Tuscany Wine

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Villa Antinori is a blend from various appellations within Tuscany. It offers good depth in a medium-bodied, approachable style meant for near-term drinking. In this context, it suffered from frost issues in the Merlot and the exceptional quality of the Sangiovese-based wines. Production was down nearly 50%.  - Vinous

Winemaker Description:

Villa Antinori 2021 is ruby red in color. The nose is intense, intriguing and presents fruity notes of black cherries and plum jam together with hints of boxwood, tobacco, and vanilla. The palate is mouth filling with supple, velvety tannins sustained by outstanding freshness and pleasant sapidity. —winemaker

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico Pèppoli, the entry-level offering from Antinori, is a fine introduction to the year that shows just how compelling this vintage can be. Bright, floral and beautifully lifted, the 2022 is all class. The understated, refreshing style is so compelling.  Drinking 2024 - 2030. 

Michaela Morris of Decanter writes 90 Points | This is surely Antinori’s highest volume Chianti Classico with almost one million bottles produced - that’s over 2.5% of the region’s annual production. Gracious and familiar, Pèppoli is like a cheerful postcard from the Chianti hills. It charms with glossy cherry, cinnamon and chopped basil. Accents of leather and smoky toast are properly demure. On the palate, fruit is at the fore: plump plum and blackberry compote meld effortlessly with light, smooth tannins that give just the slightest dusty tug. Finishes juicy.  Drinking 2024 - 2027. 

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico Peppoli is a youthful ruby magenta, and is highly expressive with lively aromas of grenadine, tangerine, fresh flowers, and fresh oregano. This carries seamlessly to the palate keeping all the buoyant vibrancy and fruit through a well-balanced and polished finish. It has fine tannins, and a flourish of toasted smoke cedar spice, with notes of dusty earth and a bit of iron rich gamy feel. Clean and balanced this is an excellent value to drink 2025-2032. 

Monica Lerner of the Wine Advocate writes |  This wine is like that adoring pesky little sibling who always manages to offer levity and good cheer. The Marchesi Antinori 2022 Chianti Classico Pèppoli offers an evergreen taste profile that features Sangiovese under an almost Pinot Noir-like spotlight. The wine is bright and pretty with Rainier cherry, orange peel, violet and earth. If you really want to push those buttons, you could interpret Pèppoli as the equivalent of a Langhe Nebbiolo or a good Valpolicella. 

Winemaker Description

Santa Cristina Rosso 2022 is ruby red with violet hues. Fruity and floral aromas dominate the nose with notes of cherries, mixed berries and violets that meet hints of vanilla, cocoa, and coffee and aromas of green peppers and boxwood typical of Cabernet. The palate is mouth filling, supple with a pleasant fruity aftertaste. 

Antinori’s introduction to their red wines.  A perfect pasta, pizza, chicken, red wine.  Medium bodied, fruit forward, softer styled red that leaves you wanting another glass.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points |  The medium red 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale is inviting with aromas of poppy red cherry, dusty earth, roses, and orange peel. Medium-bodied and juicy all the way through, this is an easygoing quaffer with a kiss of sweet tannins that are fine-grained all the way through the finish. It keeps good freshness for this hot vintage and has some warmth on the finish. It’s a versatile wine for pizza night or drinking on its own over the next few years. 

James Suckling 93 Points |   This has a toasty character with hints of cardamom, cloves and crushed walnuts with ripe red fruit, plum skins and red flowers in the background. It’s full-bodied with firm, chalky tannins and steady acidity to give it freshness. A little bit of toasted oak at the end. Lengthy and spiced with a crunchy finish. Better after 2025. 

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 93 Points | Very aromatic, with raspberry, orange peel and floral aromas. Nice transparency. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a crisp, crunchy finish.

Wine Spectator 92 Points |  A fresh, expressive red, this also exhibits tension, lending energy to its black currant, cherry, licorice and cedar flavors. Graphite and salty accents add detail on the long, tightly wound finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033. 15,000 cases imported. - 

Winemaker Description 

"Maraschino cherry, pomegranate, smoked meat, earth and rosemary flavors highlight this sleek red, which is defined by vivid acidity and solid tannins, with a dry, sinewy finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037. 3,000 cases made, 1,250 cases imported."

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | A juicy, joyous organic blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that’s bright, perky, full of life and begging for food. Aromas of spiced cherries on the nose with a medium body and an earthy note that adds complexity. A touch of earth and spice adds complexity, with balanced acidity and softly tamed tannins that leads to a cheerful, food friendly finish. This is a perfect pizza, pasta, weekday red that satisfies without breaking the bank!

Expert Review

James Suckling writes 93 Points |   A tight, focused red with currant and cherry character and hints of chocolate and sandalwood. Medium to full body, creamy and refined tannins that are long and flavorful. Very well done. From organic grapes. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description

A versatile, young red wine with a ruby red color and a bouquet characterized by inviting aromas of ripe cherries, blueberries and sweet spices. The taste is medium-bodied, fruity and smooth with a long lingering, dry finish, reminiscent of undergrowth, with an underlying hint of menthol. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 93 Points |  An opaque purple blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, the 2022 Il Bruciato is luxurious with notes of blackberry liqueur and some blue fruit coming through along with notes of violets, olive, and black licorice. Full-bodied, with a weightless and seamless feel, it has no harsh edges and offers ripe tannins with a supple texture, fresh acidity, and clean ripeness through a rather long finish. This gorgeous wine checks a lot of boxes and is drinking beautifully now. It offers a lot of finesse as well as a wide drinking window. Drink 2024-2040.  - 

Monica Larner the Wine Advocate write 91 Points |   The popular Marchesi Antinori 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato is a blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that offers generous black fruit, prune, black plum, spice and light toast. The wine tapers down to mid-weight texture on the palate, and this little pause in intensity happily serves to elevate its food-friendly appeal. This hot vintage reveals ripe fruit characteristics with soft tannins and an accessible style…  Drinking 2024 to 2027.

James Button of Decanter writes 91 Points |  This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah offers fresh aromas of dark berries and menthol, combined with ripe, opulent red and black fruits with floral overtones in the mouth. Sweet touches of vanilla and liquorice are followed by Mediterranean herbs and spice on a cool finish. Just lacking a bit of mid-palate punch.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  - Decanter 91

Expert Ratings

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Mongrana is terrific. Bright and punchy, with gorgeous fruit purity, the 2021 is a delicious wine for drinking over the near and medium term. Aging in cement and steel keeps the flavors vibrant. This is a fine edition of the Mongrana.  Dring 2023 -2027  - Vinous 90

James Suckling writes:  This is ripe with dark cherries, mulberries and jam. Some hibiscus and red spices, too. Medium- to full-bodied with tight but finely polished tannins and a succulent, mellow dark-fruited character. Racy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Winemaker Notes

The charm of Mongrana does not take long to reveal. Well-defined aromas of ripe fruit, morello cherry, blackberry and blueberry jump out of the glass, anticipating a complex bouquet of kirsch, ivy, and pine needles, enriched by a touch of licorice. On the palate, it offers a juicy, fresh sip with soft tannins. The long finale is savory, with a mineral note that persists in the mouth.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 94 Points | Rich cherries, cassis, fresh olives and dark spices. Svelte, fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate, showing lots of juicy berries and a linear, extensive finish. Excellent length, focus and structure here.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | This is another robust wine from Tenuta Luce with immediate notes of maple syrup and brown sugar. Made with a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Sangiovese, the 2021 Lucente releases aromas of cherry cola, Tootsie Roll and toasted hazelnut. With 300,000 bottles made, you get a big and burley red wine.

Winemaker Description 

Lucente is the result of a careful selection of the estate’s vineyards that are particularly suited for the production of a fruity and very pleasant wine. Like Luce, it is made from Sangiovese and Merlot, which prevails in the blend.

The wine is an intense and bright red color. The nose opens with intense fruity hints of blackberry, plum and currant, enriched by toasted and vanilla nuances. On the palate it is full and enveloping, soft and elegant, with a persistent finish that displays a pleasantly sweet and fruity aftertaste.

Winemaker Description

Luminous ruby red. Scents of cherry, raspberry, and sweet violets. Dry on the palate, showing subtle tannins and a fresh, crisp acidity.

At its best when partnered with antipasti, full-flavored first courses, and most red meats. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Revivews - Vintage 2021 

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Cranberries, strawberries and orange peel with fennel and sage and a mineral edge of just crushed rock are on the nose and then are repeated on the palate, where they come together in an elegant balance against firm but polished tannins and vibrant acidity.

91 Points Robert Parker | Made with 80% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino and 10% Pugnitello, the 2021 Chianti Classico proves to be a versatile wine and a fundamentally food-friendly choice with lots of purple and blue fruits with hints of fragrant wild rose. The wine supports medium weight and lots of fresh acidity to cut through cream or butter-based cooking ingredients. This is a huge production of half a million bottles.

90 Points James Suckling | A fresh and delicious Chianti Classico with a lightness and crunchiness. Sour cherries and light orange blossom. Light and pretty. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate - round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile.

Our Notes

This beautifully crafted Super Tuscan will impress everyone at the table with its succulent fruit, plush texture and savory complexity. Aromas of cherries, plums and blackberries on the nose with some lovely spice and floral notes. Full and robust in the mouth with ripe tannins and terrific balance, this delicious red will grace the table with flavor and food friendly panache. - Bart, 67 Wine Buyer

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Le Sughere di Frassinello is pliant and expressive right out of the gate. Succulent red cherry, plum, new leather, rose petal and mint are all kicked up in this tasty second wine from Rocca di Frassinello. Pretty floral notes brighten up the finish nicely.  Drinking 2022 to 2029.  - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes:  Medium-bodied red with aromas of dark plums, chocolate, walnuts, dried herbs and bell peppers. Rich and fruity with a firm, ripe-tannin frame and a fleshy texture. Sangioveto, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 91

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A lush yet solidly built red highlighted by cherry and blackberry flavors. Shows eucalyptus, rosemary and menthol accents that lend complexity, along with a mineral underpinning. Offers fine balance and fre

Winemaker Notes

Deep ruby color, with a broad bouquet of red fruits. It has great substance in the mouth, with soft and round tannins and a long and enveloping finish.

It pairs well with full-flavored pasta and rice dishes, and game such as deer, wild boar, hare. Also recommended with birds such as wild duck.

Winemaker Description

The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has a brilliant ruby red color, with garnet tinges as it ages. It has an intense bouquet with aromas of ripe cherries, plums and violets. It represents the perfect combination of structure and elegance: its full body and velvety tannins are balanced by its fine acidity. The wine is decidedly persistent and harmonious.

Expert Reviews

93 Points Wine Spectator | A smooth red, with cherry, plum and spice flavors shaded by savory underbrush and wild herb accents. Shows iron and tobacco details on then long finish, with fine balance and grip overall. Prugnolo Gentile and Canaiolo. Best from 2024 through 2040. (2019) 

93 Points James Suckling | Extremely perfumed and fresh with an elegant and attractive nose. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine, delicate tannins and a delicious finish. So delicious. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

Opaque with a red berry rim. Aromas of cherry, dark fruits, and vanilla. Silky tannins frame flavors of dried strawberries, plums, violet, and red cherries. Robust and balanced. Delicious with Pasta dishes and grilled red meats. 

Expert Ratings 

94 Points James Suckling | Subtle aromas of sliced strawberries and cherries with some orange peel follow through to a medium body with succulent tannins and a bright and tangy finish. Lovely energy in this one. So good now. From organically grown grapes.

93 Points Wine Spectator | Rich and velvety, laced with black cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral flavors. This is driven by vibrant acidity and backed by well-mannered tannins. Shows excellent balance and length.

92 Points Decanter | This flagship Chianti Classico from the renowned Fontodi estate has grown over the years to its current annual production of 170,000 bottles, however it has not lost its identity, deeply rooted in a sun-drenched stretch of Panzano’s Conca d’Oro. The 2020 version has all the ripe dark fruit and assertive tannins that come so neatly into balance. Grilled meat, baked earth and thyme flirt with black plum. The youthful juiciness has the energy to carry this over the next eight or so years. It finishes with its signature bitter liquorice twist.

91 Points Robert Parker | A certified organic wine, the Fontodi 2020 Chianti Classico shows dark fruit and blackberry with earthy sensations of crushed stone that reflect the schistous soils found in this area of the appellation. Unlike the Filetta di Lamole (with fruit from Lamole) that is very floral in personality, this expression from Panzano has more structure, girth and general fruit weight

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Chianti Classico is terrific. Bright and vibrant, with tons of Sangiovese character, the 2021 is everything Chianti Classico should be. Bright red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and tobacco are all nicely amplified in this juicy, wonderfully inviting Chianti Classico. The 2021 is one of the best edition of this wine I have tasted recently.  Drinking 2023 - 2031.  - Vinous 91

Audrey Frick writes:  A youthful ruby/magenta, the 2021 Chianti Classico is pure, ripe, and inviting with aromas of cherry liqueur, candied roses, and fresh sweet Mediterranean herbs. This wine has wonderful transparency and clarity, with refreshing acidity, snappy lift, and ripe, fine tannins, as well as a stony underpinning and a lovely fresh lift of tomato leaf on the finish. A refreshing and lovely wine, it has much to offer if drinking over the next 6-8 years.  Jeb Dunnuck 91

James Suckling writes:  Notes of cooked strawberries, red licorice, blood orange and cedar. Medium body. Bright and racy with crunchy acidity and a flavorful finish.  - James Suckling 92

Winemaker Description 

85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 3% Malvasia, 2% Trebbiano.

Borghi d'Elsa has intense, fragrant and elegant aromas of blackberries and raspberries, with violet and Florentine iris notes. On the palate, the taste is dry, full, harmonious and slightly tannic, with an elegant aftertaste of toasted almond and fruits of the forest.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 92 Points | The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is laced with black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and spice. Ample and expansive in feel, the 2021 is wonderfully generous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Fruit sources are from some of the most coveted sites in the appellation.  Drinking 2024 to 2031. 

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 92 Points | This wine sees its fruit sourced from multiple villages: San Casciano, Gaiole, Castellina and Greve. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is not married to a specific subzone of the appellation because it seeks to embrace a house style rather than a vineyard identity. Aged in tonneaux with some barrique, the wine is rich and lasting but not large. In fact, it remains elegant on the palate with fine tannins and good fruit tension with cherry and blue flowers.  Drinking 2024 - 2030.

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This is packed tightly with cherry, pomegranate, plum, earth and Mediterranean scrub flavors. Lively and fresh midpalate, while the dense, chewy tannins flex their muscles on the finish. Give this time. Best from 2026 through 2043. 

James Button of Decanter writes 91 Points | A historic label first produced in the 1923 vintage, today's Riserva aims to combine the past with the present. Vinified in stainless steel and aged in large oak barrels and some barriques, this has a plush, ripe aroma of dark hedgerow berries and menthol. A bed of supple, ripe tannins and coffee-marked wood support the breadth and depth of this wine's offering: spicy and fleshy dark fruits with a gentle wash of freshening acidity and some breezy menthol on the finish. 500,000 bottles produced.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.

Winemaker Description

Made with a special selection of Sangiovese, the 2020 Fontalloro is generous and rich, and the wine sports medium-dark color and concentration. The winemaking team has succeeded in bringing out an especially elegant side to this vintage. The wine offers pronounced notes of cherry and wild plum with delicate spice at the back. Like the other wines in this portfolio, there is a pretty mineral note that makes for a consistent through-line in all these new releases.

Expert Ratings

Robert Parker 96 Points | Made with a special selection of Sangiovese, the 2020 Fontalloro is generous and rich, and the wine sports medium-dark color and concentration. The winemaking team has succeeded in bringing out an especially elegant side to this vintage. The wine offers pronounced notes of cherry and wild plum with delicate spice at the back. Like the other wines in this portfolio, there is a pretty mineral note that makes for a consistent through-line in all these new releases. (2020). 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | A vibrant red, with fleeting aromas of lavender and wild rosemary mingling with cherry, orange peel, earth, mineral and tobacco flavors. On the elegant side, despite its youthful power, with excellent harmony, refined tannins and a long, complex aftertaste. Sangiovese. Best from 2026 through 2045. 3,800 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. (2020). 

James Suckling 95 Points | Very refined and complex nose with a hint of pine cones, botanicals and dark mushrooms to the zesty oranges, mineral, fine musk and plums. Juicy, dry but textured on the palate with stacks of dusty tannins growing on the savory, full-bodied palate. Long and quite mineral in the finish. Better from 2025. (2020). 

Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 Fontalloro is a sensual, enveloping wine. Dark red-toned fruit, sweet spice, tobacco, cedar and mint are all beautifully delineated. Fontalloro is a pure Sangiovese from vineyards that straddle the Chianti Classico and Colli Senesi appellations. The duality is very much on display here.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Wine Spectator 92 Points | This red starts out supple, revealing cherry, blackberry, violet and spice flavors. There's a line of dusty tannins underneath, yet this is balanced and long in the end. Best from 2025 through 2039.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | The stony, metallic nose is all graphite, pencil shavings, pennies and topsoil with subtle fruit aromas of cherry skin and orange peel scorched quickly to release its essential oil. Juicier cherries on the palate are still traced by graphite and crushed soil, held together with tightly wound tannins.

James Suckling 90 Points | Dark cherries, baked cherries, cloves, herbs and cedar on the nose. It’s medium- to full-bodied with solid tannins. Quite firm still with a fruity frame and a chewy finish.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Rating - Vintage 2022

Winemaker Description

The certified organic vineyards cover 20 hectares in Gaiole in Chianti at different altitudes, exposures and soil types. All wines are artisanally crafted from hand-sorted grapes that are crushed by foot and fermented with native yeasts in small, concrete fermentors. 

The Riecine Chianti Classico is made from 100% Sangiovese from different vineyard sites throughout Gaiole in Chianti. Mid ruby in the glass with aromas of cranberry and sour cherry interspersed with a strong mineral note.

The palate is vibrant with fine, persistent tannins and energetic acidity. Lots of tension in this mineral and sour-fruited wine. Enjoy with pasta or artisanal pizza. Winemaker Description

Critic Notes

Wallter Speller writes:  Lustrous mid ruby. An elegant, fragrant raspberry nose, gorgeous supple and juicy cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate, and with gripping, nutty tannins. Very long and succulent and fragrant.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.  - Jancis Robinson 17++

Audrey Frick writes:  The dark ruby 2020 Chianti Classico is ripe with aromas of black raspberry coulis, red flowers, sweet tobacco, and pine. Elegant and medium-bodied, it fills the palate with supple texture, fine tannins, and an even, well-balanced finish. This is a highly approachable wine that I would be fighting to pour by the glass if I were still running a wine program. Pure, classic, and balanced, it’s a gulpable wine will drink great now or over the coming 6-8 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92+

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Chianti Classico is super-impressive. It's the sort of wine that needs time to come together, though, so readers should be in no rush. The purity of the fruit is really quite compelling. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, incense and licorice build nicely in a mid-weight Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2023 to 2032.  - Vinous 91

Monica Larner writes:  The certified organic San Giusto a Rentennano 2020 Chianti Classico is a clever blend of 90% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo from a unique growing site in Gaiole in Chianti. This vintage absolutely stands out thanks to its ample and generous fruit profile, driven by a warm and sunny vintage. This sees steel, cement and oak. The wine travels over the palate with an elegant and velvety texture. This is an entry-level production of 51,872 bottles (and some magnums), and it hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2022 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A dense red, with solid tannins and lively acidity supporting expressive cherry, raspberry, iron and earth flavors. Balanced, long and will benefit from food or another year or two of bottle age. Sangiovese and Canaiolo. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Winemaker Description

It is a Chianti with a traditional style, energetic and elegant, expressing beautiful complexity and cleanliness in the nose. It is aged for at least 10 months in oak barrels and barriques plus 6 months in the bottle and expresses aromas of ripe red fruit and spicy notes, for an agile, fresh and soft sip.  

Winemaker Description

The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This is a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish.

Blend: 100% Sangiovese

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 94 Points | Attractive aromas of ripe cherries, dried strawberries, dried orange peel, spices and crushed stones, following through to a medium to full body with compact tannins that are firm and finely grained. Smooth and textured with vivid fruit underneath and a lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.(2020). 

Robert Parker 93 Points | In the bottle with the black label, the organic 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva offers ripe fruit with measured intensity that never feels heavy or overdone. Achieving this level of balance is not easy in a hot growing season such as this. This wine is characterized by an especially linear and direct personality that pushes it over the palate with good momentum. (2020).

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | A rich ruby color, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva is a selection from the best vineyards, aged for two years. The nose opens to ripe and polished aromas of toasted cedar, cherry lozenge, menthol, and spiced orange peel. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe tannins that fold into a more mineral texture, with mouthwatering stony earth and a rather long, clean finish.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A juicy yet firmly structured red highlighted by bright cherry and blackberry fruit. Reveals dense tannins that inform the finish, where accents of earth and mineral linger. Balanced in a youthful, exuberant way. Best from 2025 through 2039.

Winemaker Description

This Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with a perfect blend of fruit, acidity and mouth coating tannins. This is the perfect bottle for Brunello lovers.

Pair with steak au poivre, rack of lamb or beef carpaccio.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | There is a more forward personality to the 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva, which pours a slightly darker hue. Aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, and violets emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers more ripe concentration, with black raspberry, tea leaf, cedar, and rosemary. It is elegant yet expressive of the warm vintage, with fine, ripe tannins and ripe fresh fruit through the mid-palate and a great balance between roundness and elegance.

James Suckling 95 Points | Complex and fragrant nose of neroli, currants, sour cherries, sandalwood, cassis and wild herbs. Roasted walnuts, too. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Full of energy and power.

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

Decanter 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This red starts out round, turning more precise and taut as it builds to the finish. Shows cherry, wild herb, soy and loam flavors that ply the supple texture, before the tannins exert their influence and the finish tightens up (a good sign for the future). (2017).

Vinous 90 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger. The vintage has left its mark on the 2017 Riserva, yet cellaring will help relieve its youthful structure.

Winemaker Description

Its bouquet is intense, pure, pleasant and refined, reminiscent of sweet violet, tobacco, chocolate and pleasant hints of wild berries and vanilla. Its flavor fully confirms the above in a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with good tannins and a solid structure. 

Expert Reviews 

Decanter 95 Points | Altesino counts approximately 50 hectares throughout Montalcino’s northern and southern stretches. A compilation of diverse sites, the estate Brunello is among the denomination’s best values. If the Montosoli bottling is more solemn in tone, this 2019 is joyful and bright. Heady red currant and cherry mingle with plum and anise. The sumptuously fruited, plush palate is mouth filling yet agile. Sandy textured tannins envelop and caress while citrusy acidity lifts the whole. Already accessible, it has sufficient depth, concentration and backbone for a solid decade of enjoyment. (2019). 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality). (2019). 

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. (2019). 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is packed with ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, with floral, mineral, juniper and wild herb accents adding depth and complexity. There's plenty of energy and structure as well, providing excellent balance, with a long aftertaste. (2019).

James Suckling 94 Points | A dark ruby color in the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a beguiling blend of dusty earth, crushed rocks, savory herbs and dried roses. This is racy and sleek, with vividly ripe wild berry fruits elevated by orange and sage, all guided by vibrant acidity. Grippy tannins take control through the finish, yet the mouth is left watering for more as a bitter licorice tinge and dark chocolate adds a crunchy sensation. (2019). 

Wine Description 

Hand-harvested and mainly destemmed but with the berries left whole. They are fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and without sulfur in concrete tanks. Maceration lasts around 12 days and there are no extractive techniques, only a submerged cap or cappello sommerso. The wine is aged partly in 15-hectoliter foudres and partly in concrete for up to one and half years. It is bottled with a small amount of sulfur and without fining or filtering and is released in the late spring two years after the vintage.

Expert Ratings

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 93 Points | The 2020 Chianti Classico is fabulous. Bright, floral and effusive, the 2020 is striking right out of the gate. Crushed flowers, mint, spice and blood orange all race out of the glass. A wine of vibrancy and nuance, impresses with its exceptional beauty and overall harmony. It's an absolutely stellar wine from Montesecondo.  Drinking 2022 -2030.

Walter Speller of Jancis Robinson writes 17.5 Points | Lustrous crimson. At first subdued then opens up to crushed raspberries with savoury hints. Vibrant fruit with lots of acidity but really filled out across the palate. Long and with lots of crunch.   San Casciano. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Certified organic.  Drinking 2022 - 2028.

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 91 Points | The Montesecondo 2020 Chianti Classico is redolent of bright cherry and wild blueberry. It presents those pretty fruit tones with attractive intensity. This blend of 90% Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Colorino feels sweet and soft, but the ripeness is spot-on with no jammy sensations or heaviness. That contained quality of fruit, even in a hot vintage such as this, is one of the ace cards in Chianti Classico's hand. Aged in oak and cement, the wine ends with tart cherry and lasting freshness.  Drinking 2022 -2028. 

Michaela Morris of Decanter writes 92 Points | Montesecondo crafts just one Chianti Classico from two parcels in San Casciano. It ferments spontaneously, sees minimal sulphur additions and is aged in a combination of cement vats and medium-sized used oak casks. The 2020 starts discreetly, with forest brush and mint adding dimension to red currant and black raspberry. This is more savoury than sweet though, and it's the powdery, textured palate that really captivates. Fresh and tangy with nuances of orange peel, this sneaky wine isn't flamboyant but is very tasty. 

Winemaker Description

The 2016 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino opens with earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood. Fruitier orange zest and lemon. Ripe, incense and with dense forest of aromas. Rich to the center palate, the fruit is vivacious and elegant. Robust and generous tannins. The finish is long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2016 

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Floral aromas of violet and rose mingle with new leather and menthol on this fragrant red. Racy and linear, the palate features dried cherry, licorice and blood orange set against firm, fine-grained tannins. (2016). 

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate 94 Points | The Renieri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a plush, fruit-forward and accessible wine that captures the purity and elegance of the vintage. The best take-away, however, is the fresh, ready and bright state of this wine that makes it almost ready to enjoy straight out of the gate. This Brunello from a nine-hectare plot with limestone clay soils offers bold cherry and blackberry with delicate spice, smoke and blue flower. The wine is marked by balanced acidity, and there is some tannic tightness that should further relax by the time this wine hits the market at the start of 2021. 

James Suckling 96 Points | This is a very tight, refined Brunello that shows so much beautiful fruit and polish with dark-berry, cedar, walnut and cherry character. It’s full-bodied with layers of fine tannins and a fresh, pretty finish. Needs much more time to open. (2016). 

Eric Guido of Vinous 90 Points | The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a sweetly spiced and fruit-forward expression of the vintage, yet it manages to color within the lines of refinement. Mulled apples and strawberries with a balsamic tinge give way to mentholated herbal tones. It’s soft with a wonderful mix of inner sweetness, pure red berry fruits and minerals, yet it lacks momentum toward the close. Rounded tannins linger along with hints of plum, tobacco and dark inner florals. With the exception of a lull on the mid-palate, the 2016 Renieri is really quite pleasurable, yet it’s better to enjoy this sooner rather than later. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 95 Points |  Newly on the market now, the 2020 Tignanello shows a gorgeous bouquet with an upfront and accessible personality. Right off the bat, you get dark cherry, dried raspberry, spice, toasted almond and citrusy blood orange. The blend is normally 75% to 80% Sangiovese with 7% Cabernet Franc. The grape in between, making up 13% to 18%, is Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is very pretty and won’t require a long wait. The tannins are sweet and silky. “Tignanello proves itself as a great vineyard site in both the challenging and the classic years,” says Managing Director Renzo Cotarella.  Drinking 2025 to 2045. 

James Suckling writes 97 Points | Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable but better in three or four years. 

Antonio Galloni  of Vinous writes 96 Points | The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and mocha later. Time in the glass brings out striking dimension. In 2020, Tignanello is wonderfully sleek and racy, with fine tannins that lie below a core of bright, sculpted fruit. The balance here is just sublime. I can't wait to revisit the 2020 with age.  Drinking 2028 to 2045.

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 94 Points | A concentrated red, with black cherry, blackberry, iron, tobacco and vanilla flavors framed by sweet spices and toast accents. Ends with mouthcoating tannins, yet is pretty well-balanced overall. Alluring and classy. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2045.  - Wine Spectator 94

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

Ruby-red with a garnet rim, this wine's bouquet displays ample aromas of violet, wild berries, tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla. On the palate, Altesino Brunello is rich, full-bodied, and velvety.

Critics Notes

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is packed with ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, with floral, mineral, juniper and wild herb accents adding depth and complexity. There's plenty of energy and structure as well, providing excellent balance, with a long aftertaste. (2019). 

Monica Larner Robert Parker 95 Points | The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality). (2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. (2019).

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2019

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points |  The 2019 Rosso Di Montalcino is ripe but energetic, with pure red cherry, rose petal, orange peel, and white pepper. It is medium-bodied, with elegant ripe raspberry with a graceful feel. Seamless, with fine tannins, it is supple and soft in its texture and raises the bar in a big way for the category. 6,700 bottles were produced. 

Vinous 93 Points |  An unbelievably pretty blend of dusty rose, cherry and sage wafts up from the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino. It’s strikingly beautiful and graceful within, silky yet cool-toned, mixing saline-tinged minerals with ripe red fruits and floral nuances that resonate throughout. The 2019 finishes structured yet potent and long, leaving lingering dried cherry and licorice notes. Cellaring will be required, but with that said, this is a Rosso of astonishing depth and complexity.

Winemaker Description

The Pian dell Orino estate is adjacent to the Biondi Santi property. This area has a long history of being particularly suited for growing grapes for high quality wines. Husband and wife team Caroline and Jan's love for Tuscany and passion for viticulture binds them particularly to this land, their vines and the resulting wines. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area.