Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2018

Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97+/100 punten
The Biondi-Santi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva saw its fruit harvested after warm end-of-summer winds dried the fruit after rains. It resulted in fruit with extra pulp and thinner skins. This Riserva has a medium-plus body and delivers generous aromas of dark cherry, underbrush, potting soil and sweet spice. Its structure remains fine and the alcohol content is a very contained 13.3%. The wine is essentially elegant and fine with a slightly rounder or soft fruit profile that cedes to bright freshness and a long, polished finish.

Eric Guido, Vinous, 97+/100 punten
Deeper, darker and more sensual than the Annata, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva entices with a whiff of lavender and sage before giving way to dried cherry, cedar dust, worn leather and spice. It's surprisingly lifted and finessed, with a salty core of savory minerals to offset its ripe wild berry fruits. A jolt of stimulating acidity maintains harmony throughout. It finishes with admirable length and a saline character, leaving hints of licorice that fade slowly. Despite the growing season, the 2018 comes across as a classic in the making, showing the structure and balance required throughout to promote cellaring. Sadly, production totaled only 8,000 bottles.

James Suckling, 97/100 punten
Really pretty aromas of red cherries, cedar, flowers and flint. This has medium to full body, juicy fruit, fine tannins and a long, long finish. The texture is very impressive with ultrafine, velvety tannins. Caresses the palate, building at the end. Linear and structured. Very Biondi-Santi in its nature with the direct drive in the finish. Drink after 2028.

Decanter, 94/100 punten
Given the constant rain and high disease pressure, a huge selection during summer included the removal of the bunches' wings [the berries on either side of the clusters' ‘shoulders’] to loosen them up. Harvest was largely concentrated to late September, when temperatures and humidity finally dropped, and the Tramontana wind materialised just in time to dry the grapes. Lightly extracted to avoid green tannins, the 2018 Riserva is decidedly floral with violet and lilac at the fore. Tar and black tea flit in the background. Midweight and fluid, the palate resonates with pleasantly tart red currants, sumac and dried tarragon, and the fine-grained tannins are well embedded and malleable. Here’s to the magnificent lightness and brightness of Sangiovese's being!

Jancis Robinson, 17+/20 punten
Mid ruby. Open cherry-fruit nose with hints of tobacco leaf, but much more complex than it sounds. Really opens up with aeration. Much more embryonic on the palate with tight cherry and raspberry fruit and a layer of beautiful, finely sculpted tannins. Long, cool red-fruit-focused finish. Can be approached now, while the next day the wine was fully open and ready.