2018 Brunello di Montalcino

Expressive and beautifully pure, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino offers a gorgeous, sweet perfume of perfectly ripe raspberry eau de vie, crushed roses, delicate baking spice, and well-integrated cedar spice. It is medium-bodied, though it is generous and round with fruit in a long arch, fine tannins, and a soft, stony, mineral texture. Polished with more ripe raspberry, oolong tea, and fresh thyme, it is approachable now but will certainly improve over the next 15-20 years.

Released in numbered bottles, the Le Chiuse 2018 Brunello di Montalcino (a certified organic wine with fruit sourced from across six hectares) shows punchy and bright aromas that recall dried grape skins or fermentation aromas. It suggests an open or immediate personality. There is a pleasant rawness or authenticity presented here with black cherry, plum, blue flower, cola and rusty nail. This is a true expression from a warm vintage that delivers mid-weight texture and well-managed tannins. It concludes with a hint of sweet cherry liqueur. I tasted number 192 of 18,300 bottles produced.

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is youthfully coy and a bit reductive at first. Swirling brings about nuances of dusty rose, dried cherries, flowery underbrush and hints of animal musk. It glides across the palate with finesse, impressing more on its purity of fruit, petty inner florals and delicate nature than power. The 2018 finishes with medium length, showing sweet inner herbal tones, a twang of sour citrus and a gentle tug of fine tannin. This is such an understated beauty.