Vinous (94)

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino dazzles with a bright mix of confectionary cherry, candied citrus and exotic spice forming its sweetly seductive bouquet. This smooths over the palate with total elegance, velvety yet refined, with masses of ripe black cherry complemented by sweet herbs and hints of dark chocolate. It finishes with a coating of silky-fine tannins that lingers, more of an accent than an obstacle, as the 2018 tapers off with nuances of spiced orange and clove. Cupano has produced an incredibly beautiful interpretation of the vintage, which does show a bit of its new-oak influence, but with style.

Decanter (95)

Fabio Motta is one of the best performers in Bolgheri among the small producers of the next generation. Almost ready with his new winery, it represents a kind of garagiste in the appellation. He ferments all the wines with natural yeast and manages careful extraction and maceration. His original blend for Le Gonnare sees an addition of Syrah to complete the 85% of Merlot and is aged in 1/3 new French oak barriques. Intense and perfumed it shows kiwi peel and cedar wood aromas, loaded with restrained cassis and bitter orange flavour. The attack is dense and ripe with elegant texture and chewy tension on the finish.

James Suckling (93)

Notes of blueberries, blackberries, porcini and nutmeg. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Balanced with a fleshy texture. Round and velvety. Long, flavorful finish. Fine and fresh at the end. Drink or hold.

Vinous (97)

The 2018 Giorgio Primo represents a new level of finesse at La Massa. Powerful and dense in the glass, with tremendous structure, Giorgio Primo is a terrific example of how compelling international varieties are in Panzano's Conca d'Oro district. Crème de cassis, spice, new leather, chocolate and sweet spice build into the textured, palate-staining finish.

Wine Advocate (94)

Tasted from vat, the Fattoria le Pupille 2018 Poggio Valente is an elegant expression of Sangiovese with just a hint of the freewheeling wildness that characterizes the Maremma region of southern Tuscany. The wine delivers cherry, wild rose, forest fruit and blueberry. Beyond those primary tones are integrated notes of spice and mild tobacco. The wine is put together with careful precision, and all it needs now is more aging time in order to flesh out and build depth. Everything is set, just give it time.

James Suckling (97)

A fantastic nose to this with currant, sage, rosemary and rose-petal character. Sweet tobacco and spicy chocolate, too. Very complex. The palate shows lovely depth of fruit with blackberries, blackcurrants and fine tannins. It’s racy and refined with a direct, focused palate. Just a baby. A blend of cabernet sauvignon 60%, merlot 32% and petite verdot 8%. This needs at least two or three years to soften. Try in 2023.

James Suckling (97)

A fantastic nose to this with currant, sage, rosemary and rose-petal character. Sweet tobacco and spicy chocolate, too. Very complex. The palate shows lovely depth of fruit with blackberries, blackcurrants and fine tannins. It’s racy and refined with a direct, focused palate. Just a baby. A blend of cabernet sauvignon 60%, merlot 32% and petite verdot 8%. This needs at least two or three years to soften. Try in 2023.

Wine Advocate (97)

I prefer this wine to Fèlsina's top-shelf Fontalloro. The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is irresistibly angular and tight, opening a profound view onto what makes Sangiovese so expressive and unique, especially when planted in the right territories. The bouquet is savory and almost sanguine with iron ore, rusty nail and baked clay. But there's plenty of fruit as well, in the form of wild berry and black cherry, that adds to the dimension and dynamic freshness of the mouthfeel. The 2018 vintage saw a few moments of heat during the summer, but the Colonia vineyard is protected by forests and cooler altitudes. Give this wine time to soften in the bottle.

Vinous (97)

The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is an absolutely stunning wine. The archetype of Rancia in the past has been of a big, potent Chianti Classico but in 2018, Rancia is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse. Silky, perfumed and indescribably finessed, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. It's a magical wine in every way.

Wine Advocate (95)

To my palate, the 2018 vintage sometimes feels a little too ripe or baked. I was reminded of those characteristics when tasting the Fèlsina 2018 Fontalloro. There is plenty of dark fruit at its core, but this wine also reveals dry tones of jarred oregano, grilled Mediterranean herb, crushed aspirin and graham cracker. The mouthfeel is pleasantly lean and silky, and perhaps the wine delivers more in terms of length than it does weight or texture. A little more bottle age should help flesh out and soften these results.

Vinous (91)

The 2018 Pinot Nero Case Via is perfumed, racy expressive, especially on the palate, where the fruit is wonderfully alive. The 2018 was fermented in terra cotta and then aged in a combination of both amphora and oak. I find the tannins a bit edgy and battling the fruit at present. Then again, the 2018 was bottled only recently. I am less sure about the suitability of amphora for Pinot Noir than for other grapes given its inherent fragility. We will see.

James Suckling (95)

A perfumed nose of redcurrants, sour cherries, bay leaves and spices. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins. Dusty texture in the mouth with structure and a bright core of red fruit. Flavourful, ample and tannic finish with length. So serious. From organically grown grapes.

James Suckling (95)

Complex aromas of sweet berries, tobacco and mushrooms with some floral undertones. Full-bodied with very tight, polished tannins and cedar, mahogany and dark fruit on the finish. Lots of transparent fruit at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Vinous (98)

The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is quite possibly the most elegant, refined version of this wine I have ever tasted. It does not offer the immediacy or impact of either the 2015 or 2016, but, instead, impresses with its elegance, persistence and total class. Bright floral and spice notes add perfume to a core of red-toned fruit. The 2018 represents another move towards greater finesse at Fontodi. It spent a year in French oak barrel and a second year in cask.

Vinous (98)

The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is quite possibly the most elegant, refined version of this wine I have ever tasted. It does not offer the immediacy or impact of either the 2015 or 2016, but, instead, impresses with its elegance, persistence and total class. Bright floral and spice notes add perfume to a core of red-toned fruit. The 2018 represents another move towards greater finesse at Fontodi. It spent a year in French oak barrel and a second year in cask.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.

Vinous (91)

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is dusty and floral on the nose, with a mix of dried black cherries, shaved cedar and wild flowers forming its inviting bouquet. This is round, almost juicy in feel, with cooling mineral tones and brisk acidity that maintains an unexpectedly energetic character, as tart wild berry fruits slowly saturate. The 2018 finishes with grippy tannins, yet also surprisingly fresh, leaving nuances of red licorice to slowly taper off. This really took me by surprise, as I’m so accustomed to Castelgiocondo being such a brooding and powerful wine in its youth, but that is the magic of the 2018 vintage.

Kerin O'Keefe (98)

Ripe berry, Mediterranean brush and spice aromas mingle with new leather on this classy, vibrant offering from historic estate Fuligni. Full-bodied and gorgeous, the savory palate features juicy Morello cherry, star anise, almond and saline mineral notes framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized.

Vinous (91)

The 2018 Promis is a very pretty wine. Lifted, floral aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure give it tons of immediacy and overall appeal. Hints of succulent red cherry, cinnamon, mint and leather linger effortlessly.

Vinous (93)

The darkly alluring 2018 Brunello di Montalcino grumbles up from the glass, with a mix of crushed plums and black cherries complemented by rubbed sage nuances. It’s soft-textured and deep, engulfing the palate in ripe wild berry fruit and spice, underscored by a savory herbaceous steak. A web of fine tannins is left to linger, creating a truly classic impression, as mentholated herbs and hints of wild strawberry linger on and on. This youthfully masked beauty will only require minimal cellaring to show its best.

Vinous (93)

The darkly alluring 2018 Brunello di Montalcino grumbles up from the glass, with a mix of crushed plums and black cherries complemented by rubbed sage nuances. It’s soft-textured and deep, engulfing the palate in ripe wild berry fruit and spice, underscored by a savory herbaceous steak. A web of fine tannins is left to linger, creating a truly classic impression, as mentholated herbs and hints of wild strawberry linger on and on. This youthfully masked beauty will only require minimal cellaring to show its best.

Wine Advocate (97)

This wine was tasted in a preview capacity as it won't hit the market until the beginning of next year. Tasted at the Giodo winery in one of the most remote and beautiful spots in the appellation surrounded by forests and wide open panoramas, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino gives us a promising taste of what we can expect from this warm vintage. The wine delivers ripe, but delicate aromas of cassis and dark cherry with shades of lilac, violet and crushed limestone. The tannins are present and well managed. Carlo Ferrini's Brunello promises a long aging trajectory.

Indulge your palate with the exquisite Gorelli Brunello di Montalcino 2018, a true embodiment of Tuscan winemaking mastery. Produced in the scenic Montalcino region of Italy, this wine harbours the profound essence of its native lands in every sip.

Rigorously selected Sangiovese grapes from Gorelli's vineyards are employed to create this high-calibre Brunello. Underpinned by stringent quality-ensuring techniques, the grapes are traditionally fermented and aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for a lengthy four years. This process bestows a remarkable complexity and depth to the wine.

The result is a truly sumptuous wine offering notes of red and dark berries, hints of leather and earth; all perfectly balanced with a harmonious acidity and tannins. Loyal to the Gorelli ethos, this Brunello reflects the spirit of its birthplace with an elegant, finely structured profile. The Gorelli Brunello di Montalcino 2018 is indeed a testament to the sublime mastery of Italian wine creation.

Indulge your palate with the exquisite Gorelli Brunello di Montalcino 2018, a true embodiment of Tuscan winemaking mastery. Produced in the scenic Montalcino region of Italy, this wine harbours the profound essence of its native lands in every sip.

Rigorously selected Sangiovese grapes from Gorelli's vineyards are employed to create this high-calibre Brunello. Underpinned by stringent quality-ensuring techniques, the grapes are traditionally fermented and aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for a lengthy four years. This process bestows a remarkable complexity and depth to the wine.

The result is a truly sumptuous wine offering notes of red and dark berries, hints of leather and earth; all perfectly balanced with a harmonious acidity and tannins. Loyal to the Gorelli ethos, this Brunello reflects the spirit of its birthplace with an elegant, finely structured profile. The Gorelli Brunello di Montalcino 2018 is indeed a testament to the sublime mastery of Italian wine creation.

Experience the elegance of the Gorelli Rosso di Montalcino 2018, a fantastic representation of enticing Tuscan wine. It is carefully crafted by the renowned Le Potazzine winery, a trusted family-run enterprise rooted in the native soils of Montalcino, Italy. The Gorelli family is devoted to traditional winemaking techniques: vineyard-driven, minimalist intervention, intense sorting of grapes, and application of neutral large Slovenian oak barrels to age the wines for 12 months.

The Gorelli Rosso di Montalcino 2018 showcases a delightful medley of red and black cherries, with a hint of plum, intertwined with subtle notes of Tuscan herbs and spices. The palate is strikingly vibrant, with a rich yet balanced, captivating structure, with layers of depth and complexity that further unfold in the glass. Exhibiting a lovely finish and moderating acidity, this Italian bottle offers a superlative drinking experience that is emblematic of Gorelli's excellence in winemaking. Allow your senses to be enraptured by the class and complexity of Gorelli Rosso di Montalcino 2018.

Vinous (96)

The 2018 Grattamacco is the most elegant, refined and satisfying wine I have ever tasted from Grattamacco. There is a level of finesse here that is simply unreal. Bright and translucent, with tons of detail, the 2018 oozes with pedigree. Lavender, spice, mint, tobacco and dried flowers add an attractive upper register.