2018 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola shows pretty color saturation with shiny highlights of dark garnet and black ruby. The bouquet is punchy and bright, but you also get a good dose of primary fruit with black cherry and dried currant. This is one of only a handful of wines from 2018 that gives confidence in terms of its cellar-aging potential. The tannins still need time to gain polish and softness, and the fresh acidity so beautifully locks those flavors and perfumes in place. The Salvioni family has beat the odds in a challenging vintage. Exactly 9,269 bottles were released.
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is a pleasure to take in aromatically and visually. Boasting a bright ruby color, significantly lighter than the average Brunello these days, it lifts from the glass with a delicate yet deeply complex bouquet, as fresh mint and citrus brilliantly accentuate dried black cherries and strawberries. This smooths over the palate, silky yet medium-bodied, guided by crisp acidity that adds a crunchy feel to the wild berry fruits within. The 2018 finishes classically structured and refined, transcending the light-hearted nature of the vintage, as it tapers off perfumed and with incredible length. This is such a beautiful vintage for Salvioni, and as I've watched it mature over the past three years, it seems to only gain in depth and complexity over time.
18–20 days on the skins. ‘We have had temperature-controlled stainless steel since only 2018, but the fermentation was so regular we never used it.’ Mid ruby with the beginning of orange. A fine, open-knit balsamic nose with deep, alluring cherry notes underneath. Supple, sappy red fruit and elegant in constitution with fine, long tannins making their mark on the finish. Long and subtly perfumed. Gorgeous and ready now. (WS)