Elegant with excellent sensory class, it displays notes of mixed red flowers, chopped citron, jasmine, acacia blossoms, lemon peel, crushed celery, and cola. Mixed mandarins and chocolate enliven the secondary notes. Full body, dense and firm tannins envelop the mid-palate, and a finish of great progression and harmony.

Aromas of violets, lavender, licorice, nutmeg and potpourri. Full-bodied with layers of fine tannins that are crunchy and silky, showing freshness and bright fruit at the end. Caressing texture. An excellent example of the vintage. Needs time to come together, but is very pretty and satisfying.

With no Riserva produced in 2021, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a youthful, saturated red hue and has a spiced, savory profile. The nose reveals dried cherries, fresh leather, lavender, sage, and Mediterranean herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it has a weightless feel on the palate, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a long finish that carries a subtle savory richness. Drink this beautiful Brunello over the coming 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040.

This is a site I love, as it offers one of the grandest sunsets in Montalcino, and that sense of late-afternoon warmth seems to translate directly into the wine. The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2021 Brunello di Montalcino shows sweet fruit and darker aromas that evoke sun-drenched slopes and fading light. There is warmth and sweetness here that flesh out over the palate, giving the wine notable volume, a hallmark of the estate’s vineyards on the southern side of the appellation. You could almost fault this wine for being too ripe, but that same sunshine-driven character defines its appeal. Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is a historic, organically farmed estate in Montalcino. The property extends across approximately 195 hectares, including 50 hectares of vineyards and 30 hectares of olive groves. The vineyards are planted primarily to Sangiovese and are situated between 240 and 360 meters in elevation in the warmer southern part of the denomination. Soils are predominantly galestro schist with Eocene-era clay components, contributing structure and mineral definition to the wines. Recent releases, particularly from the 2021 vintage, show ripe and rich flavor profiles.

A profound wine with vibrancy and complexity, exuding restrained cherries and raspberries, together with touches of ash and fresh orange peel. Leafiness and meaty minerality add an extra dimension. The attack is lush and ripe, with full body, velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and violet-soaked cherries to finish. Real precision here. Drinkable now, but best after 2025.

Dark and deep on the nose it shows notes of incense, sandalwood, cumin, black tea leaves, dates, bergamot, cinchona and black pepper. Many shades of pink pepper, juniper berries, sage, bay leaves, ginseng root, chamomile and broom describe the secondary scene. Full body, fresh and balsamic in the sip, it shows perfectly ripe and polymerized tannins and a disarming beauty of sip. How beautiful.

Elegant and very well balanced. Nose with corniolo sensations, then caper fruits, black pepper in grains and hints of eucalyptus. Juicy and taut mouthfeel, with sapid tannins. It closes with memories of small fruits and balsamic sensations, accompanied by iodine memories.

This 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is little darker in color than some other Brunellos from the 2020 vintage. On the nose, it has appealing mixed fruit preserves, violets, grated nutmeg, black plum tart. It's very nicely balanced on the palate; the acid is well-integrated and cleanses the palate while retaining a pleasant roundness on the edges. The alcohol is just slightly warming but does not detract from the wine, and on the finish, orange peel, clove oil, and tapendade interplay amongst the fine and structured tannins. Very enjoyable! Alcohol 15%. Drink: 2025-2044. (12/12/24)"

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a bright red/orange-tinged color and is ripe and sapid on the nose with notes of crushed black raspberries, mocha, sweet herbs, and mossy, floral earth. It's elegant on the palate, with salty, mouthwatering accents, but the acidity is not what kicks that forward. It's ripe with plush, velvety tannins, hints of porcini, and earth tones that are sure to improve and build as the wine ages. It has a hearty texture in its medium frame and fills the palate with hints of black truffle. Drink over the coming 15 or more years. Drink 2025-2040 (Jan 2025)

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is a grippy, lifted wine with aromas of black fruit, crushed stone, grilled rosemary and lavender. The wine reveals a meaty and ripe texture with chewy fruit flavors.

The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore, with a burst of crushed plums and black cherries accentuated by sweet herbs, hints of tobacco and wilted violets. It's round and supple with dark red fruits, autumnal spices that swirl throughout and a hint of cocoa that embellishes the close. Despite its depth and concentration, the 2020 maintains energy while coming across as wonderfully refined, leaves fine-grained tannins to resonate beneath an air of lavender and mocha.

Bright ruby garnet with a brightening rim. Extremely appealing nose, fine aromas of roses, ripe dark cherries, fresh blackberries and a hint of saffron. Supple on the palate with lush fruit, but also shows grippy, vivid tannins, firm drive on the finish, long finish.

Love the plums, cherries and flowers to this, with lots of stones and hints of spices. It’s medium- to full-bodied with layers of fruit and open-grained tannins that show exquisite length and depth. It’s framed and veneered. Goes on for minutes. Drinkable now, but better in 2025.

There's no mistaking this wine for anything but Brunello. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful continuity, crescendoing on the nose and palate in synchronicity. There are aromas of grilled watermelon, red cherry, garden herb and violet, and there is a charred note that recalls the toasted oak. The bouquet balances out beautifully, but you do get considerably more power on the palate thanks to the oomph of 15% alcohol and young tannins that get under your gums. Give this wine a few more years of bottle age. Production is 66,915 bottles in addition to 4,500 smaller formats.

Dusky cherry and plum flavors are the main themes in this red, with accents of leather, spices and wild herbs. Lively and focused, with excellent harmony and a sequel of ripe cherry on the lingering finish. Best from 2026 through 2042.

The ‘basis’ of Ciacci Piccolomini house, another excellence of this winery. Great tension to the nose, red currant, nuances of laurel and eucalyptus. Juiciness and tension to the palate, brackish tannins, fruity-balsamic return on the closure.

Roasted herbs, walnuts, olives, dried cherries and balsamic on the nose with a touch of leather and sage. It’s full-bodied with firm, finely-knit tannins. Creamy and so well integrated with depth and class. Try after 2024.

Bright ruby red with a sparkling core. On the nose, fine fruit of wild strawberries, blood oranges, rose hips, underlined by a fine floral scent and licorice. Bright on the palate and with a hearty, creamy fruit core, it spreads beautifully over the tongue and is extremely enjoyable to drink!

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino turns out beautiful results if you choose to drink the wine now, or if you opt to age it a little longer. It offers immediate intensity and complexity with a prelude of red and purple berry fruits that follow to tarry spice, campfire ash, licorice and rusty nail. Those savoy tones are well measured against the wine's elegant, mid-weight finish. And the tannins are integrated seamlessly. The winemaking team has worked well in a challenging vintage.

Sweet cherry, vanilla bean and orange zest are on the nose, which slowly opens to reveal quieter aromas of cured meat and graphite. The palate emphasizes the savory with more sanguine notes pointed up by crisp fruit flavors of red apple skin and Bing cherry, emphasized by well-articulated tannins.

Dense and brooding, revealing plum, cherry, earth, menthol and tobacco flavors. On the austere side today, with buried fruit and dominant tannins, yet this has fine equilibrium and extended length.

Dark and brooding, taking its time to blow off a whiff of mocha before opening up with a mix of dried red fruits, cloves and rosemary. This is surprisingly pure and lifted in style while maintaining elegance, as ripe red and black fruits cascade across a core of vibrant acidity. The 2018 leaves the palate buzzing with residual tension, as fine-grained tannins penetrate deeply, and hints of tart wild berry and a dusting of cocoa slowly fade.

Editor's Choice - This delicious, bold red offers inviting aromas of fragrant blue flowers, spiced plum, forest floor and pipe tobacco. Full and enveloping in feel, it delivers a great depth of juicy black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and baking spice flavors framed in velvety tannins.

Rich and lively, exuding cherry, plum and blackberry fruit, with accents of earth and underbrush. Harmonious and accessible now, with fine length and a lingering, mineral-tinged finish. Best from 2024 through 2040. 5,750 cases made, 1,050 cases imported.

Generous, layered and rich, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows the generous fruit and deep layering that identifies this vintage. This edition shows a bright note of sweet cherry that features strongly both on the bouquet and the palate. The wine shows lots of soft fruit with almond, spice and wild rose. From a hot and dry vintage, this Brunello is probably best suited to a near or medium-term drinking window. Paolo Bianchini and his family shared the same frustrations as other top producers in the appellation regarding the hot and dry 2017 vintage. Thankfully, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.

Aromas of cedar, berry, mushroom and burnt orange follow through to a full body with medium, chewy tannins and a fluid, flavorful finish. Not overdone.

Bright ruby ​​red. In the nose of blood oranges, rose hips, mint, also of eucalyptus, fine Mediterranean herbs in the aftertaste. Appears polished and elegant on the palate, with the finest enamel, high drinking flow with robust tannins, very well done.

A pretty and fruit-forward display of ripe cherries, minty herbs and sweet smoke wafts up from the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. This impresses further with a juicy, fun mix of bright red berries and confectionary spices motivated by vibrant acidity. Hints of plum and licorice linger long over a slightly gruff coating of tannins, yet in the end, balance is nicely maintained. Well done.

Red-berry, wild-rose, crushed mint and dark-spice aromas are front and center on this fragrant red. The full-bodied palate is concentrated but also boasts finesse, offering layers of raspberry jam, smooth licorice and tobacco alongside a backbone of enveloping, velvety tannins. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol but the succulent fruit stands up to it. Drink 2024–2036.

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 56,000 bottles made) shows bold cherry, spice, crushed stone and balsam herb that come together in seamless fashion. This estate has honed a unique style that becomes a common theme traced to each new vintage. I'd describe it as delicate but also succulent with a rich and almost pulpy quality of fruit. The wine is fueled by the golden light that hits this part of Tuscany in those last hours of the day. Here is a wine that shows spirit of place.

Lots of red and blue fruit to this, evolving into wet leaves, freshly turned soil and brewed tea. Light herbal notes. Sweet cherries, too. It's full bodied with silky, firm tannins. More minerality and tea notes on the finish. Elegant and driven.

Light on its feet, this red evokes strawberry, cherry, earth, menthol and Tuscan scrub flavors. Shows a firm underlying structure, with a fresh and focused finish. Best from 2023 through 2042

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona places savory herbs, exotic spice and earth tones above ripeness of fruit. It’s decidedly dark and brooding on the nose, lifted by hints of fresh-picked mint and sage. There are depths of velvety textures in the mouth, offset by a tactile mix of tart wild berries, minerals and zesty acidity which adds vibrancy in spite of the tannic heft and primary intensity found here. The 2016 finishes with a monolithic feel, still wound up tightly in its youthful state but also promising many years of positive evolution in our cellars. This is gorgeous and a great value for age-worthy Brunello.

In southern Montalcino, the expansive Ciacci Piccolomini property is characterised by warm, perfumed afternoon breezes coming in from the Mediterranean. The wines are typically headily scented and generous in alcohol, as is the case in 2016; however, I find much more freshness and focus than in the 2015s. Aromas include sun-kissed cherry and raspberry with red rose, tobacco, sage and thyme. Light on its feet with grainy tannins that dissolve easily, this is almost ready to drink. An amaro-like finish persists and stimulates the appetite.

Luminous, elegant ruby ​​red. On the nose of ripe cherries, a hint of blood orange and a noble spice note. Opens on the palate with fine sweetness and balanced play, warm-hearted and clear with robust tannins and fine pressure.

#3 ENTHUSIAST 100 2020

Extremely perfumed and decadent with dried flowers and spices and fresh mushrooms. Cherries,too. Full body. Solid core of fruit, yet ever so fine tannins. Goes on for minutes. Such beautifully crafted tannins. Drink after 2021.

Editor's Choice. Enticing aromas of ripe wild berry, iris, camphor and sunbaked soil take shape in the glass. Full bodied and enveloping, the smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and tobacco while firm velvety tannins provides support. It boasts concentration and structure but also balance, thanks to the fruit richness and freshness. Drink 2023-2030.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate enjoys a beautiful and huge expanse of vineyards at the back of the Castelnuovo dell'Abate village, where the downward slope of the hamlet meets the Orcia River, which delineates the appellation border. The estate's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers lovely harmony and elegance. The wine's taste profile follows the soft contours and beautiful horizons that characterize this beautiful part of Tuscany. The mouthfeel is medium-weight but carefully balanced with just enough acidity to add brightness. It shows just enough backbone to guarantee staying power and longevity. That said, the tannins are carefully integrated into the delicate fiber of the wine. This is no doubt one of the most graceful Brunellos to emerge from the 2015 vintage. Some 74,500 bottles were released in January 2020.

Distinctly salty, this red features cherry, strawberry, juniper, thyme and tobacco flavors. Tightly wound and energetic, with fine balance and a lingering, resonant aftertaste. Complex and built to age.

Dark red. Notes of iodine, five spice mix and cloves complement ripe red cherry on the nose and in the mouth. Long smooth finish.

Editor's Choice. Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this radiant, full-bodied red opens with enticing scents of ripe black-skinned fruit, iris, cake spice and a whiff of camphor. On the linear yet delicious palate, elegant tannins and bright acidity support succulent black cherry, plum and licorice before a lingering tobacco finish. Drink 2021–2029.

Like the other wines I tasted from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona this year, I am surprised by the soft ripeness achieved in the 2014 Brunello di Montalcino. This was a cool and soggy vintage so those dark and sweet fruit flavors are counterintuitive. However, they elevate the wine to a higher intensity threshold and a more profound flavor profile. The wine offers enough crisp acidity and tannic firmness to hold it tightly together at this young stage in its lifespan.

There’s a handy array of quite ripe red-berry and cherry aromas here that lead to a palate that has attractive red cherries with soft, earthy nuances and fine, chalky tannins. Drink now.

The Ciacci Piccolomini estate is in the southeastern reaches of Montalcino, near Castelnuovo dell’Abate. It was originally under ecclesiastical ownership but after passing through the hands of two noble families since 1868, the estate was bequeathed to Giuseppe Bianchini, a long-time farmer at the property, in 1985. It's now in the hands of Giuseppe's children, Paolo and Lucia. This 2014 has intriguing and ethereal scents of late summer fruit with garden herbs and tobacco. Ripe and elegantly crafted, it has a succulent blood orange undertow and finishes with chalky tannins. Drinking Window 2019 - 2027.

Full red-ruby. Deep aromas of dark red cherry, blackberry, licorice, shoe polish, and fresh herbs. Enters big and tannic, with rich dark fruit and herb flavors, but not especially graceful and loaded with currently youthful but also harsh tannins. Clearly not as deep or as well balanced as the best recent vintages of this wine (given the challenging vintage) but closes long with repeating plum and dark berry flavors. This wine’s tannins certainly call for some patience but should come around as there’s enough fruit lurking beneath that tannic cloak.

Exuding cherry, strawberry, floral and tobacco aromas and flavors, this effusive, fruity style is bright and elegant, with terrific harmony and a long, mouthwatering finish that leaves a mineral impression. Very compelling. Best from 2020 through 2036.

Editor's Choice. Underbrush, tobacco, ripe berry and balsamic aromas abound in this delicious red. Smooth, full-bodied and savory, the succulent palate doles out Marasca cherry, rasberry compote, licorice and white pepper. It's well balanced, with firm yet refined tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2021-2033.

This wine initally comes off as more somber, brooding and dark in personality. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino takes a few moments in the glass before its starts to relax and grow in volume and context. Before long, opulent tones of black fruit, spices and pipe tobacco. The wine is elegantly tempered and finessed on the close. Some 68,000 bottles were produced.

Aromas of light coffee, plum and cherry follow through to full body with a wealth of dried fruit and hints of figs. Drink or hold.

Bright red. The fresh, clean, perfumed nose hints at red cherry and blood orange. Then sweet and supple on the palate, but with a lively mouthfeel to the red fruit and underbrush flavors thanks to harmonious, vibrant acidity. Has much more midpalate flesh to support its acidity than some other less successful 2013 Brunellos, all of which are made in a similar high-acid style typical of the vintage. Finishes broad, savory and nicely persistent. This 2013 from Ciacci Piccolomini is made in a much cooler- climate style than is usual for this producer.

Dark spice, ripe berry, forest floor, Mediterranean brush and new leather aromas lead the nose on this powerfull structured wine. On the full-bodied palate, baking spice, licorice and pipe tobacco notes accent a juicy black cherry core while firm, velvety tannins provide the framework. Drink 2020-2030.

Bright, dark garnet red. Opens initially with slightly earthy notes, then nice goji berries and pomegranate, with cloves in the background. Fine, sweet melting on the palate, initially shows beautiful raspberry fruit, then unfolds very finely with soft tannins in many layers, juicy and long.

Wow. I love the texture and beauty of this young Brunello. Medium to full body with a dense and tightly compacted palate. Dried cherry light cedar and chocolate. It goes on for minutes. Gorgeous now. Excellent acid fruit balance, but will improve with age.

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautifully finessed and elegant wine. It offers a very pleasing sense of balance in which no one characteristic overpowers the next. A dark ruby appearance gives the wine an open and inviting personality. The bouquete produces a subtle medley of wild berry, blueberry, underbrush and toasted almond aromas. The mouthfeel is lean, but it also shows polished and silky persistence. If you don't have the patience to wait, it tastes great even at this early stage.

The aromas of wet earth, sliced mushrooms and blueberry are very pretty. Full body, firm tannins. Structured and firm. Excellent. One of the wines of the vintage. Drink now or hold.

The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is fabulous. In 2011, proprietor Paolo Bianchini bottled just one Brunello. That commitment to quality comes through loud and clear. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, tobacco and licorice all flesh out in an effortless, incredibly inviting wine. The warmth of the vintage and the natural generosity of these vineyards in Castelnuovo is evident, yet the 2011 possesses remarkable balance to match all of that intensity. I don't expect the 2011 to make old bones, but is gorgeous today. Readers should expect a flamboyant, decadently full-throttle wine built on voluptuousness and generous, racy fruit. Bianchini gave the 2011 three full years in cask.

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino represents a return to the traditional values of Montalcino. The bouquet is buoyant and bright with lingering tones of smoke, ash, balsam herb, licorice and soy sauce. Those kinds of aromas make Brunello such a wonderful wine and thankfully you get them in abundance here. Dry mineral and brimstone also give the wine a sense of focus, sharpness and cleanliness that is very appealing. The close is long, fine and polished. I look forward to retasting this bottle five years from now.

Very perfumed with flower, truffle, light wet earth and cherry character. Full body and full integrated ripe tannins and caresses your palate. Very fine and pretty. Slight soya undertone. Succulent and enticing. You want to drink this. Better in 2016.

Ciacci Piccolomini produced almost twice as many bottles of their normale in the banner 2010 vintage than in the previous year, and it offers tremendous value. Juicy flavors of red raspberry and cherry flow over dusty tannins like a stream over a sandy bank, picking up notes of anise, tobacco and fennel as the wine moves toward a vibrant and lingering finish. The fine texture and intense red fruit flavors make this a compelling wine to enjoy with a thick grilled pork chop.

Sparkling ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Complex and exciting nose, shows notes of pomegranate, pickled cherries, some ginger and cloves, inviting. Very fine on the palate, ripe, dark cherry notes, opens with fine-meshed tannins, fine melting at the back, long aftertaste.

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a great example of the Ciacci house style. Rich, layered and ample, the 2010 blossoms with notable depth and amplitude. This is a classic Brunello from Castelnuovo dell'Abate, where the wines are typically resonant and generous. Readers will find a gorgeous, highly expressive Brunello that will deliver considerable near and medium-term pleasure. Curshed flowers, tobacco and cherry pit add nuance on the soft, open finish. The 2010 spent two and half years in barrel.

Tight and sinewy, with eucalyptus, cherry, spice and tobacco flavors. The tannins lock this down for now, but the energy and balance persist, showing fine length. Best from 2018 through 2032.

Medium bodied with generous sweet notes of vanilla and sour cherry freshness. Smoked meat notes with generous tannins. Might need some time to blend in the oak influence.

Proprietor Paolo Bianchini made some tough choices in 2009. There is no Riserva and no Pianrosso. Instead, all of that fruit went into the straight 2009 Brunello di Montalcino, which is one of the best wines of this very challenging vintage. That it comes from the southern part of Montalcino is even all the more remarkable. Sweet tobacco, menthol, racy red cherries, hard candy, spices and Mediterranean herbs blossom in an impeccable, large-scaled Brunello loaded with class. The style is quite rich and textured, but all the elements are in the right place.

This is savory and fruity with full body of fruit and spicy, dried -berry and fig character. Round-textured, with light chewy tannins. A year of bottle age will improve it even more: try in 2015.

Irony mineral nose with notes of cofee and juniper. Full and quite broad on palate with slightly rustic tannins. Some potential but needs time to find its harmony. Better in 2014.

Lots of fresh mushrooms, with dark fruits on the nose. Full body, with silky tannins and a juicy finish. Balanced and attractive. Slightly chewy now. Better in 2015.

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino emerges from the glass with black cherries, plums, tobacco, spices and licorice. In 2007 the Brunello is especially dark and muscular for the vintage. The warmth of the year plus the estate's search to make a Brunello that is more approachable in both price and early appeal comes through in spades. The 2007 is a bit bombastic today, but it should settle down with another year or two in bottle.

Intense aromas of black fruits and flowers follow through to a full body, with intense fruit and racy, strong tannins. Long and chewy. Dense and impressive. Give this three to four years of bottle age.

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is an attractive entry-level wine. Dark red berries,crushed flowers, licorice and mint are some of the nuances that emerge from this fleshy, mid-weight offering. The aromas and flavors are decidedly on the ripe side of the spectrum in the racy 2006, but the intensity of the fruit covers the tannins nicely, making this an attractive wine for near-term pleasure.

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is wonderfully plump and juicy in its expressive red fruit. Floral notes are woven throughout, giving the wine its sense of lift and proportion. Though not as explosive as the 2004, the 2005 Brunello di Montalcino offers outstanding persistence on the palate and a long, generous finish. This is a terrific effort form Ciacci.

A solid red, with silky tannins and mineral, berry and lightly toasted oak. Full and rich. Lovely now, but better in 2012.

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino reveals sweet, open aromatics meld seamlessly into a perfumed core of ripe red fruits. This is one of the more intensely scented, fruit-driven Brunellos of the vintage. The wine reveals superior density and richness in an engaging style. The softness of the tannins makes the wine accessible even today, yet the flavor profile is decidedly youthful. Readers looking for a measure of terriary development will need to give this wine a few years in bottle. This bottling is made from the estate's youngest vines.

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino reveals sweet, open aromatics meld seamlessly into a perfumed core of ripe red fruits. This is one of the more intensely scented, fruit-driven Brunello's of the vintage. The wine reveals superior density and richness in an engaging style. The softness of the tannins makes the wine accessible even today, yet the flavor profile is decidedly youthful. Readers looking for a measure of tertiary development will need to give the wine a few years in bottle. The bottling is made form the estate's youngest vines. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.

The estate's medium-bodied 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is made in an accesible, forward style. Dark cherries, tobacco, earthiness and tar nuance all flow form the glass in this poised, feminine expression of Sangiovese form the southern part of Montalcino. The wine shows outstanding persistence and a pretty note of freshness that rounds out the finish.

Deep red. Brooding aromas of dark cherry, plum, date and roasted coffee. Sweet, ripe and broad but not heavy; very suave and aromatic in the mouth, with good verve. A firmly structured wine that finishes with ripe but serious tannins, an impression of elevated alcohol and very good length. Late notes of leather, game and minerals add nuance.

Good red-ruby. Subtly complex nose melds cassis, truffle and expensive oak; shows an almost liquor-like sweetness. Then supple, dense and bright, with a pliant texture and excellent depth of flavor. This is ripe and fleshy but also classically dry, structured and elegant, with lovely inner-mouth perfume. Very penetrating, long wine, finishing with suave tannins that are firm but fine.

The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits a soft, supple, elegant, sweet nose of underbrush, licorice, jammy currants and cherries, spice box, and tobacco. Medium-bodied and luscious, this sexy, kinky Brunello will drink well for 5-10 years.

Enticing aromas of red cherries, dried strawberries and hints of plums, cedar, sandalwood and balsamic. Medium-bodied with a tight and rich center palate and a chewy and powerful finish. This needs time to come together and soften slightly.

The 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Pianrosso pours a youthful red hue and has a deeper, more complete expression in this vintage. The nose has a cologne-like lift, with brushy sage, cigar box, baked cherries, crushed stones, and licorice. Full-bodied, it stays light on its feet and carries velvety tannins, mouthwatering salinity, and refreshing acidity, with a finish that builds with warmth and spice. It should gain depth with time in bottle. Drink 2027-2040.

Dark and richly textured, this expression opens with ripe fruit nuances, sweet plum and baking spice. The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is unapologetic about ripeness and the more concentrated side of Sangiovese, a style reinforced by the warm growing conditions of the vintage and the naturally powerful Pianrosso site. There is so much richness and phenolic texture here that it recalls warm years such as 2017 or 2019. The tannins are soft. Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is a historic, organically farmed estate in Montalcino. The property extends across approximately 195 hectares, including 50 hectares of vineyards and 30 hectares of olive groves. The vineyards are planted primarily to Sangiovese and are situated between 240 and 360 meters in elevation in the warmer southern part of the denomination. Soils are predominantly galestro schist with Eocene-era clay components, contributing structure and mineral definition to the wines. Recent releases, particularly from the 2021 vintage, show ripe and rich flavor profiles.

Ripe and decidedly solid on the palate, it displays notes of black cherries, plums, dates, wild strawberries, and orange juice. Plenty of pressed blueberries and cloves characterize the secondary aroma. Full body, bite-y tannins, and a finish with excellent progression.

Vineyard of the same name, located in the south-eastern quadrant of the appellation, vinified in stainless steel and glass cement tanks, aged in oak, notes of cornflower, then hints of rosemary and caper under salt, salty sip, with return of small fruits and officinal references.

“#3 – Top 100 Wines of Italy – 2025 Intense, vibrant aromas of strawberries and raspberries, together with cola and flowery notes. Milk and mint nuances, too. Shows a lot of licorice elegance and blood-orange freshness on both the nose and palate with firm, velvety tannins and well-packed, brilliant acidity and a polished finish. Good aftertaste and amazing potential. Very classic. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

A bright orange/red color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Pianorosso is very pretty on the nose, with notes of pomegranate, roses, potpourri, sweet herbs, and a hint of menthol. Medium-framed, it's elegant and harmonious, with a weightless feel, ripe and chalky tannins, and a clean, balanced finish. I think it will gain depth and complexity as it matures, but it sure is lovely to check in with now. Drink 2026-2046. (Jan 2025)

Dark and deep on the nose it shows notes of incense, sandalwood, cumin, black tea leaves, dates, bergamot, cinchona and black pepper. Many shades of pink pepper, juniper berries, sage, bay leaves, ginseng root, chamomile and broom describe the secondary scene. Full body, fresh and balsamic in the sip, it shows perfectly ripe and polymerized tannins and a disarming beauty of sip. How beautiful. Drink now or grow old.

Bright, elegant ruby red. Restrained on the nose, still, with cold smoke and burnt sage. Hearty on the palate with a rich feeling and progression, polished and with creamy tannins. Needs some time in the glass, then comes in several layers: powerful, rich and full, muscular and opulent, flinty.

Freshly split pine, tobacco and stone dust gives way to dried strawberries and mint nuances as the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso slowly blossoms in the glass. Silken and serene, this excels through its acidity, cool-toned and fresh, enlivening the 2020s core of rich wild berry fruits. Hints of blood orange add further gravitas as it finishes with a surprisingly juicy character, leaving edgy tannins and a pleasantly bitter concentration. This wild child will require cellaring to come fully into focus, yet I'm incredibly excited to revisit it in another three to five years.

Good medium-deep red. Red cherry, crystallized redcurrant, licorice and menthol aromas are nicely complicated by a syrupy element. Then showcases candied flower nuances in the mouth, boasting good inner-mouth perfume to the flavors of sour cherry, licorice and sweet spices. Much deeper, spicier and more tannic than the regular 2020 Brunello from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona. Drinking window: 2028-2038. (Dec 2024)

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso reveals dark fruit aromas, cherry liqueur, brandied plum and sweet crème de cassis. This is a thickly grained Brunello with a soft, richly textured core. I recommend a medium-term drinking window.

Clear ruby with a bright garnet rim. Finely drawn, appealing nose with clear notes of rosehip, crisp cherries, some blood orange and clove. Opens on the palate with pithy, gripping tannins, flows calmly, with a lovely sweet texture as it progresses, very good tension, salty and long.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso opens to a wide and all-encompassing bouquet with dried cherry or cherry pie with the crust, plum tart and rose potpourri. There are evident oak tones, but they fold into underbrush, grilled herb and the generous texture of this wine. Likewise, the 15% alcohol content also neatly disappears into the wine's fleshy fruit consistency. For sure, this is a wine that needs more bottle evolution in order to hone in on the silkiness and pretty freshness of such an important Sangiovese. Exactly 43,054 bottles were made along with about 1,000 larger formats.

Aged in Slavonian oak for 36 months, Pianrosso is a selection from the self-titled vineyard: 11 hectares in the lower southeast of Montalcino. The grapes were harvested between 11 September and 4 October 2019, suggesting a classic vintage. It shines for its Earl Grey tea aroma combined with dark cherry, cinnamon, liquorice, and a floral bouquet. The fruit character is very dark and precise; gorgeous in this vintage. Full bodied, thick and velvety with firm, long yet integrated acidity, it tapers on the finish but this should be considered a signifier of its elegance.

Dried cherries and flowers, such as roses and rose stems, as well as dried mushrooms and dried flowers. Medium to full body with super integrated tannins that are firm and racy and caress the palate like fine silk. A little shy now, but will open even more with time or decanting. Drink or hold.

A certainty of the denomination for Bianchini family’s winery, located a few steps from Castelnuovo dell’Abate. Very faceted nose, red currant, then marjoram and iodine touches, such as taggiasche olives. The sip is juicy-brackish, with fruity-officinal return and very long persistence.

Medium dense ruby. Finely marked nose with notes of wild raspberries, ripe small plums, some cardamom and rose petals. Round and supple on the attack, showing plenty of fruit texture, lots of raspberry, opens up on the back end with finely-meshed, slightly grippy tannins, savoury, slight bitterness on the finish.

Top 100 Wines of Italy 2022 - #54. This is so complex, with lifting citrus and herb undertones to the blue and red berry fruit. Thyme, sage and lavender, with mocha and clove, too. Full-bodied, full of depth and intensity, with firm yet seamless tannins. Evolves to espresso. Balanced, powerful and very long. Try after 2025.

A special single-vineyard wine with origins in one of the more remote, wild and beautiful corners of Montalcino, this is one of the true treats of the appellation. The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino “Pianrosso” opens to a medium-rich appearance and vibrant color saturation. Sangiovese can lose its color quickly, but it remains beautifully intact here. Sweet cherry, redcurrant, spice, blue flower, balsam herb and orange peel are neatly woven together to create this balanced wine. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is definitely among my top 10 favorite wines from 2018, a challenging vintage that produced uneven results across the board. This estate expertly faced those difficulties to produce a stand-out wine.

Comforting, classic Sangiovese aromas of vanilla, orange peel, cherry and cola on the nose transition onto a palate that levels up the sophistication with austere tannins and fiery acidity balanced by violet, cherry and more orange zest onto a coffee finish.

Dark depths of crushed plums and black cherries are offset by notes of rosemary, spiced citrus peels and hints of cocoa as the 2018 Pianrosso opens in the glass. This is an especially racy style for, with cooling mineral tones and zesty acidity propelling its ripe berry fruit and hints of sour citrus across the palate. While structured, this finishes with tremendous energy and freshness, leaving the mouth watering with a lingering hint of balsamic spice. The 2018 may not possess the power often associated with the Pianrosso, but it instead impresses with its lively and spicy character.

A complex red, with dark, savory notes of licorice, eucalyptus and tobacco aligned with cherry and berry flavors. Succulent, showing light viscosity to the texture, with wild herb and iron elements creeping in on the long finish. Power meets grace.

Both of Ciacci Piccolomini’s 2018s offer a ‘deliciousness’ of taste and a truly umami quality, however the Pianrosso selection delivers greater Brunello satisfaction. Not quite 12 hectares, this iron-rich marly vineyard soaked up just enough warmth to clearly demonstrate its southern origins. It has more shape, form and depth to lend endurance. Iron and salty minerals emerge from a backdrop of persimmon and hibiscus, finishing with Mediterranean herbs. Docile and yielding, the gentle sandy tannins give textural complexity as well as an immediate drinkability.

Garnet red. Opened with markedly fragrant notes of fresh dark cherries, some rosehip and fine rose petals, amazingly fresh notes. Round and supple in the approach, opens with beautifully ripe fruit notes, well integrated tannins.

This full-bodied red starts off with aromas of leather, forest floor and camphor. Enveloping and structured, the palate shows a weightless concentration, featuring dried cherry, licorice, tobacco and a hint of orange zest framed in velvety tannins.

Shows nice balance and elegance, and it definitely shows the deft hand of the winemaking team in what was not an easy vintage by any stretch. This pretty wine delivers lots of fresh cherry and wild rose, with ferrous earthy, licorice and grilled herb; I also get bay leaf and rosemary sprig. Like the annata 2017 Brunello produced by this estate, the single-vineyard Brunello Pianrosso is distinguished by a sweet cherry note that accompanies the wine from start to finish. Paolo Bianchini and his family shared the same frustrations as other top producers in the appellation regarding the hot and dry 2017 vintage. Thankfully, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.

This is a beautifully crafted and polished Brunello for this vintage, with full body and creamy, lightly chewy tannins. Dark berries, walnuts and cedar with dried-flower undertones. Needs time to soften, but very pretty.

A nuanced, delicate bouquet of dried strawberries, roses, hints of sweet spice and crushed rocks lifts up from the charming 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso. This is remarkably lifted, yet juicy and energetic, as ripe red berries and minerals cascade across the palate. It leaves a coating of violet-tinged florals, along with persistent raspberry and cherry tones. The tannin management here is absolutely stunning, as the Pianrosso finishes structured yet vividly fresh.

This red exhibits sappy, concentrated flavors of cherry, currant, plum, tobacco and soy. Shows intensity midpalate, persisting on the firm, chalky finish. Best from 2025 through 2040. 3,093 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Ciacci Piccolomini’s 12ha flagship vineyard, Pianrosso sits above the Orcia river between 240 and 360 metres. It is consistently caressed by sea breezes which surface in the afternoon. The lavish warmth of this southern zone is palpable in the heady 15% alcohol and soft, laidback acidity. Nevertheless, there is focus and liveliness. Orange blossom and persimmon aromas lead to flavours of toothsome red plum and an attractive lingering bergamot finish. While immediate and accessible with mellow tannins, there is enough substance to carry this 2017 for another five years. Drinking Window 2022 - 2027

Aromas of red berry, camphor and tobacco meld with rose in this fragrant, full-bodied red. The smooth palate is concentrated yet elegant, featuring raspberry jam, cherry marinated in spirits, licorice and coffee bean alongside a backbone of firm, velvety tannins.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is a single-vineyard expression that draws its fruit from an 11.7-hectare parcel with moderately thick galestro soils with ancient marine material. This special site, awash under the brilliant light of a big, open sky, does indeed deliver a more pronounced mineral signature, with wild berry, rose and rosemary essence. This is a beautiful wine, taut and silky, with elegant tannins that will endure ambitious bottle aging.

Lots going on here with black plums, ripe cherries, cedar, smoke and cocoa on the nose. Ash, chocolate, crushed walnuts and some praline. Mushrooms. This has firm, ripe tannins and a full body. Flavorful and juicy finish. Very structured.

Sparkling, bright garnet red. Opened with notes of tobacco and ripe plums, in the background of liquorice. Gripping, firm tannin on the palate spreads out full, firm and full-bodied, shows a lot of ripe fruit notes, slightly malty in the finale, but still full pressure and long finish.

Dark, rich and deeply alluring, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso boasts a display of ripe black fruits encased in an air of crushed stone, sage and exotic spice. While velvety and almost creamy in texture, it finds harmony through juicy acids and a mix of ripe black cherry and plums. Hints of licorice and baker’s chocolate balance the Pianrosso’s salty minerality and fine-grained tannins through the long and dramatic finale. There’s beautiful symmetry here for a wine with such power. Place this in the cellar for ten years or more; but don’t make the mistake of not checking in from time to time, because I expect the 2016 to enjoy a long and open drinking window.

Considered the estate’s most representative vineyard, Pianrosso was replanted in the 1980s. It sits on iron rich marly soil and reaches 360 metres above sea level. Weightier and richer than the estate Brunello, it is also more mineral-laden. A promising nose of pungent potpourri and cherry orchard leads to plum cake on the palate. Layered velvety tannins clasp substantial fruit while offsetting hints of orange oil and fennel that provide refreshment. Drinking Window 2023 – 2033.

Cherry, iron, sanguine and black tea flavors highlight this sinewy red. Vibrant and solidly built, shows assertive tannins lining the finish. Has enough ripe fruit to offset the structure, and the aftertaste persists, with fruit, iron and underbrush accents. Best from 2024 through 2045.

Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decdent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.

#12 The Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020 - Intense aromas of berry, iris, underbrush, botanical herb and camphor shape the enticing nose. Firmly structured, the taut, full-bodied palate offers juicy black cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2025-2035.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is distinguished by a unique aromatic profile that brings out mineral notes of crushed limestone or chalk. This adds a greater sense of focus and delineation that not only characterizes the bouquet but also applies to the way the wine hits the palate in a fuller and more determined way (compared to the slightly softer classic Brunello). Instead, this single-vineyard Brunello shows an upright and direct approach with soft salinity on the close followed by forest fruit, spice and medicinal herb. The mouthfeel makes a big impact thanks to its streamlined and polished texture. Some 37,000 bottles were released in January 2020.

Black cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavors mark this saturated red. Beefy tannins offer support and all the components are in the right place. Stays fresh and long on the finish, with lingering accents of fruit, mineral and tobacco.

Deep red. Perfumed aromas and flavors of red and black cherry, cinnamon, mocha, ginger and blood orange. Smooth and multifaceted, with strong licorice notes emerging on the long suave close.

Wild-berry, fragrant purple-flower and crushed aromatic herb aromas mingle with whiffs of tilled earth and new leather on this dazzling red. The stunning, savory palate boasts remarkable finesse combined with an age-worthy structure, offering succulent black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and tobacco alongside taut, refined tannins. It's impeccably balanced, with bright acidity. It's already tempting, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2021–2033.

Although this wine is not labeled as a riserva, it is released six years after the harvest as if it were one. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso (with 20,000 bottles produced) opens to balanced fragrances that mix fruity elements with spice, crushed stone and smoke. This wine is linear and direct with firm tannic support at the back. Give it another few years to flesh out further with additional bottle aging.

The Pianrosso is a selection of the oldest vines from a single vineyard of almost 12ha, at an altitude of between 240 and 360 metres. It matures in Slavonian oak casks and ages for six years before release. Macerated cherry, plum, anise, eucalyptus and heady florals come out with some coaxing. Full and rich in style, the palate is held together by layers of powdery tannins, while stony, mineral-like nuances add intrigue. It needs a couple more years to fully express itself, but is already demonstrating great persistence and definition. Drinking Window 2021 - 2033

A wealth of coffee and spice aromas with ripe fruit. Full body and round tannins. Delicious and rich. Flavorful finish. Opulent style. Drink or hold.

Deep ruby. Exotically perfumed scents of red berry liqueur, Asian spices, potpourri and licorice, with a herbal quality adding lift. Big, rich and dense, with sappy cherry-cola and raspberry flavors picking up a refreshingly savory edge with air. Finishes long, showcasing excellent clarity and power.

Enticing, with warm, savory notes of cardamom, cinnamon and tobacco adding depth to the plum and mulled cherry flavors. Leather and iron accents emerge on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 1,667 cases made, 833 cases imported.

This is all about finesse and beauty with such great length and polish. It literally melts in your mouth. Full-bodied yet agile and vivid. So many undertones of cedar, berries, cream and light toffee. Fabulous. Contender for the wine of the vintage.

Ripe black-skinned fruit, underbrush, truffle and dark spice aromas come together in this full-bodied red. The palate is firm and seamless, delivering mature black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and pipe tobacco flavors with both power and finesse. Tightly knit, polished tannins provide structure.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona is one of the headline estates of Montalcino and the Pianrosso single vineyard is known for its consistency and the steady grace of its performance. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso does not quite reach the heights of the outstanding 2010 vintage. This release comes near in terms of power and purity, although it bears some of the weight of the hot vintage. The darkness of fruit is more pronounced and the tannins are a bit softer. Make no mistake, the thick soils of the Pianrosso site have helped to achieve impressive balance. The long finish offers tobacco, balsam herb and dried fruit.

This red balances juicy cherry and plum fruit, tobacco and leather accents, and firm yet pliable tannins. As a result, this is vibrant and long, with earth and iron elements emerging on the aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2033.

Good full red. Captivating nose combines dark red berries, sweet spices, botanical herbs and licorice. Sweet and sappy but still youthfully closed, his conveys a more powerful mouthfilling saline impresion of extract than the Brunello classico. Finishes suave and rich, but with a strong underlying acid-tannin spine providing support.

Aromas of lilac, dark berry and sandalwood follow thorugh to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense and savory finish. Very intense and very long. Succulent. Amazing balance and depth to this red. It's so beautiful to taste now but it will be much better in five to ten years. A triumph.

The 2010 Ciacci Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is everything a contemporary Brunello form the southern side of town is supposed to be; warm, open, generous and easy to drink on release. A gorgeous, textured wine, the Pianrosso only suffers because of some of the other wines on the table. In any other context, it would surely be one of the very best wines on the table. This is a gorgeous showing. The Pianrosso also forms an instructive contrast to the Casanova di Neri. Both wines are made in a style that emphasizes richness and texture, but the Ciacci has more depth through the middle and a considerably longer finish.

Rich, with cherry and strawberry notes, tinged by leather, bitter almond and tobacco flavors. Firm and angular, presenting a long, iron- and tea-accented finish. Turns more supple with air, but remains solidly built for the long haul. Best from 2019 through 2033.

Aromas of dried cherries and plums with hints of flowers follow through to a full body with velvety tannins and a juicy, meaty, fruity aftertaste. Turns to chocolate powder as well. Drink or hold.

The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is more layered, perfumed and subtle than the straight Brunello. Freshly cut flowers, dark red fruit, licorice, spices and menthol are all layered together nicely in the glass. A wine of considerable texture and depth, the 2008 Pianrosso should drink well for at least a handful of years. There is no shortage of depth, richness or complexity in this fine effort. This is an especially concentrated style for the year, but it works.

The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is more layered, perfumed and subtle than the straight Brunello. Freshly cut flowers, dark red fruit, licorice, spices and menthol are all layered together nicely in the glass. A wine of considerable texture and depth, the 2008 Pianrosso should drink well for at least a handful of years. There is no shortage of depth, richness or complexity in this fine effort. This is an especially concentrated style for the year, but it works. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2025.

Graphite and cedar aromas lead off in this cherry-, strawberry- and licorice-flavored red. This is firm, with quiet intensity and a dense, spice-infused finish. Best from 2015 through 2030.

Complex aromas of red fruit, flowers and fresh mushrooms follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and intense fruit and bright acidity. Goes on for a long, long time. So juicy and fruity. Hints of bitter lemon rind. Give this two or three years more of bottle age.

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is fresher, more floral and more delineated than the straight Brunello bottling. There is plenty of Ciacci depth and muscle in the glass. Layers of dark red fruit, crushed flowers, licorice and spices wrap around the intense, deep finish. This is a huge wine with tons of 2007 Castelnuovo character, but also with enough freshness to balance out the wine's more extroverted leanings. The 2007 is a big improvement over the 2006, which remains an underachiever relative to Ciacci's historical track record of excellence.

The estate's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso possesses striking depth as endless layers of sweet , perfumed fruit emerge with tons of grace. This, too, is an intense, full-bodied wine. The balance here is utterly exceptional, and the wine's sheer plumpness makes for a highly rewarding glass of Brunello. Succulent dark cherries, spices, underbrush, minerals and new leather come to life as the wine sits in the glass, yet this remains a backward, structured Brunello in need of serious bottle age. The Pianrosso is a terrific effort from proprietor Paolo Bianchini. Ciacci's Pianrosso is an old-vines selection that spent 36 months in Slavonian oak.

Aromas of dried flowers, cocoa and sweet fragant red flowers sit fresh, ahead of gentle leather and dried red cherries. Add to this a more savory thread on the palate and this has plenty still to offer. Drink over the next six years.

Brilliant, lustrous ruby red. Refined on the nose, revealing ripe cherry fruit, sweetish fine wood, a hint of mint, blood orange, and candle wax. Beautiful freshness on the palate—juicy, with clear and well-defined fruit and well-integrated tannins—displaying a certain intensity; very elegant and refined.

Wow! It captivates and enchants with a stunning sensory profile. Notes of cherry, currant, and pomegranate blend seamlessly with notes of jasmine, mandarin blossom, flint, and calamint. Full-bodied, with incredibly soft tannins of a silky quality, and a finish that thrills sip after sip. A faint sensation of warmth on the aftertaste brings it back down to earth, yet it certainly remains among the very best wines tasted. Best from 2027.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is generous in aromatic delivery, offering dark fruit nuances and layered complexity, yet it holds back on the palate, especially when tasted alongside the estate’s riper 2021 releases. That restraint is a defining feature of the 2020 growing season, which favored balance and clarity over muscle. The wine is powerful, to be sure, but its subtle definition and measured mouthfeel offer a clearer window into the inherent elegance of Sangiovese. Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is a historic, organically farmed estate in Montalcino. The property extends across approximately 195 hectares, including 50 hectares of vineyards and 30 hectares of olive groves. The vineyards are planted primarily to Sangiovese and are situated between 240 and 360 meters in elevation in the warmer southern part of the denomination. Soils are predominantly galestro schist with Eocene-era clay components, contributing structure and mineral definition to the wines. Recent releases, particularly from the 2021 vintage, show ripe and rich flavor profiles.

Crazy aromas of white truffles, cherries, plums and lots of cedar. Full-bodied with attractive fruit and fresh acidity. Cedar undertones. Crunchy finish with complex wood, forest and berry flavors. Drink or hold.

The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva pours a medium red/garnet hue and opens with an attractive savory edge. The nose reveals fresh red plum, fresh leather, anise, and subtle porcini. Medium to full-bodied, it stays surprisingly light on the palate, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and mouthwatering citrus-driven energy on the finish. It will offer plenty of pleasure over the coming 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040.

Bright ruby red, with subtle brightening on the rim. Aromas of ripe cherries, ripe strawberries, dried rose petals, a hint of sealing wax and subtle notes of tobacco. Very full-bodied, rich and engaging on the palate, with great salinity and juiciness. A big, vibrant and powerful wine with a long finish.

Wow. The ripe yet fresh aromas are so alluring and compelling, showing plums, cedar, rose petals and hints of leather. Full-bodied yet framed and tensioned with fantastic length and intensity. Polished tannins are powerful but reserved, showing great presence and character. This is a monumental wine in many senses of the word. One for the cellar.

Legendary in its sensorial profile, it shows a solid presence of red fruits well blended with captivating dusty and scratchy nuances of graphite, mandarin peel, chopped cedar and marjoram. There’s more in the background with notes of camphor, jasmine and karkadè. Full body, savory and slender in the sip it shows fullness, harmony and depth. Better from 2027.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro offers a darkly concentrated approach with a bouquet built upon black fruit intensity, spice, earth and cured tobacco. I find the approach quite robust and heavy-handed. This vintage is especially concentrated and best recommended to those looking for this hearty style.

Dark, brooding and potent, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro Riserva is a force to be reckoned with. It launches from the glass with a burst of crushed blackberries, plums and exotic spices, further complicated by dried orange peels and cedar shavings. Velvety and weighty, this floods the palate with rich and enveloping textures. This retains a core of tantalizing and stabilizing acidity, with ripe red and black fruits that drench the senses. The 2019 tapers off with dramatic length and structure, leaving a framework of sweet tannins and resonance of salted licorice and mocha that lingers on.

Top 100 wines of 2021 - #9, James Suckling: “Glorious aromas of flowers, nutmeg, dark berries, earth and black cherries follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that are long and extremely polished. They go on for minutes. Reserved and shy still, due to its excellence. Give this four or five years to come around.

Bright, rich garnet red. Very clear and intense nose, full of ripe raspberries, pickled cherries and some liquorice in the background. Plenty of ripe fruit on the palate, grippy tannins, firm intensity in the finish, with lingering notes of plums.

Both fluid and concentrated at once, this exudes cherry, black currant, violet and mineral aromas and flavors. Saturated with ripe fruit, this has beautifully integrated acidity and tannins, with a racy profile that drives the superlong finish. The tannins flex their muscles at the end yet remain refined. Best from 2024 through 2042. 915 cases made, 400 cases imported.

Gorgeous, full stop. It shows an incredible level of Sangiovese purity and sharpness, and you taste the grape as if you were eating berries straight out of the vineyard. On top of that healthy and bright primary material, the wine layers on elegant aromas of spice, ferrous earth, balsam herb and red rose potpourri. The aromas meet with seamless integration and segue to ongoing depth and complexity offered to the palate. This Riserva is rather delicate in terms of mouthfeel; however, it is powerful and long, polished tannins and a silky texture. A hint of sweet cherry mixed with menthol freshness pulls it together at the end. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.

Underbrush, scorched earth, camphor and pipe tobacco aromas shape the nose. Full-bodied and densely concentrated, the firm, muscular palate features dried cherry, licorice and marinated prune framed in tightly woven, close-grained tannins. You'll also notice the warmth of alcohol on the close. Drink 2026–2031.

Dark yet wonderfully perfumed, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro blossoms in the glass to present a bouquet of dried strawberries and roses complemented by hints of blood orange and clove. It shows the power and grace of a well-muscled dancer as a dense wave of ripe red and black fruits rushes across the palate, lifted by bright acidity, while leaving a mix of saline-minerals and grippy tannins toward the close. Though structured for the long haul, the 2016 maintains unexpected vibrancy, finishing with hints of plum and almond. This is simply stunning.

From the estate’s Pianrosso vineyard in the Castelnuovo dell’Abate area, Santa Caterina d’Oro bears the imprint of Montalcino’s south. The spiced, floral potpourri is tangled with sunbaked terracotta scents. This is a substantial, hefty wine with lots of extract and a profusion of fleshy red plum and prune. The tannins are very suave, while sandy earthiness lurks in the background and a salty tang comes through on the finish. Ageing is in Slavonian oak barrels of 7.5 to 30 hectolitres in size. Drinking Window 2022 - 2031

The opulence of fruit and complexity of earth, meat, mushroom, and cedar is breathtaking. It's full-bodied, deep, and powerful with so much intensity and depth. Chewy and layered, it goes on for minutes. Give it even more time. Try after 2023.

There’s a bright edge to this red, harnessing the cherry, strawberry, rosehip, mineral and tobacco flavors that build on the palate to a long finish. Displays terrific energy and balance, with an aftertaste that echoes both fruit and savory elements. Best from 2024 through 2050.

Enticing aromas of ripe wild berry, iris, camphor and sunbaked soil take shape in the glass. Full in feel and enveloping, the smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and tobacco while firm, velvety tannins provide support. It boasts concentration and structure but also balance, thanks to the fruit richness and freshness. Drink 2023–2030.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is a fine and delicate wine that cleverly delivers the intensity of the vintage but without the heaviness or the ripeness. This wine holds back, just enough, to affirm its poised balance in terms of fruit richness, texture and tannin structure. It shows symmetry throughout. Dark cherry fruit, cassis, plum, lavender, and campfire ash set the tone. The mouthfeel is thickly woven and generous. This special Riserva represents a 11,000-bottle production.

A selection of bunches from Ciacci Piccolomini’s iron-rich Pianrosso vineyard in Montalcino’s southeast, this sees a long maceration and ageing in variously sized used Slavonian oak barrels. It strikes a fine balance of generous ripeness with freshness and juiciness. Pure strawberry, cherry and raspberry meet lilac, rose and an underlying minerality. It's fluid and almost easy to drink, though long, powdery tannins expand across the palate giving textural complexity. It leaves the mouth clean but wanting more with an appetising blood orange finish.

Mature and complex, it gives notes of wet geraniums, incense, sandalwood and drops of bergamot. In the background, the citrus energy is given in the emotion of chinotto melted with lime and orange blossom. Full, juicy and centered body shows a solid and true core Full body, tannins of remarkable workmanship round and well extracted in the matrix and an elegant finish on the finish. Better from 2022.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is nuanced with dark florals, hints of black cherry, mint leaf, and smoky minerals. With time, more baritone notes of tobacco come forward. It's velvety in the mouth, showing ripe red and black fruits, licorice and sweet herbal tones. Fine tannins settle in through the finale; yet they don't get in the way, as this tapers off to hints of dark chocolate and savory spice.

This gorgeous wine opens with alluring aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, underbrush, new leather, truffle, plum and eucalyptus. Smooth and full-bodied yet elegant, the savory, juicy palate delivers crushed Marasca cherry, raspberry preserve, licorice and menthol alongside polished, enveloping tannins. Fresh acidity provides impeccable balance while an orange zest note lifts the finish. Drink 2023-2032. Cellar Selection.

Bright ruby with rich garnet. Presents itself in the nose with rich fruit notes, a basket full of ripe cherries and plums, some cranberry and goji berries, in the background spicy-resinous components. Juicy and structured in the approach, opens with fine-meshed tannin, very juicy, lots of cherry, very elegant, broad.

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is a gorgeous expression that sits firmly on a base of dark fruit, spice, tobacco, and crushed river stone. There is a spot of ripe fruit and candied raspberry that comes into focus as the wine warms in the glass. The wine is slightly shorter in the mouth, but it quickly makes up for that thanks to balanced elegance, fine tannins and tangy acidity.

Good full red-ruby. High-pitched aromas of red cherry and violet are complemented by lower tones of licorice and dried herbs. Concentrated and primary in the midpalate; ripe dark fruit flavors build slowly and stain the palate. Deep and dense on the tactile finish, this wine could use a little more acidity to highlight its dark, medicinal aspect. Bigger, richer and deeper than Ciacci Piccolomini's 2013 Brunello, it will likely develop more grace and nuance over time, hence the "+" sign attached to the numerical score.

Elegant, evoking cherry, strawberry, cigar box, and graphite flavors matched to a firm structure. Shows fine balance and expression. Best from 2021 through 2033.

Aromas of plums, fresh mushrooms and violets. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful balance and length. Powerful tannins underneath the exquisite fruit. Great finish. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold.

With so many fantastic wines produced in 2010, it's hard to make a shortlist of your favorites. One expression that should definitely be included is the stunning 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro, This is a graceful and super elegant wine with bold aromatic intensity that is followed by firm tannins and a polished, smooth texture. It offers power in the proverbial silken glove. But the wines is not simplistic by any stretch. The longer it warms in the glass, the more it delights and surprises. Delicate tones of wild berry, cassis, blanched almond and dried ginger work together in harmony.

A racy style, with a firm structure buoyed by cherry, leather, mineral and woodsy notes. Firm but poised, presenting terrific energy and cut. Best from 2018 through 2035.

A dark, powerful wine, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is endowed with serious depth and intensity. Mocha, black cherry, smoke, licorice, and dark fleshed fruits are some of the signatures. This is an especially dark, brooding Brunello with massive fruit but less of the sheer radiance of the straight Pianrosso. Today, the 2010 comes across a bit heavy. It will be interesting to see if it acquires more finesse during its aging. The 2010 spent four full years in cask.

A red with sliced meat, dark chocolate, berry and spice. Full body, silky tannins and a tangy finish. A harmonious and beautiful wine. This is so layered and fabulous. So wonderful. These riserva Brunellos from Ciacci are always phenomenal. Drink now.

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is big rich and seemless. The wine had just been bottled the day of my visit, but it is very promising, even at this early stage.

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro is big, rich and seamless. The wine had just been bottled the day of my visit, but it is very promising, even at this early stage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.

Brilliant strawberry and raspberry fruit up front is matched by burly tannins on the finish, but the long and harmonious finish shows the potential of this red. Silky and detailed, with tobacco, spice and a hint of balsamic lingering on the aftertaste. Best from 2015 through 2030. 1,660 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Lovely aromas of dark fruit with blackberries, flowers and hints of cloves. Full body, with chewy and velvety tannins that are polished and pretty. Long and juicy. Powerful wine. Very creamy texture. Glorious red. Drink now or hold.

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is impressive. Interstingly, it is quite a it better than the regular Pianrosso. In this difficult vintage the decision to make a Riserva probably robbed the straight Pianrosso of some high quality fruit. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and mint are woven together in this powerful, structured Brunello while firm tannins frame the long, intense finish. I especially like the way the fruit continues to flesh out with addtional time in the glass. This is a great showing and a terrific effort from Ciacci.

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro is impressive. Interestingly, it is quite a bit better than the regular Pianrosso. In this difficult vintage the decision to make a Riserva probably robbed the straight Pianrosso of some high quality fruit. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and mint are woven together in this powerful, structured Brunello while firm tannins frame the long, intense finish. I especially like the way the fruit continues to flesh out with additional time in the glass. This is a great showing and a terrific effort from Ciacci. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.

A wellspring of tobacco, underbrush, tea and mineral notes more than fruit at this point, this red acquiesces to its formidable structure now, yet it's built for the long haul. There's sweet fruit and intensity that should emerge over time. Best from 2015 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,081 cases made, 166 cases imported.

Aromas of blackberries, cherries, fresh roses and tar. Ripe fruit. Full body and amazingly polished tannins. Caressing mouthfeel. Super refined.

Fabulous aromas of cherry, fresh rose, blackberry and tar, with hints of raisin. Full-bodied, with wonderfully polished tannins. Ultrarefined. This is the greatest wine ever from this producer. Best after 2011. 750 cases made, 330 cases imported.

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Santa Caterina d’Oro is another terrific effort from Ciacci and proprietor Paolo Bianchini. This sumptuous, deeply-colored wine is gorgeously sweet and long, with endless layers of well-defined smoke, tar, earthinees, tobacco and black cherries. It reveals a superb balance as well as ripe tannins that convey an image of elegance. As appealing as it is today, this Brunello will be even better in a few years' time. It is one of the vintage's unqualified successes.

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro is another terrific effort from Ciacci and proprietor Paolo Bianchini. This sumptuous, deeply-colored wine is gorgeously sweet and long, with endless layers of well-defined smoke, tar, earthiness, tobacco and black cherries. It reveals superb balance as well as ripe tannins that convey an image of elegance. As appealing as it is today, this Brunello will be even better in a few years’ time. It is one of the vintage’s unqualified successes.

A rare look at Syrah from the cool Montalcino climate, the 2019 Sant'Antimo Fabius is packed tight with blackberry and black cherry along with spice, sweet tobacco and smoked bacon. There's a lot going on aromatically speaking, but the wine stays clear of the heavier black pepper or cured leather aromas that you often get in New World Syrah. I love the soft texture, freshness and tension that this extremely well-priced wine exhibits. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.

This 100% Syrah opens with black-skinned berry, cedar and green peppercorn aromas. On the concentrated palate, fine-grained tannins support ripe black currant, tobacco and licorice. Drink through 2026.

A pure expression of Syrah, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2016 Sant'Antimo Fabius is an impressive expression of the grape. Syrah always tends to show opulent richness and succulence, and although you get that here, I'm also reminded of its Tuscan roots. It tends to be more compact and linear overall. This wine pulls in opposite directions, and that's what makes it most interesting. You will recognize those varietal characteristics for sure, but they are ultimately overridden by the wine's Tuscan identity. With 8,000 bottles made, this is a terrific value.

Lots of currant, blackberry and flower aromas follow through to a full body with tar, meat, dark-chocolate and spice character. Always an outstanding syrah. Drink or hold.

Laced with cherry, strawberry and licorice flavors, this red is compact and almost chewy in texture, with a bright structure and a long, tobacco-tinged finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2020. 650 cases made.

Aromas of dried fruits with hints of smoked meat and walnuts. Full body, with loads of fruit and juicy, velvety palate. Intense finish. This is a pure Syrah with beautiful richness and texture. Drink or hold.

A wine that shows a lots of raisin fruit, with meat and mahogany character. You can really see the influence of the hot growing season. Round and ripe, with fruit-coated tannins. Best after 2011. 550 cases made.

The 2007 Fabius reveals layers of dark, instrospective fruit. There is plenty of richness and depth in the glass, altough slight suggestions of heat come through from time to time. Hints of mocha, chocolate and spices inform the finish. Fabius is Syrah from time to time. Hints of mocha, chocolate and spices inform the finish. Fabius is Syrah from vineyards in the Sant'Antimo appellation just outside the classic Brunello producing zone. Though unquestionable a beautiful wine, varietal character doesn't seem to be a priority as it s nowhere to be found. Anticipated matruity: 2012-2019.

Crushed blackberries combine with rosemary, crushed stone and hints of olive as the 2024 Rosso di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. This is cool-toned and silky with sleek red berry fruits and crunchy mineral tones. A web of fine tannins frames a tart raspberry resonance on the long, classically dry finish. This is easily one of the most enjoyable Rossos I've tasted from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona.

A bright ruby red. Lovely hints of graphite and dried red berries on the nose, with subtle candied notes. Powerful on the palate, with good structure, earthy, broad tannins.

Pouring a bright medium red color, the 2023 Rosso Di Montalcino is the core of the estate’s Rosso production and offers a pretty, peppery profile. The nose reveals violets, black raspberries, sweet herbs, and fresh earth. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a balanced finish with good length. It should drink well for 5-7 years. Drink 2026-2033.

Precise and direct, it shows a concrete sensory profile made of small red fruits such as currants and raspberries and many mixed citrus fruits that recall lemon peel, lime and green mandarins. Medium body, soft tannins with little extraction and a linear and essential finish that makes drinkability its best prerogative.

Bright, rich ruby red. Spicy nose of precious wood and Mediterranean herbs, with rich dark berryish fruit, a hint of vanilla sugar, reminiscent of sage, black tea and blackberries. Polished and rich on the palate, with rich, clear fruit, profound.

Firm tannins wrap around a core of vibrant Morello-cherry and blood-orange flavors in this high-toned wine. Hints of dried thyme and oregano emerge toward the floral-scented finish.

This show notes of sweeter red berries like raspberries and strawberries with spice character and hints of citrus peel and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, firm and textured with chalky tannins and a core of ripe fruit. Attractive and flavorful. Drink now.

Opening slowly in the glass, the 2021 Rosso di Montalcino wafts up with savory herbal tones, wild strawberry and cedary spice. This is soothingly soft and round on the palate with a pleasant inner sweetness and crisp red and black fruits that cascade throughout. Brisk acidity and sour citrus hints add harmony throughout the long and spicy finale, as the 2021 leaves nuanced tannins framing the experience perfectly. This lovely Rosso from Ciacci Piccolomini will win many hearts.

Nose of fragrant raspberries and fine spice with a lingering finish of rose hips. Shows itself on the palate with great juiciness and delicate mellifluous, opens beautifully, accessible and drinkable.

Sweet cherry and floral character with some orange-peel undertones. Light-to medium-bodied with firm tannins and a persistent, focused finish.

A pretty mix of crushed cherries, roses and sweet spice wafts up from the 2020 Rosso di Montalcino. This is a pure and lifted expression with pleasantly ripe red fruits that mix with sour citrus and savory herbal tones to create lovely contrasts. Its minerality comes forward through the licorice-tinged finale, along with a gentle grip of fine tannins that frame the experience quite nicely. Ciacci did a fantastic job with their 2020 Rosso.

Editor's choice. Vibrant and delicious, this textbook Rosso has enticing aromas of woodland berry, rose, tobacco and a whiff of eucalyptus. On the smooth, savory, polished tannins and bright acidity accompany succulent wild cherry, raspberry compote and licorice. Drink through 2023.

A juicy, fruity red with pleasing plum and chocolate character and hints of orange peel. Medium body and light tannins that are soft and succulent. Drink now.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona estate near the medieval village of Castelnuovo dell’Abate traces its roots back to the 17th century. A crowd-pleasing summer red; light-bodied but with plenty of character. Aged in Slavonian oak, it's packed with cherry fruit, savoury notes, floral hints, black spices and leather. Rounded tannins, good balance and freshness, with a long finish.

The 2018 Ciacci Rosso Rosso di Montalcino is intense from the get-go, showing sweet black cherries dipped in liquor, complicated by balsamic spices and savory herbs. On the palate, silky, almost creamy textures give way to polished ripe fruits and sweet spices, as pretty inner florals add lift to the experience. There’s a hint of orange citrus on the long finish, as the red fruits lean more to the blue end of the spectrum, along with a mix of residual acids and tannins. As fruit-forward and intense as this Rosso is, I can’t help but enjoy its extroverted yet balanced personality.

Violet, wild-berry and botanical-herb aromas lead the nose on this savory red. The bright juicy palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, wild blackberry and white pepper set against taut tannins.

Orange peel, citrus, raspberries and wild strawberries. Medium body, fine and grainy tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink now.

Lots of watermelon, berry and spice character to this light-bodied red. Hints of citrus fruit too. Drink now.

The 2013 Rosso di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Silky, gracious and expressive on the palate, the 2013 stands out for its overall balance and harmony. Sweet red cherry, mint and spice notes linger on the open-knit finish.

A fresh, vibrant rosso form this vintage with strawberry and cedar aromas and flavors. Medium body, bright acidity and clean finish. Savory. Drink now.

Layers of animal, fresh wild strawberry with skin of dry cinnamon and lime on nose. Savory, sweet and grilled peach with layer of nutty, wood character. Drink now or better in 2016.

Bright red. Enticing floral lift to the aromas od red cherry, ink and licoric. Sweet and suave, with red cherry, herbal and floral flavors carrying nicely through a long finish. Sneaky concentration and a suave texture make this an outstanding Rossso, and one that doesn't try to be a Brunello.

Another reserved and fruity Rosso di Montalcino with beautiful cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Drink now.

The 2010 Rosso di Montalcino is plush, rich and totally inviting. It boasts stunning textural depth and richness for a Rosso. The warmth of these warm microclimates in the south of Montalcino comes through in spades. This is a hugely overachieving wine from Ciacci and proprietor Paolo Bianchini.

The 2006 Rosso di Montalcino is a knock-out effort bursting with dark red fruit, spices and earthiness. It flows onto the palate with remarkable density and plushness, with silky tannins that are beautifully integrated into the wine. Ciacci's 2006 Rosso is a gem, and is not to be missed.

A bright, ripe wine full of plums and raspberries, with black cherries, smashed flowers and blood oranges. Very juicy and energetic on the medium-bodied palate, showing good weight, refreshing acidity and polished, velvety tannins. Drink or hold.

Pouring a bright medium red color, the 2023 Rosso Di Montalcino is the core of the estate’s Rosso production and offers a pretty, peppery profile. The nose reveals violets, black raspberries, sweet herbs, and fresh earth. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a balanced finish with good length. It should drink well for 5-7 years. Drink 2026-2033.

Bright, elegant ruby red with a brilliant core. Aromas of straw flowers and bay leaf, followed by earthy notes and then notes of red berries. Very rich and full on the palate.

Luminous ruby red. The nose shows aromas of raspberries and currants with notes of plums, herbs, earth and dried flowers. Elegant, fruity, spicy and very long in the mouth, great Rosso di Montalcino.

Darkly floral and broody yet captivating, the 2020 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte entices with depths of dried black cherry, cedary, exotic spice and a dusting of cocoa. This is pure elegance on the palate, with silken textures that usher in waves of ripe red and black fruit, all balanced by a core of mineral-tinged acidity. The 2020 finishes with a bitter tinge of sour wild berries and liquorice, tapering off with medium length and only lightly structured. This is a more immediate style for Rossofonte, yet one that I find quite attractive.

This is a terrific wine (at an affordable price point) that you can always count on when planning an informal dinner with family and friends. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2020 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte is bright and lively with pretty cherry fruit, raspberry and redcurrant. The aromas are lifted and bright, and the wine offers good textural tension along the way to pair with roast chicken, fajitas, grilled meats and more.

This Rosso from estate-grown fruit is rich and round, with flavors of tangy cherry and candied strawberry showing hints of warm spice and a bright spray of orange zest on the finish.

Subtle caramel to the very ripe and savory berry fruit and oranges. Quite flavorful on the palate with firm tannins, fresh medium acidity and a spiced, medium-long finish. Shows quality but a little more freshness would take it to the next level. Drink now.

Dark shining ruby red. Delicate balsamic notes on the nose, hearty dark berries, mint, light malt and a hint of blackberries. Elegant and polished on the palate, with round, velvety tannins, spreads out excellently, noble and long.

A medium-bodied red with crushed-berry and chocolate character. Some spices and bark, too. Lots of structure and flavor. This is more like a Brunello! Drink or hold.

Dark wood tones, underbrush and crushed black cherries can all be found as the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte grumbles up from the glass. It’s silky, nearly creamy on the palate, with polished red and black fruits that give way to exotic spice in a display of total elegance. While structured, its tannins are sweet and round, providing youthful grip without hindering the resonance of wild berries and licorice that lingers on and on. This is an impressive showing for the 2019 Rossofonte, but some cellaring will be required before it comes fully into focus.

A selection in the vineyard from younger vines, aged for two years in botte grande. Tar, smoky woodland, liquorice and helichrysum are combined with raspberry and cherry fruit aroma and flavour. Full and velvety with a crisp palate, it has a warming finish with a savoury and toasty character.

The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte is the second entry-level Rosso from this creative estate that loves to push the boundaries. This is a great effort, especially considering its price tag and the growing potential of Rosso di Montalcino. Red cherry, raspberry, cedarwood and toasted almond rise from the bouquet. The wine offers a great sense of dimension and depth, with just 6,000 bottles made.

In the southern part of the appellation, close to the Orcia river and benefitting from its influence, this estate produces a great Rosso, exquisitely true to its terroir. The relatively cool 2018 vintage in this warmer subzone of Montalcino has amplified the fruity character and the supple style of Rossofonte, without losing complexity. Alluring floral notes of roses and macerated violets are joined by liquorice freshness and a touch of smoky woodland. The palate is focused on cherry and raspberry fruit, with good tension balancing the supple fruit with velvety tannins and refreshing acidity. Slightly chalky on the finish, it is otherwise a clear example of generous Rosso drinkability.

The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte is dark and youthfully brooding in the glass. With coaxing, a mix of black cherries dusted in exotic brown spices, hints of tobacco and violets comes forward. This is silky and polished, with textural waves of ripe red fruit laced with licorice and salty minerals giving way to a collection of fine tannins toward the close. There’s plenty of structure here for medium-term cellaring. The 2018 will require another year or two to come fully into focus.

A spicy Rosso di Montalcino that shows more glazed cherries and rose petals than most, as well as some delicious cinnamon and spices. Medium body, fine but hearty tannins and a medium-chewy finish. If only more wines from this category were as good as this! Drink now.

The hauntingly dark and alluring bouquet on the 2016 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte keeps you coming back to the glass again and again. Blackberries, cherries, brown spices, tobacco and wet stone create a rich and layered display. It’s velvety-smooth, balancing cooling acids with ripe red and black fruits further complicated by dried citrus and hints of mocha. This remains elegant, without a hard edge in sight, closing off to a note of violet candies and purple florals. The Rossofonte is a vineyard selection that is matured in smaller Slavonian oak barrels of 7.5 to 20 hectoliters. It’s a big wine, yet with admirable balance and ready to please a broad range of palates.

Aromas of red berry, camphor, rose and botanical herb lift out of the glass. The elegant, structured palate offers raspberry compote and licorice alongside polished tannins. This is one Rosso for moderate aging. Drink now through 2023.

The 2015 Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte is a serious wine that captures the essence of the Ciacci style, but is naturally more approachable than the estate's Brunellos. Wild cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint and lavender infuse the Rosso with striking layers of nuance. Far form an easygoing wine, the 2015 packs a real punch, making it a great choice for the dinner table, where it will be exquisite with similarly rich foods.

Editor's Choice. This dazzling red boasts aromas of wild berry, chopped herb, violet and a whiff of truffle. The linear balanced palate also boasts surprising structure for the vintage, delivering juicy wild cherry, licorice and clove alongside silky elegant tannins and bright acidity. Incredibly enjoyable, one bottle may not be enough.

Serious Rosso with depth and structure. Medium to light body, silky tannins and a plum and cedar aftertaste. Drink now.