BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

When I tasted this wine with its maker, the celebrated enologist Carlo Ferrini, he told me that he put every last drop of love into the 2019 vintage. He believes it is the best wine he has made thus far at his relatively new Giodo project that started in 2009. Indeed, I would rank the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino as high as or even better than the best vintages made at this boutique estate. In my mind, they are 2010, 2016 and now 2019. This wine comes from a three-hectare plot with 19-year-old vines that are cared for obsessively. This amphitheater-shaped parcel called La Poderina is nestled deep within the forest on a steep slope that overlooks Monte Amiata in the distance. The soils are white in color with lots of rocks. This is a wine of depth and dimension, with vibrant energy, elegant balsamic notes and sweetly ripened fruit. The medium fruit weight is balanced against the wine's acidity and fine tannins. It ends with floral notes of violet and iris. Drinking range: 2025 - 2050 Rating: 98+ Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Dec 2023)

Made from 100% Sangiovese, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is medium garnet-purple in colour. It soars from the glass with classic notions of dried cherries, tobacco leaf, and ripe redcurrants, followed by wafts of wild sage and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energetic red berry and mineral-inspired flavours with a racy backbone and grainy tannins, finishing with a real skip in its step. Rating: 97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent (Aug 2023)

Plum with ruby reflections, this is deeply flavourful, suggesting careful extraction giving plenty of damson and sour plum character, fine but plentiful tannins, savoury tobacco and grilled meats, with floral edges, raspberry leaf and turmeric spice. Fragrant and full of quiet joy. From a vineyard set at 300m altitude, 30 months ageing followed by 18 months in bottle, south west fasting slopes; gravel and clay. Carlo Ferrini winemaker. Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Jul 2023)

Anyways, the real star of the vintage in Sant’Angelo in Colle is Giodo: world-famous winemaker Carlo Ferrini has risen to fame for making hyper-concentrated wines, yet his daughter Bianca seems to pursue a diametrically opposite style at this estate: the Pinot-esque purity of Giodo is almost anomalous. Not only this is the best vintage this young – if wildly successful – winery has ever made: it epitomizes a completely new style of Brunello. While those who are accustomed to traditionally austere and earthy versions might not be especially fond of its early-appealing, polished and fruit-forward identity, enthusiasts of refined, Burgundy-inspired reds will find a lot to like.
Incredibly pure and airy: raspberries and red roses mingle with lavender, sandalwood, and oriental spice. Mid-weight and silky, it displays a seductive core of sucrose red and blue fruits, with almost Pinot-esque finesse and blood orange crispness on the back-end. Pinpoint tannins caress the seamless progression, and support the long finish featuring botanical herbs and the slightest hint of oak spice.The Drinks Business (Nov 2023)

An effusive red, with vivid cherry and raspberry fruit that's pure and tangy, courtesy of the vibrant acidity, while mineral and herb accents add depth as this builds on the finish. This is structured too, with well-integrated tannins that sneak up on the firm, long-lasting aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 95 Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2024)