2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

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La Rasina

Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2020

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

The 2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino reflects precision under pressure. In a year that challenged even the most experienced growers, this wine emerged not through excess or generosity, but through balance achieved by careful decisions at every stage. Its poise reveals a producer deeply attuned to vineyard and vintage, crafting a Brunello that favors brilliance, elegance, and authenticity over overt power.

La Rasina’s vineyards, positioned on the northeastern slopes of Montalcino, played a critical role in navigating the season. Higher elevation, cooler nights, and steady air movement helped moderate the warmth of 2020, preserving freshness and structure. Farmed organically, these vines benefit from a philosophy that prioritizes observation and patience, allowing the vineyard’s natural balance to assert itself.

Aging for more than two years in traditional large oak casks, the wine settles into a rhythm defined by balance and clarity. The wood frames the fruit without dominating it, preserving the wine’s natural tension and energy. What emerges is a Brunello of regal confidence, layered and precise, offering immediate appeal alongside the promise of long-term reward.

La Rasina
Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2020
Retails at: $55

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“Some complexity here with smoky-woodland and licorice-root notes. Lead pencil is mixed with blood orange. The attack is tense and firm with crisp acidity and tight, chalky tannins. Yet, it’s ripe on the finish and quite warming. This will improve with age. Drink from 2025.”

93 Points

2020 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli Tus cany Italy

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Siro Pacenti

Brunello di Montalcino
Pelagrilli 2020
Tuscany, Italy

From the slopes of Montalcino, the Pelagrilli vineyard tells a story that few Brunellos can match. Rooted in the land Giancarlo Pacenti’s father purchased in 1970 and shaped over decades into a modern icon, the 2020 release channels this lineage with singular precision. It reflects the focus of a winemaker who has devoted his life to shaping Sangiovese into something unmistakably his own.

At the core of the wine’s character are vines that have matured over decades, their roots threaded deep into Montalcino’s varied soils. These older plantings lend natural concentration and a purity of fruit that only time and thoughtful farming can produce. Pacenti captures their voice with uncommon finesse, crafting a wine that feels both grounded and vibrant.

As the wine settles on the palate, it becomes clear why Pelagrilli remains a cornerstone of the Pacenti legacy. The interplay of red fruit, savory spice, and cool mineral depth leaves a lasting imprint that resonates long after the final sip. This is Sangiovese articulated with precision and heart, shaped by a vineyard that speaks with uncommon vividness and a winemaker who has spent a lifetime learning how to listen.

Siro Pacenti
Brunello di Montalcino
Pelagrilli 2020
Tuscany, Italy
Retails at: $80

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“A round and juicy red with berry, cherry, mushroom and wet-earth character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with integrated tannins that are soft and luscious. Long, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”

96 Points

2019 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

2019 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

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La Rasina

Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2019

2019 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

From one of Brunello’s most celebrated vintages emerges La Rasina, a captivating synthesis of meticulous craftsmanship, organic stewardship, and authentic expression of terroir. With a stellar 95-point score, and from a vintage recognized by Wine Spectator for its remarkable blend of elegance and intensity, La Rasina stands as a luminous example, delivering exceptional quality and compelling value.

Set upon the northeastern slopes of Montalcino, La Rasina’s vineyards have been carefully tended by the Mantengoli family through three generations. Committed to organic farming and minimal intervention, their efforts allow the vineyard’s unique character and vivid fruit purity to resonate profoundly in every sip.

La Rasina’s Brunello spends over two years in large oak, carefully harnessing the elegance of tradition to deliver a wine that’s vibrantly alive. Its remarkable architecture promises decades of evolution, yet its lush complexity and elegant depth invite you to experience it right away.

La Rasina
Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2019

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“A firm, velvety-textured wine and not overbearing, offering red cherries and hints of cedar and mushrooms. Chewy and structured. Excellent structure and a savory finish. Cool, structured red. From organically grown grapes. Best in three to four years and beyond. Try in 2026.”

95 Points

2019 La Magia Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

2019 La Magia Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

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La Magia

Brunello Di Montalcino
Montalcino, Italy 2019

2019 La Magia Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

From one of Brunello’s most celebrated vintages emerges a wine that feels inevitable—2019 La Màgia, a vivid reflection of its origins, moment, and intent. Tucked into the southern folds of Montalcino, La Màgia occupies a storied landscape once held sacred by the Etruscans. Its name—magìa—hinting at its mysticism. Since the late 1970s, the Schwarz family has tended this estate with a deep respect for the land and an understated commitment to its potential.

At the heart of La Màgia lies a striking 37-acre amphitheater of Sangiovese, a seamless expanse of 40-year-old vines. Perched high and facing east, the vineyard is sculpted from stony, sandy loam atop water-holding clay—soil that challenges the vine and lends refinement through adversity, where the wild grace of nature transforms into something extraordinary.

Matured for 36 months in French oak, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino balances poise and strength. Its palate is lively yet polished, with smooth tannins and bright acidity that captivate now and promise a decade or more of evolution. Earning mid to high 90s scores universally, I welcome you to discover the enduring magic of La Màgia for yourself.

La Magia
Brunello Di Montalcino
Montalcino, Italy 2019

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“The nose opens fresh and cool, with aromas of eucalyptus, wild mint and fennel, before the tang of raspberries and pomegranates arrives. The palate brings richer fruit notes of candied cherry and blood orange, but also more of those refreshing herbaceous elements, leaping on the back of athletic tannins and searing acid.”

96 Points

2016 Gaja Brunello Di Montalcino Pive Santa Restituta

2016 Gaja Brunello Di Montalcino Pive Santa Restituta

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GAJA

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2016 PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA

2016 Gaja Brunello Di Montalcino Pive Santa Restituta
Gaja is one of the biggest names in Italian wine, famous for a fusion of modern and traditional winemaking, continually impressing wine critics and collectors from all over the world since their early beginnings 250 years ago. In the 1960s and ’70s, Angelo Gaja was one of the first winemakers in Italy to begin experimenting with new French oak barriques that today contribute to Gaja’s signature house-style.
 
Brunello di Montalcino is famous for the Brunello clone of Sangiovese, known for more body, multiple layers of concentrated flavors, and impressive longevity that by law must be aged for a minimum of two years in barrel and four years total before release. Master of Wine Greg Sherwood has rated Gaja’s 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino as one of the estate’s most outstanding vintages, with beautifully perfumed aromatics and intensely complex flavors that pleasantly linger into a long finish.
 
GAJA
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2016 PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“The 2016 Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino is intensely aromatic, beginning with violets, roses, potpourri, black cherries, leather, balsamic, and saffron. The palate is equally complex with flavors of black plums, cherry cola, cocoa, and earth. The depth of flavors and fine-grained tannins thoroughly coat the mouth leading into a long, decadent finish that can be enjoyed now or cellared to gracefully age for the next 12-15 years.”
95 Points
 
Vintage Report: 2016 Brunello di Montalcino
“Textbook growing season resulted in wines of finesse and elegance, balance and harmony, with mostly red fruit flavors…”
99 Points
2015 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino Montalcino Italy

2015 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino Montalcino Italy

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FANTI 

2015 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

2015 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino Montalcino Italy
Filippo Fanti’s wines encapsulate old-world traditions passed down by his ancestors, as well as modern innovations. His family has farmed their land in Montalcino for over 200 years, and in 1980 Filippo produced his first vintage of Brunello from his most expressive hillside vines. After that, Filippo’s wines built upon a reputation of quality, consistency, and distinct sense of place with each subsequent vintage. James Suckling calls Filippo’s 2015 his “Best ever,” and with a 96 point score, don’t miss it. 
 
With attention to every detail in the vineyard and the winery, Filippo redesigned the plantings and added an innovation-meets-tradition winemaking technique that propelled the wine to the next level. His style is one of elegance, vibrant fruit, and incredible persistence.  
 
The 2015 Brunello was created from a selection of 10 hectares of Sangiovese grown on different slopes of the Castelnuovo dell’Abate area. The soils here are volcanic and rich in skeleton, or rock fragments, made of galestro and alberese rocks. The conjunction of the low fertility land, topography, and ancient soils produce fruit with remarkable character.
 
FANTI 
2015 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $46
 
 
“A sensational effort from Tenuta Fanti…, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers an intriguing and complex aromatic profile, with dark notes reminiscent of black plums, black licorice, and cola that are underlined by turmeric and Indian spices that add another level of complexity. It possesses wonderful energy, through its full bodied frame, which is structured with velvety tannins, that are beautifully integrated as it leads up to the broad, powerful and persistent finish. This is a masterpiece in Montalcino, and should go on to have an absolutely fantastic future ahead.”
96 Points
 
“There’s a beautiful interplay between bright, primary florals, such as rose petals and tulips and dust, hay bale and dried raspberries. The palate suggests a ripe, powerful persona with chewy, juicy tannins and a fine line of pretty acidity. Best ever. Drink from 2022.”
95 Points
 
“The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino reveals an elegant bouquet with bright aromas of wild berry, blue flower and soft spice. These elements are carefully balanced to build the intensity and subtle but enduring power of the wine. There is firm structure at the back, and the wine is defined by its attractive but integrated acidity… Drink 2021-2035”
93+ Points
2011 La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

2011 La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino

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LA FIORITA 2011 La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

2011 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

 
Not all wines are meant for aging, but Brunello di Montalcino certainly is.  It’s required to be aged for a minimum of 5 years after harvest, with at least 2 years in oak, and there’s good reason behind this…  One of the biggest is that Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello) is a thicker-skinned grape and is known for producing bold flavors, high acids and big tannins.  When you age Brunello, those same traits that can be astringent when they’re young, transform into a soft, complex wine with an irresistible presence on the palate over time.  When you taste a Brunello that’s been perfectly aged, you’ll know right away… The 2011 La Fiorita Brunello is velvety soft, perfectly balanced, delightfully long and complex and absolutely stunning right now .  If I paid $150/btl for this in a restaurant I would be thrilled.  At fifty bucks, I want that experience every time I can get it…
 
It’s not easy to make a wine that’s going to be singing this beautifully nearly a decade after the fruit was harvested.  It takes a great winemaker to accomplish this and La Fiorita is made by one of the best… Roberto Cipresso made a name for himself while consulting with icons Poggio Antico, Archival Ferrer and Case Basse…  If you’re searching for a perfectly ready to drink Italian wine, this one should absolutely not be missed.
 
LA FIORITA
2011 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
Retails at   $60.00/btl
 
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“Sweet cherry flavors are framed by licorice, tobacco and spice notes in this smooth red. Firms up enough on the finish to warrant a year or two of aging, but this should find equilibrium soon. Best from 2017 through 2026...”  91 Points
 “… opens to delicate tones of wild berry, wet earth and dried rose petal. It delivers these aromas with a soft touch and lasting intensity. These ethereal aromas glide by the senses with smooth transitions. The wine leaves an equally graceful impression in the mouth…” 91 Points
Customers who enjoy La Fiorita Brunello may also enjoy these two stunning Brunellos…
2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino 2013 La Rasina Brunello Di Montalcino
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

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 From James Suckling:“This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste.”  98 Points
LA RASINA
2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
 
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From James Suckling, “A wealth of ripe fruit with spice, tobacco, cedar and plum aromas that follow through to a full body, chewy and dense tannins and a ripe and delicious finish. A solid and stoic young red. Give it three or four years to soften. Made from organic grapes.”  96 Points

2013 La Rasina Brunello Di Montalcino

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LA RASINA

2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

 
Classic, profound, detailed, all perfectly describe La Rasina’s 96 point Brunello di Montalcino. The wine is intensely aromatic, focused and persistent.  The winery continues to make investments in their vineyards and winemaking, and just when we thought they couldn’t get any better, they did… La Rasina has been one of our most popular Brunellos in the shop for years, and this vintage is at an entirely new level of detail and enchantment. The 2013 is noticeably more masculine and powerfully structured with and deep layers of mineral laced red fruits, iron, Spring violets and spiced plum.  At $49.99, this Brunello truly has it all… 
 
One of the few remaining wineries in Montalcino that’s owned and farmed by a Montalcino born family, La Rasina was founded nearly 1/2 century ago.  The Estate shows a palpable dedication to excellence which is obvious in a glass of this stunning 2013 Brunello.  Further refined in oak barrels for two years, the 2013 enters from another outstanding vintage in Montalcino and one the Wine Spectator describes as producing, “balanced Brunellos with vibrant structures.”  I highly recommend a case of this classic and high-scoring Brunello.  
 
LA RASINA
2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl
 
From James Suckling: “A wealth of ripe fruit with spice, tobacco, cedar and plum aromas that follow through to a full body, chewy and dense tannins and a ripe and delicious finish. A solid and stoic young red. Give it three or four years to soften. Made from organic grapes.” 96 Points
 
Customers who enjoy La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino may also enjoy these two Italian wines…
2013 Giovanni Rosso, Barolo Piedmont Ital
 2011 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
GIOVANNI ROSSO
2013 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From The Wine Spectator, “A fruit-driven style, this red also displays ample tannins. Cherry, strawberry, floral and leafy tobacco flavors are backed by a vibrant structure, and this winds down with hints of mineral, earth and tobacco…”  93 Points
LIVIO SASSETTI
2011 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

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2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino

2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino

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LIVIO SASSETTI

2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
If you could only drink only one Brunello di Montalcino, what would it be?  Robert Parker wrote “it would have to be Pertimali.”  The only problem is they’re a microscopic Italian producer owning only 7 hectares (about 17 acres), and they’re highly-desired…  That desire turns into more of a frenzy when Pertimali scores 98 Points like it has this vintage, and we don’t expect our allocation to last.  Seldom do I taste a wine that’s so incredibly enthralling that it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up… This one did and Antonio Galloni wrote that Livio Sassetti is “One of Italy’s finest,” and they’ve been making hits since 1982…  With the near perfect score this vintage, my only guarantee is that once you taste it, you will wish you bought more…
 
Absolutely hands-on in every way possible, each individual wine is hand-tended by Livio and his two sons.  With attention to every detail, their Brunello has become a Sommelier favorite, gracing the Grand Award winning wine lists of Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and many others as well…  Because of the minuscule production, there’s simply never enough of this wine to satisfy demand.  I strongly recommend securing your case, before this one runs out…
 
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
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From James Suckling: “This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste.” 98 Points

 

Customers who enjoy Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2013 Parusso Barolo Bussia 2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
PARUSSO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY 
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

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From James Suckling: “This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here…” 97 Points
ALDO CONTERNO 
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
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From James Suckling: “...Shows a beautiful complexity of ripe fruit such as cherries as well as orange peel undertones with lemon and pineapple highlights. Medium body and well-defined tannins.”  96 Points
2013 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino

2013 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino

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FANTI

2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

2013 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino
“The best Brunello is like an opera: powerful, dramatic, and sophisticated, with long-held notes and a plot-line of great weight and complexity...” Wine Enthusiast.  Fanti’s 2013 Brunello di Montalcino defines this statement with an opening act that effortlessly engages you, followed by a perfectly choreographed and dynamically elegant performance that will have your palate (and wallet) begging for an encore.  The Fanti family has been producing wine for nearly 200 years and the quality of their wines were elevated to new levels in the 1970’s when a new owner took the reigns.  Filippo soon redesigned the plantings and added an innovation-meets-tradition winemaking technique that propelled the wine to the next level.  At under $50 their 2013 Brunello is a tough act to follow…
 
With attention to every detail in the vineyard and the winery, their style is one of elegance, vibrant fruit, and stunning persistence.  And the 2013 comes from one of the area’s best vintage, one that the Wine Enthusiast alerts readers that, “If you want to experience the energy, elegance and age-worthy structure that first drew wine lovers and collectors to Brunello di Montalcino decades ago, then 2013 is your vintage.”   I highly recommend securing a case of this classic 93 Point Brunello.
 
FANTI
2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 
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From James Suckling: “Plenty of black cherry and berry character with hints of flowers. Medium to full body, soft and fresh tannins and a clean and delicious finish. Lovely now.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Fanti Brunello di Montalcino may also enjoy these two Italian wines…
2013 Giovanni Ross Barolo 2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimalli Brunello Di Montalcino
GIOVANNI ROSSO
2013 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From The Wine Spectator: “A fruit-driven style, this red also displays ample tannins. Cherry, strawberry, floral and leafy tobacco flavors are backed by a vibrant structure, and this winds down with hints of mineral, earth and tobacco…”  93 Points
LIVIO SASSETTI
2011 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl

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