tannins are refined, clinging to the palate with a clayey texture. Pristine and polished with masses of personality, the briny undertow cleanses the mouth brilliantly. Balsam and orange carry the finish.
    97 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    The 2016 Tenuta Nuova has layered aromatics of black raspberry, menthol, baking spice and cedar. The palate is intensified and has another gear, with mouth-filling cherry fruit, tobacco, and a balanced but powerful structure. Enjoy a couple of the 2016 Brunello while you wait for this one in the cellar for 3-5 years and drink 2025-2041.
    96 points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

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    2016 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $125. 00
    Bottle
    $1500.00 Dozen
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 56,000 bottles made) shows bold cherry, spice, crushed stone and balsam herb that come together in seamless fashion. This estate has honed a unique style that becomes a common theme traced to each new vintage. I'd describe it as delicate but also succulent with a rich and almost pulpy quality of fruit. The wine is fueled by the golden light that hits this part of Tuscany in those last hours of the day. Here is a wine that shows spirit of place. Drink 2024 - 2040.
    95+ points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    Lots of red and blue fruit to this, evolving into wet leaves, freshly turned soil and brewed tea. Light herbal notes. Sweet cherries, too. It's full bodied with silky, firm tannins. More minerality and tea notes on the finish. Elegant and driven. Drink after 2023.
    95 points
    James Suckling

    Red-berry, wild-rose, crushed mint and dark-spice aromas are front and center on this fragrant red. The full-bodied palate is concentrated but also boasts finesse, offering layers of raspberry jam, smooth licorice and tobacco alongside a backbone of enveloping, velvety tannins. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol but the succulent fruit stands up to it. Drink 2024–2036.
    97 points
    Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

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    2016 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso Magnum (1500ml)
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $380. 00
    Bottle
    $4560.00 Dozen
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is a single-vineyard expression that draws its fruit from an 11.7-hectare parcel with moderately thick galestro soils with ancient marine material. This special site, awash under the brilliant light of a big, open sky, does indeed deliver a more pronounced mineral signature, with wild berry, rose and rosemary essence. This is a beautiful wine, taut and silky, with elegant tannins that will endure ambitious bottle aging. Production is 37,000 bottles. Drink 2024 - 2048.
    98 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    Lots going on here with black plums, ripe cherries, cedar, smoke and cocoa on the nose. Ash, chocolate, crushed walnuts and some praline. Mushrooms. This has firm, ripe tannins and a full body. Flavorful and juicy finish. Very structured. Drink after 2025.
    98 points
    James Suckling

    Aromas of red berry, camphor and tobacco meld with rose in this fragrant, full-bodied red. The smooth palate is concentrated yet elegant, featuring raspberry jam, cherry marinated in spirits, licorice and coffee bean alongside a backbone of firm, velvety tannins. Drink 2023–2031.
    98 points
    Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

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    2016 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $210. 00
    Bottle
    $2520.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    This savory stunner has enticing scents of violet, rose and wild berry that gain complexity alongside notes of leather, camphor and sandalwood. The elegantly structured palate is all about precision, featuring juicy cherry, blood orange, star anise and tobacco framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized.
    99 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    With a history stretching back to the mid-16th century, Conti Costanti is one of the founding estates of the Brunello di Montalcino denomination, run by Andrea Costanti since 1983. He follows up his gorgeously seductive 2015 with a stunningly refined and gracious 2016. Savoury earthy notes are accompanied by nuanced dried florals, citrus peel and pure red berries. It reaches profound depths on the palate where compact, ripe and dusty tannins promise a long cellaring life. It's so seamlessly put together that it's almost a shame to try teasing it apart.
    98 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    The Conti Costanti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows warm fruit layering with cherry, wild raspberry and plum. You might also notice some touches of sweetness with candied orange skin and lavender honey. At the back of it all, you get tilled earth and a touch of black olive. This wine reveals good complexity to the bouquet and follows up with a streamlined, mid-weight mouthfeel. I found this vintage to be shorter compared to the 2015 edition tasted earlier in the year.
    94 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    This red features a superb balance between ripe cherry, raspberry and currant fruit and savory elements of juniper and thyme. Earth and mineral accents add detail, and this has everything in the right proportions for a long life ahead. Best from 2024 through 2045.
    97 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

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    2016 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Magnum (1500ml)
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $460. 00
    Bottle
    $5520.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    This savory stunner has enticing scents of violet, rose and wild berry that gain complexity alongside notes of leather, camphor and sandalwood. The elegantly structured palate is all about precision, featuring juicy cherry, blood orange, star anise and tobacco framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized.
    99 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    With a history stretching back to the mid-16th century, Conti Costanti is one of the founding estates of the Brunello di Montalcino denomination, run by Andrea Costanti since 1983. He follows up his gorgeously seductive 2015 with a stunningly refined and gracious 2016. Savoury earthy notes are accompanied by nuanced dried florals, citrus peel and pure red berries. It reaches profound depths on the palate where compact, ripe and dusty tannins promise a long cellaring life. It's so seamlessly put together that it's almost a shame to try teasing it apart.
    98 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    The Conti Costanti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows warm fruit layering with cherry, wild raspberry and plum. You might also notice some touches of sweetness with candied orange skin and lavender honey. At the back of it all, you get tilled earth and a touch of black olive. This wine reveals good complexity to the bouquet and follows up with a streamlined, mid-weight mouthfeel. I found this vintage to be shorter compared to the 2015 edition tasted earlier in the year.
    94 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    This red features a superb balance between ripe cherry, raspberry and currant fruit and savory elements of juniper and thyme. Earth and mineral accents add detail, and this has everything in the right proportions for a long life ahead. Best from 2024 through 2045.
    97 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

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    2015 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $380. 00
    Bottle
    $4560.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Aromas of ripe dark-skinned fruit, forest floor, rose and wild mint shape the enticing nose. Elegantly structured and full of flavor, the linear, focused palate delivers mature Marasca cherry, blood orange, licorice and tobacco set against a backbone of refined tannins.
    98 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    Boasting dark fruit, scorched earth and savory spice, the Conti Costanti 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a wine of broad shoulders and a lasting aromatic imprint. It is fleshy and even a bit flashy, thanks to that abundant and generous aromatic display. To the palate, this Riserva is soft, thickly textured and enriched by the ripeness of its fruit fiber and the warmth of the Tuscan sun. This wine draws its fruit from a 10-hectare site with Galestro soils.
    94+ points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    A supple, lightweight style, yet no shortage of layers, delivering strawberry, cherry, plum and earth flavors. Firm and dense, reveals a lingering aftertaste of fruit, earth and tobacco, underscored by beefy tannins. Best from 2025 through 2045.
    95 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    A cask rather than vineyard selection, Conti Costanti’s Riserva is crafted from barrels that demonstrate the greatest tannic structure and acidity for long ageing. The 2015 is undoubtedly powerful with masses of grainy tannins and concentration, but it still captures the vintage’s generous and affable personality. Replete with black cherry, blackberry, wet forest earth, star anise and cinnamon, its sweet, ripe fruit is countered by a savoury leather element. It carries its size with ease and grace - almost irresistible now, there's so much there for years of drinking pleasure.
    95 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

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    2016 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Magnum (1500ml)
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $460. 00
    Bottle
    $5520.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Enticingly fragrant, this opens with heady aromas of rose, violet, new leather, truffle and balsamic whiffs of camphor. Vibrant and focused, the chiseled, elegant palate is all about finesse, delivering bright red cherry, orange zest, licorice and white pepper framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it superbly balanced and fresh. It's already drinking beautifully but hold for even more complexity.
    99 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    The Fuligni family moved from Maremma to Montalcino early in the 20th century, establishing the estate in 1923. Maria Flora has been at the helm since 1971, with her nephew Roberto managing most of the operations today. This historic property has released one of the most exquisite wines of 2016. Revealing its complexities gradually, it unfolds with a smoky flintiness, balsamic nuances and Mediterranean herbs. Seemingly endless in layers and depth, there is generosity but it never weighs the palate down. Powerful, sophisticated tannins are finely powdered, and piercing acidity radiates throughout. Hints of liquorice, violet, blood orange and iron eventually emerge. Lengthy and effortlessly commanding.
    99 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    Dark, inward and intense, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a towering effort that will thrill collectors for many years to come. It arrives in waves, first black fruits evolving to red, then sage and earthy minerals, followed by brown spice and, finally, hints of tobacco. Youthfully dense, velvety and in no hurry to unfurl the complex web of fruit, minerals and tannins found within, this instead leaves you guessing at what’s to come. That said, there’s perfect symmetry here, along with the combination of structure and primary intensity to guarantee many years of positive maturation. Hints of licorice, currant and baker’s chocolate linger long. This is simply gorgeous.
    98 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Aromas of cedar, sandalwood and black cherries with some plums. Full-bodied and very chewy with lots of tannins and a fluid fruit base behind it all, providing such beauty and precision. Real purity and focus. Give this two or three years to come together. Try after 2022, but this has a long life ahead.
    97 points
    jamesuckling.com

    The Fuligni 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows balance and symmetry with plenty of primary intensity to ensure a long cellar life. The bouquet opens to dark plum, dried raspberry, spice, aniseed and grilled herb. I get a lot of Mediterranean lavender and rosemary essence. This is a mid-weight Brunello with aromas that prove elegant and buoyant. If you have visited the Fuligni estate, you may agree that it occupies one of the best positions in the appellation with open views onto the enormous expanse of the Val d'Orcia that plays out until the horizon ends. This is one of Montalcino's historic cellars with many stories to tell. Luckily for us, much of that narrative unfolds in the beauty and the elegance of a wine like this.
    95 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

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    2016 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $210. 00
    Bottle
    $2520.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Enticingly fragrant, this opens with heady aromas of rose, violet, new leather, truffle and balsamic whiffs of camphor. Vibrant and focused, the chiseled, elegant palate is all about finesse, delivering bright red cherry, orange zest, licorice and white pepper framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it superbly balanced and fresh. It's already drinking beautifully but hold for even more complexity.
    99 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    The Fuligni family moved from Maremma to Montalcino early in the 20th century, establishing the estate in 1923. Maria Flora has been at the helm since 1971, with her nephew Roberto managing most of the operations today. This historic property has released one of the most exquisite wines of 2016. Revealing its complexities gradually, it unfolds with a smoky flintiness, balsamic nuances and Mediterranean herbs. Seemingly endless in layers and depth, there is generosity but it never weighs the palate down. Powerful, sophisticated tannins are finely powdered, and piercing acidity radiates throughout. Hints of liquorice, violet, blood orange and iron eventually emerge. Lengthy and effortlessly commanding.
    99 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    Dark, inward and intense, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a towering effort that will thrill collectors for many years to come. It arrives in waves, first black fruits evolving to red, then sage and earthy minerals, followed by brown spice and, finally, hints of tobacco. Youthfully dense, velvety and in no hurry to unfurl the complex web of fruit, minerals and tannins found within, this instead leaves you guessing at what’s to come. That said, there’s perfect symmetry here, along with the combination of structure and primary intensity to guarantee many years of positive maturation. Hints of licorice, currant and baker’s chocolate linger long. This is simply gorgeous.
    98 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Aromas of cedar, sandalwood and black cherries with some plums. Full-bodied and very chewy with lots of tannins and a fluid fruit base behind it all, providing such beauty and precision. Real purity and focus. Give this two or three years to come together. Try after 2022, but this has a long life ahead.
    97 points
    jamesuckling.com

    The Fuligni 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows balance and symmetry with plenty of primary intensity to ensure a long cellar life. The bouquet opens to dark plum, dried raspberry, spice, aniseed and grilled herb. I get a lot of Mediterranean lavender and rosemary essence. This is a mid-weight Brunello with aromas that prove elegant and buoyant. If you have visited the Fuligni estate, you may agree that it occupies one of the best positions in the appellation with open views onto the enormous expanse of the Val d'Orcia that plays out until the horizon ends. This is one of Montalcino's historic cellars with many stories to tell. Luckily for us, much of that narrative unfolds in the beauty and the elegance of a wine like this.
    95 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

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    2015 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $380. 00
    Bottle
    $4560.00 Dozen
    ABV: 15%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Fuligni gives us a truly special expression from this sunny and warm vintage. What I notice first in the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the elegance of the aromas and those dusty, almost salty mineral notes of crushed limestone that frame the delicate fruit packed tight within. There are other distinctive aromas here, such as balsam herb, dried mint and powdered licorice root that add more layers to the bouquet. That layering continues to the palate where the wine excels on all fronts—balanced concentration, structure and freshness. This is a unique creation and a very precious wine. It is one of the stand outs of the year.
    98 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    This has a crazy nose of white truffles, wild berries, cherry blossoms, porcini mushrooms, earth, white pepper, sage, blueberries, cocoa and seashells. Full-bodied with such elegance and subtle power. Layered. Very fine, seamless tannins. Keeps going. Try after a year or two.
    100 points
    James Suckling

    It’s hard to put down a glass of the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. This youthfully restrained yet remarkably pretty wine trades power for undeniable elegance and refinement. It’s dark and moody at times, bright and focused on radiant fruits at others. Layer after layer of crushed black cherry, woodland herbs, autumnal spice, mint leaf, cedar box and earth resonate in the glass. Its silky textures coat all that they touch in a mix of dark red berries and salty minerals, turning dry and structured toward the close under an air of inner florals and earth tones. It will be some time before the 2015 is ready, but I hope to be able to revisit this when it is. Tasted twice with consistent results.
    95 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    This Brunello offers dark fruit flavors of black currant, blackberry, violet and iron. A steely line of tannins adds support and the supple texture ties it all together. Classy and complex, finishes with accents of tobacco and spice. Best from 2024 through 2045.
    96 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    Aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, menthol and star anise form the nose of this full-bodied red. Combining structure and finesse, the palate delivers raspberry, licorice and vanilla before a coffee finish. A backbone of firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity keep it well balanced.
    96 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    Fuligni’s Riserva embodies the spirit of its designation. Despite long ageing in large oak casks, it demands more time in bottle and should age gracefully for many years. It comes from the estate’s original Podere Cottimelli site in Montalcino’s northeast. Earthy chestnut and wet soil make way for hints of liquorice, lilac and allspice. Broad and expansive, it starts off with velvety tannins that build to a powdery mass, yet there's a lovely perfume that lifts the palate along with saline, stony nuances and citrussy acidity to finish.
    97 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    • 95
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    2016 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $180. 00
    Bottle
    $2160.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Perfumed, focused and loaded with energy, this radiant red boasts enticing scents of iris, rose, crushed mint and wild berry. Boasting ethereal elegance as well as intensity and flavor, the chiseled palate has great fruit purity, delivering juicy red cherry, spiced cranberry, star anise and white pepper. Noble tannins and bright acidity provide balance and an ageworthy framework.
    98 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    Out of the gate, the Il Marroneto 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows exciting purity and red fruit intensity. Compared to the Madonna delle Grazie, this wine has an ever-more lifted quality to the bouquet, whereas the Madonna has a firmer underlying texture that bodes well for longer aging. The character here is fresh, lively, youthful and vibrant. In fact, I would recommend drinking this wine while all those elements are still intact. The bouquet is crazy fun to describe: I get whiffs of black cherry, macchia mediterranea (which is not too different from what we call chaparral in California), peppercorn, dried cranberry and even a whiff of something that reminded me of the delicious rosemary herb mix you stuff inside roast porchetta. The base of the wine is light, almost weightless, but its structure and firmness do eventually catch up on the long finish.
    96 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    Il Marroneto's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a delicate and heavenly, perfumed beauty. Roses mix with lilac and violets before giving way to a dusting of sweet spice, nuances of plum and white strawberries. It’s wonderfully pure, seeming almost weightless at times yet with gorgeous inner sweetness and a complex display of bright red fruits laced with minerals, hints of licorice and building florality. The long and classically structured finish guarantees that no matter how enjoyable this may be today, it will only get better.
    95 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Owner and winemaker Alessandro Mori calls himself a naturalista. His wines ferment spontaneously with indigenous years and see long ageing in large old oak casks. He allows the natural temperatures of the cellar to guide the wine’s refinement and uses minimal sulphur throughout. Along with all of its signature floral fragrances of rose and violet, ll Marroneto’s 2016 is positively spicy with a peppery, juniper snap. It sits lightly on the palate while delivering profound flavour and length. Clean and bright, distinct notes of rosehip and raspberry ring out while refined tannins sneak up with textured chalkiness.
    95 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is highly aromatic with tart cherry fruit, medicinal herbs, dried roses and cedar. The palate is ripe upfront with sweet raspberry, fresh blood orange, and saline minerality with energetic acidity, and fine-grained tannins. The 2016 is vibrant and transparent with classic elegance.
    96 points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

    • 99
    • 100
    2016 Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $530. 00
    Bottle
    $6360.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    There it is: that Il Marroneto magic. To my palate, Alessandro Mori's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie best captures the soaring spirit and ambition of Brunello, made in its purest and most naked form. This vintage is a twin sibling to the 2010 that I awarded a perfect score. Whereas that wine surprised me, appearing with so much unexpected radiance and brilliance, this wine won me over in a more careful, less emotional and more contemplative manner. Having now tasted the 2010 vintage multiple times, I better know what to expect in terms of the near-term aging evolution of the 2016. I know that the laser-sharp purity of the fruit will soften, leading to more nuanced and finessed tones of underbrush, lilac, iron ore and candied orange peel over the next five years. This wine unfolds to show deep complexity up front with buoyant and jovial red fruit at its core. It vibrates with electric energy and charm.
    100 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    This dazzling wine is for Sangiovese purists and fans of extreme finesse. Opening with tantalizing aromas of rose, violet, berry, tilled earth and new leather, it's youthfully intense but already a classic. Focused, structured and radiant, the chiseled palate delivers cherry, raspberry, licorice and crushed mint before a tobacco close. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it perfectly balanced.
    100 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    Simply put, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie is spellbinding. It’s wonderfully primary and intense. You could lose yourself in this vivid display of crushed ripe berries with sweet mint and zests of orange peel, dusted in confectioners’ and autumnal spice. It soothes with its velvety textures, coating all that it touches in masses of dark red fruit, liquid violet florals, notes of lavender and sage. Currently, the 2016 is youthfully dense yet so complex, almost salty and savory at times, while nearly enveloping its fine tannic structure right up until the end. This is a classic in the making and one of the most complete young Brunellos I’ve ever tasted. This bottle was revisited over the course of two days and only got better with each taste.
    99 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Trying Il Marroneto’s various lots from cask is a fascinating exercise. They are all similarly located at high altitude, on coarse sand of marine origin and predominantly north facing. While they demonstrate subtle differences, Madonna delle Grazie’s distinct character often merits a separate bottling - as evidenced by the 2016. Aromas take on the darkest, most heady purple flowers tangled up in allspice and smoky incense. It is muscular in frame with firm tannins that stick and grip and don't let go, although it's never brawny, heavy or hard-edged. Currently a mouthful of stones, it reveals a balsamic core and tangy salted plum on the finish.
    98 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

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    2016 il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $120. 00
    Bottle
    $1440.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The Il Poggione 2016 Brunello di Montalcino opens to a medium dark appearance with pretty Sangiovese shine and a little ruby sparkle. This vintage shows a slightly untamed or wild side with a dense and heavier fruit profile. The focus here is on blackberry, dried cherry, tobacco and even a touch of smoky tobacco or horse saddle. The wine shows the firm grip and tannic backbone that is a common trait in this vintage, especially with the vineyards on this southern, sunlit side of the appellation. I also get a considerable flash of acidity on the close, almost too much, that certainly needs a few more years to soften. You really need to wait with this one. Drink 2024 - 2044.
    95 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    I’m not sure how Il Poggione manages to remain one of the largest producers of Brunello, maintaining such a high level of quality and turning out some of the best wines of the vintage year after year - but they do. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is yet another stunning example. Depths of mineral-encased black cherries, sage, allspice, licorice, tobacco and crushed violets lift up from the glass. It’s seamlessly silky, even as the palate is peppered with tart red and black berries, nervous acids and savory exotic spices. This shows the density and weight of the vintage in a youthfully monolithic stance, yet with all the necessary components to maintain perfect balance. The 2016 Il Poggione seems to fold in upon itself through the finish, which is dark, mysterious and structured, with only hints of black tea and licorice to tempt the imagination. It’s a classic in the making. Drink 2026 - 2040.
    97 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    A red with blackberry, cherry, some walnut and chocolate, as well as mahogany. Tea, too. It’s full-bodied and firm-tannined with beautiful length and depth. Linear and very fine. Drink after 2024.
    94 points
    jamessuckling.com

    Located in Sant’Angelo in Colle, the 2016 Brunello was aged for over 30 months in large French oak. The nose is exuberant with confectionary aromatics of kirsch, sweet herbs and lavender. The palate is energetic and fresh, with bright cherry fruit and oolong tea. This is a polished style with focus and clarity that lends itself to enjoyment in drinking these now, though this will not be one that tires easily. Enjoy 2022-2036.
    96 points
    Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

    This Brunello leads with black cherry, black currant and violet aromas, augmented by flavors of iron, tobacco and spice. Dusty tannins emerge on the lingering finish, while the sweet fruit persists. Should be compelling in a decade. Best from 2025 through 2047.
    96 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    2016 L'Aietta Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $160. 00
    Bottle
    $1920.00 Dozen
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Forest berry, truffle, botanical herb and new leather aromas shape the nose on this radiant, elegant red along with a whiff of cedar. The youthfully austere, vibrant palate offers juicy sour cherry, wild strawberry, cinnamon and star anise alongside taut, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Still young and primary at this point, it needs time to fully develop but shows great aging potential. Drink 2026–2036.
    97 points
    Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

    Frisky, fresh style of Brunello here. Strawberry, suede leather, a spicy balsamic edge, tobacco and herbs. It’s medium-bodied, cherry, strawberry, and liquorice root flavours with a slightly sour blood orange tang to offset, tannin has a chalkiness and subtle grip, finish is long and carries a little smokiness and crisp feel. Stylish. Should age very well.
    95 points
    Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

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    2016 Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $150. 00
    Bottle
    $1800.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Deep dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Complex and highly perfumed, aromatics of red currant and red cherry have a rose petal like overlay with elements of dusty cedar, dried herbs, spicy tobacco and a faint whiff of leather also chiming in. Structural and intense, the sublime palate is flooded with a mix of red to black currant and red cherry fruits which are underpinned by stern yet seamlessly integrated tannins. Robust back half with evolving nuances of dried herbs, tobacco, old cedar, earth, black olive and spice moving in. Fresh acidity provides focus. Elegant yet exceptionally powerful it boats an outrageously long and rustic finish.
    Cellar 8-10 years plus.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews….
    Le Chiuse is a small 6-hectare estate that was split off from the Biondi-Santi estate in 1993, when it was inherited by Simonetta Valiani, the great granddaughter of Ferruccio Biondi-Santi, who owns the property today. Le Chiuse is a certified organic estate.
    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. Drink 2025-2042.
    100 points
    Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.com

    This gorgeous wine opens with fragrant aromas of violet, wild berry, new leather, tilled earth and spice. Showing the estate's hallmark elegance, structure and precision, the focused, full-bodied palate delivers cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and tobacco before finishing on a note of black tea. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it vibrant and balanced. Drink 2024–2046.
    100 points
    Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast

    Pretty strawberry, currant and cherry flavors take center stage in this taut and linear red, flanked by floral, mineral and tobacco notes, with fine balance and intensity on a slim frame. This is ample, yet the refined tannins provide structure. Best from 2024 through 2048.
    98 points
    Wine Spectator

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is an understated beauty of a wine that takes some time to come fully into focus. Patience is rewarded by a dazzling display of roses and violets, giving way to fresh-picked strawberries with a dusting of autumnal spice. This pure expression of Sangiovese fruit continues to impress with undeniable elegance, soothing and soft yet energized by brisk acids, taking on a decidedly salty note while still showing a mix of ripe berries. It’s so gentle yet full of character, tapering off to round tannins, primary fruit and inner florals. The 2016 Le Chiuse is full of potential but also deceivingly delicious today. Drink 2024-2038.
    97 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Lorenzo Magnelli and the team at Le Chiuse are currently enlarging the winery to make room for a late-release program that will see Brunello Riserva held back for 10 years. Indeed, the legendary Biondi Santi family once sourced fruit here to put into their most age-worthy vintages. Le Chiuse's late-release wines promise to be very exciting. A 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva was produced, but instead of releasing it now, that wine will hit the market in 2025. Good things come to those who wait.
    Le Chiuse's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine buzzing with energy and spirit. You sense this in the sheer crunch and snap of the primary fruit that recalls wild berry, cassis and sour cherry. Those lifted red fruit aromas are framed by light smoke, tar, potting soil, blue flower and crushed mineral or limestone. This is an extremely elegant wine that has been shaped by an epic vintage. The wine draws its fruit from an eight-hectare parcel with limestone clay. Le Chiuse's star is rapidly rising, and this new release from 2016 just thrust that shooting star into hyper speed. With 13,576 bottles made, this estate gives us one of the best buys of the vintage. Drink 2024-2045.
    97+ points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

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    2016 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $150. 00
    Bottle
    $1800.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The only new releases from Le Ragnaie fitted with a white label instead of a black one, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is the most accessible and near-term in the portfolio. This is a very elegant and perfumed expression of Sangiovese with lifted floral aromas that recall blue flower and wild rose. Beyond those delicate tones, you get cherry, cassis and other classic aromas linked to Sangiovese. This wine draws on a blend of fruit from various vineyard sites with high and low elevations.
    94 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Le Ragnaie mixes nuances of wild herbs and stone dust with bright notions of strawberry and dried roses. It’s silky and pliant upon entry yet quickly gains tactile depths through salty mineral tones, as floral-laced red berries cascade across the palate. The symmetry here is impeccable, as is its purity of fruit, with fine tannins that result in a structured finale. That said, it should only take a few years of cellaring to bring this fully into focus. Often referred to as the “White Label,” this blends fruit from Le Ragnaie’s vineyards located throughout Montalcino to create a balanced expression of each vintage. It’s a wonderful introduction to the Le Ragnaie style.
    94 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Orange peel scents to the aromas of cherries, mahogany, wet earth and cedar. It’s full-bodied, yet rather tight and reserved with pretty, dusty tannins that are fine-grained. Lots of citrus and red fruit at the end. From organically grown grapes.
    94 points
    jamessuckling.com

    A firm, linear style, featuring black cherry, black currant, licorice, iron and spice aromas and flavors. Though firmly structured and compact, there's an energy here and an overall balance that makes this red compelling. Ends with a terrific finish, evoking fruit, spice and underbrush accents. Best from 2025 through 2048.
    96 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    Blended from Le Ragnaie's scattered vineyards, this provides a wide-angle snapshot of Montalcino’s varied territory, violets and Mediterranean scrub meeting wild strawberry, stone and an intriguing earthiness. It also encapsulates Sangiovese’s buoyancy, coming across as mid-weight at first then building with power as firm, dusty tannins wrap around a tangy core. The finish is energetic and uplifting - an elegantly sculpted Brunello. As with the estate’s single-vineyard bottlings, fermentation is spontaneous, macerations are a lengthy 45 to 50 days, and ageing is in large Slavonian oak casks.
    94 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    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.
    94 points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

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    2016 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Fornace
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    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.
    98 points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

    Though muscular in style and rippled with firm, dusty tannins, this Brunello has the requisite ripe cherry and plum flavors to match, showing fine purity and finesse. Earth, Tuscan scrub and sanguine accents chime in on the long finish. Best from 2025 through 2047.
    96 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    Of the five new releases from Le Ragnaie, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is distinguished by its richness, its sultry dark fruit flavors and the firmness of the tannins. The wine is fermented in cement for up to 45 days on ambient yeasts. The fruit comes from 35-year-old vines. All these factors contribute to the rich concentration you taste here and the long impression the wine leaves on the finish.
    95 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is a dark, smoky and savory expression of southern Montalcino fruit. A beguiling display of earthy minerals encasing blackberry and cherry with exotic spice and sour citrus resonates in the glass. It’s deeply textural, silky yet verging on velvety, all carried by vibrant acids with ripe red fruits, savory herbs and inner florals which gain volume toward the close. Hints of dried orange peels and black tea linger through the long and youthfully tannic finale.
    94 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    Walnuts, bark, pine and cherries with dried flowers on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins that are very pretty. Fruity and refined. Very approachable and drinkable now, but better after 2023.
    94 points
    jamessuckling.com

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    2016 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    Le Ragnaie farms some of the highest-elevation vineyards in the appellation, and this wine gets its fruit from the site that is the highest of all. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. offers an extremely chiseled and sharp bouquet as a result. Wild berry, blue flower, balsam herb and crushed stone emerge with intensity. The tannins are firm and tight, and given those high altitudes, the wine's extra crispness comes as no surprise. The fruit is harvested from old vines, 60 years old or more. This is a small 4,470-bottle production.
    98 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino V.V. is more of a whisper than a shout, impressing with a wonderfully floral display, as crushed stone and smoke gives way to bright cherries and strawberries, then dried roses and incense. It’s silky yet lifted but also youthfully compact, ushering in tart red fruits wound tightly in a mix of minerals and fine tannin. There’s a purity here that is otherworldly, even as this finishes classically dry and austere. The V.V. is sourced from the original vineyard and vines of Le Ragnaie at 600 meters. It will need many years to fully blossom and broaden out its textures, but it is worth waiting for.
    96+ points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    There's pure cherry fruit at the heart of this red, surrounded by floral, iron, earth, tobacco and wild herb notes. Firmly structured, this is constantly changing as it reveals its layers of flavor. Shows terrific balance, focus and length. Best from 2024 through 2045.
    96 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    From a 50-year-old site at 600 metres, Le Ragnaie’s Vigna Vecchia is among the estate’s last to be harvested. In 2016, Riccardo Campinoti had to finish quickly in mid-October as he could see the weather turning. Irony, savoury and mineral-led, this is thrilling and intense but needs time to open up. Despite its youthful austerity, there is significant depth and a citrussy zestiness. The tannins are effortlessly refined, dissolving slowly across the palate in a tactile caress. Excellent.
    97 points
    Michaela Morris - Decanter

    The Le Ragnaie V.V. (Vigna Vecchia) is sourced from their highest elevation site of their oldest vines, planted in 1968. The aromatics of the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. are lifted with pine, bright cherry fruit, rosehip, and orange zest. Of the single vineyards, it has the most tension-packed structure, with angular tannins and linear drive. The palate is fresh with crisp cherry fruit, licorice, and a stony mineral feel. This is a wine that certainly needs time to unfold and express its character. It would benefit from at least five years or more in the cellar before checking in. 2027-2042.
    98+ points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

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    2016 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina di Montosoli
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 13.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Other Reviews....
    The Le Ragnaie 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli shows the same level of dark fruit intensity that we saw in the other new releases from this estate, however I get more toasted nut and crushed stone in this wine. Like the others, it sees an extended fermentation lasting 45 days or more (with indigenous yeasts). Dark berry fruit and cherry are followed by crushed stone and slate. This expression has an extra layer of elegance and finesse, with only 3,800 bottles produced.
    96 points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli is one of those wines that the first time you put your nose to the glass, you know you’re in for an experience. Like picking wild strawberries from the vine, I’m finding crushed red fruits, stems, seeds and the dark soil tones from the earth beneath them. It’s somehow remarkably fresh and lifted but also rich and exotic, coasting silky textures across a medium-bodied frame with tart woodland berries, savory herbs and the slightest hint of balsamic spice. Inner rose, violets, lavender and sour citrus - this is remarkably layered with unseen depths. The balance of vibrant acids versus mounting tannin keeps the experience lively, even as the palate begins to dry under its youthful structure.
    97 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    The flowers, dark mushrooms, forest floor and black cherries are impressive on the nose. Full-bodied with ultra fine and intense tannins that are refined and polished. Very long and polished at the finish. Needs at least four or five years to soften and come together, but already a beauty. Try after 2023.
    97 points
    jamessuckling.com

    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.
    98 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

    In 2015, Le Ragnaie purchased this parcel of the Motosoli vineyard just below the historic site of Altesino’s property. The 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Motosoli reveals forward fruit aromas of cherry liquor, cinnamon, fresh leather and forest floor. The palate offers fresh ripe cherry fruit, bitter herbs, and black tea, with more angular tannin, while still having fresh acidity. The Casonovina is an expressive wine with classic structure that will benefit from 3-6 years in cellar before enjoying over the following 15 years. Drink 2025-2040.
    96 points
    Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.com

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    2016 San Filippo Le Lucere Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $210. 00
    Bottle
    $2520.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2021-2031)
    ABV: 14.5%
    Closure: Cork

    Deep dark red black colour with a dark red hue. The nose offers up enticing aromatics of red to dark currants and red cherries which are married to a whiff of rose petal, earthy cedar, tobacco, dried herbs and hints of spicy leather. Refined and supple on entry the mid weighted palate carries a delectable flavour profile of ripe red currants and red cherries infused with a mix of tobacco and dried herbs. Notions of spicy cedar, earth and traces of leather linger on the finish. Fabulous power and depth with polished yet engaging tannins lending a structural firmness. Vibrant acidity with an exceptionally long, slightly grippy conclusion.
    Drink over the next 8-10 years.
    Alc. 14.5%

    Other Reviews....
    This special selection of fruit from San Filippo is characterized by more intensity and concentration compared to the estate's classic Brunello. In this vintage, I also discovered a greater level of Sangiovese purity and direction, thanks to tight berry tones, dusty mineral, spice and balsam herb. To the palate, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino le Lucére delivers succulent fruit and even a touch of sweetness, all powered by tannins, clearly driven by both the oak and the fruit itself. This wine ages in a combination of barrique, tonneau and botte grande for two years. This 14,000-bottle release will hit the market in January 2021.
    94+ points
    Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

    This is rich and very linear at the same time, with cherry, tile, walnut and light chocolate aromas. Some mahogany. Very complex. Full-bodied, yet tight and reserved with a very, very long finish. Really gorgeous.
    98 points
    jamessuckling.com

    This red is laden with balsamic aromas and flavors of juniper, rosemary and rose, plus black currant and raspberry fruit. There's an underlying mineral element, along with firm, mature tannins that enhance the overall elegance and finesse. Best from 2024 through 2045.
    98 points
    Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator

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    2016 San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $115. 00
    Bottle
    $1380.00 Dozen
    Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2022-2028)
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Recently purchased by neighbouring Tuscan icon Poggio di Sotto, the San Giorgio estate includes six hectares of Brunello and 2.5 of Rosso. The terroir matches that of Poggio di Sotto, all located in the Castelnouvo dell’Abate zone of Montalcino with vineyards on rocky slopes between 250 and 400 meters overlooking the Orcia river.
    ‘Ugolforte’ takes its name from a local revolutionary that led the forces against Siena in the 12th century. From the oldest vineyards, the wine is aged in barriques (30% new) for twelve months and then in larger Slavonian casks for three years.
    Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Nosing releases scents of red cherries, red currants, subtle crushed rose petal notes, dried herbs, earthy tobacco and spicy cedar. Rich and smooth on entry, the elegant mid weighted palate is layered with red cherry and red currant fruits which are shaped by a sturdy yet well integrated tannin framework and fresh acidity. Earth, dried herb, light tobacco and spicy cedar elements lie beneath. Excellent power and finesse with a very long and savoury conclusion.
    Drink over the next 5-6 years.
    Alc. 14%

    Other Reviews….
    Deep, dark red fruits and exotic spices give way to hints of menthol, flowery undergrowth and tobacco as the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte unfolds in the glass. It’s silky-smooth and cool-toned with ripe woodland berries, hints of clove and blood orange. Fine tannins coat the palate, but energy remains high due to vibrant acidity, as this tapers off with a salty, almost silty minerality under rosy inner florals. The 2016 spent only six months in second-pass barriques before being completed in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak for another 40 months. Retasting this wine with another year of bottle age was a total pleasure. Drink 2024-2034.
    95 points
    Eric Guido - Vinous

    This is a full-bodied red with ripe blackberry, smoked-meat and burnt-orange notes. Strong tannins with a lots of chewiness. Quite tight on the finish. But there is pureness and beauty to this. More opulent than the 2015. Drink after 2025.
    95 points
    JamesSuckling.com

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    • 97
    • 97
    2016 Tenuta Antinori Tignanello Magnum (1500ml)
    Tuscany, ITALY
    $899. 00
    Bottle
    $10788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 14%
    Closure: Cork

    Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone. It’s produced with a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

    Other Reviews....
    The 2016 Tignanello is flat out stunning. Dark, dense and resonant, the 2016 is a wonderfully complete wine that will provide readers with decades of pure drinking pleasure. The 2016 is especially dark and brooding, and yet the tannins are incredibly polished to the point of being perceptible. In the glass, the 2016 is complete and regal, perhaps because of the super-classic blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The pedigree of the vintage comes through in the wine's extraordinary balance and total sense of finesse. I don't think there is another wine anywhere in the world made entirely from estate fruit that can match Tignanello for quality, consistency and value within its peer group of top-flight reds.
    98 Points
    Antonio Galloni - Vinous

    Wonderful aromas of pine needles, rosemary, fresh mushrooms, bark and dark fruit. Full body. Very tight and tannic backbone. Racy and driven. Undertones of orange peel and wet earth. Even licorice and mint. Great finish. Better after 2021, but exciting to taste now.
    97 points
    Jamessuckling.com

    To hit the market in June, the 2016 Tignanello is a rock-solid wine and a stunning beauty. The wine offers an impeccable level of precision and laser-focus delivery of fruits, spices, tilled earth, espresso beans and Mediterranean herbs. This vintage follows the classic blending formula of 80% Sangiovese with about 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The vines are now 15 to 20 years old. Compared to the 2015 vintage that ultimately appeared more chewy and succulent, this expression from the iconic 2016 vintage is more vibrant, nervous and jazzed. It shows more savory spice, saltiness and minerality, with a beautifully integrated quality of tannins. Some 320,000 bottles were produced. This wine is at the top of the list of some of the best Tignanello ever made, including the vintages 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2015.
    97 Points
    Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate