2021 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a jeweled ruby hue and is strikingly pure and transparent from the start. The aromatics are lifted and detailed, with raspberry liqueur, crushed wildflowers, orange oil, bergamot, and a cool, stony mineral edge. Medium-bodied, it has a weightless feel yet tremendous depth, with polished, velvety tannins, mouthwatering acidity, and a long, seamless finish that carries with quiet power. It should evolve beautifully with time and offer exceptional drinking over the next two to three decades.
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com
More reviews and scores
Cerbaiona’s 2021 Brunello di Montalcino marks a psychological and physical rebirth for the estate, as the first vintage produced in the new technological winery using fruit from refurbished vineyards and a parcel-by-parcel harvest approach. This release represents the first Brunello made entirely under Matthew Fioretti’s vision, defining Cerbaiona as an atelier estate rooted in winemaking precision. The wine is beautifully complete on the aromatic front, distinguished by an elegant mineral signature that is especially pronounced in this vintage, lending clarity and lift. It opens on a timid note before growing steadily in intensity, revealing fine and delicate layers of spice and floral notes alongside evident complexity. Production totals 9,484 bottles, 300 magnums and 20 Jeroboams.
The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino captivates with a burst of crushed black cherries and strawberries accompanied by incense, cedar shavings and crushed stone. It is refined, precise and cool-toned with stony minerality. Vibrant acidity enlivens its core of tart wild berry fruits. The 2021 finishes off crunchy and long with edgy tannins, an invigorating twang of sour citrus and a tinge of licorice. This is the first vintage that takes full advantage of the new plantings at Cerbaiona. Very impressive.
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.