2019 Brunello di Montalcino
Buying options
Tasting notes
As Matthew Fioretti has declared Cerbaiona a “No Points Zone”, few have been able to taste the wines under his tenure, and there are no critic scores – but the quality being produced here is truly exciting. The warm 2019 vintage was in the midst of their replanting program, so the team purchased in some fruit, but the wine is glorious. This is vibrant Sangiovese with all the depth that Montalcino can offer. There’s a gloss to the dark cherry fruit, with a lift of florality and a lush juiciness that comes in waves across the palate. It’s intense yet vibrant, full of mineral energy and gorgeously fine, silken tannins that dust the fruit. A wine of effortless balance, this is glorious – and more than stands up to the Cerbaiona name.
The 2019 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino is brilliant. Black cherries, plums, rose petals notes come out on the nose, with concentration and freshness balanced perfectly. The palate is very Sangiovese with profound depth and a great bone of acidity driving silky tannins, it is full body for Brunello but it remains fresh and elegant. The ethereal mid palate brings more red fruits with dry strawberries and peppery notes. The finish is long, mouth-coating and persistent! This is definitely a gorgeous Brunello in the making that will age gracefully. Give it five years more to enjoy fully. Great stuff.
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a bright red color and shows more aromatic restraint than the 2021. The nose shows wild raspberries, darker berries, and dried floral tones, with a more muted, understated frame. Medium to full-bodied, it offers ripe tannins, balanced acidity, and solid length, although it feels a touch less polished than the 2021 at this stage. It should drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. Drink 2026-2041. This was my first visit to the estate of Cerbaiona, where I met with Matthew Fioretti. Along with investor Gary Rieschel, they purchased this historic estate in 2015 from Diego Molinari and began a four-year process of uprooting, replanting, and extending the vineyards, which are now cultivated using the alberello method. They have also overseen the construction of a new underground cellar. The wines have a renewed focus on precision, clarity, freshness, and sense of place. It is immediately apparent that Mr. Fioretti brings a fastidious attention to detail from the vineyard to the glass, and I, for one, find this a welcome change that seems to be leading Cerbaiona to a potential place among the best of the region.
Cerbaiona’s 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is concentrated and expressive, with earthy tones folded into dark fruit, spice and pressed flowers. The palate is rich and powerful, showing greater structure and textural heft than usual, with flavors leaning firmly into the dark fruit spectrum and layered spiciness that underscores the character of this cellar-worthy vintage. Fermented in conical wooden vats with whole berries, the wine gains depth and definition while maintaining balance. Production totals 9,382 bottles plus larger formats.
Deep, complex and graceful, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino entices with a cascade of blue and purple flowers, black cherries and hints of Tuscan spice. This is a radiant effort, with a tinge of tangerine up front that gives way to ripe red and black fruits propelled by tantalizing acidity. The 2019 tapers off long and staining, leaving a coating of fine tannins to flex their structural muscle as traces of black raspberry fade slowly. This is a soulful Brunello from start to finish. Beautifully done.
About the producer
A cult address for many Italian fine wine lovers, Cerbaiona is one of Montalcino’s top estates. The site has long been identified as special, but it was Diego Molinari who established its reputation. Today, Matthew Fioretti is at the helm, bringing the estate into the modern era.