Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino 2020

“Brunello has enjoyed a run of successful vintages, culminating in the beautiful generosity and succulence of the 2019s, however Il Marroneto is one of the few estates to improve on that with their 2020. Cherries infused with florals accompany succulent plummy fruits with an undercurrent of youthful creaminess. Fine-grained tannins lurk in the background, refusing to steal the thunder from a biting, zesty blood orange finish. Wonderful stuff.”

“A restrained wine that’s complex and deep, with aromas of cherry stones, butter, fresh violets, orange peel and prunes. Firm tannins with a grainy texture, yet it has a sweet finish, super-energetic acidity and a full body. Flavors of blood oranges and violets. Perfect balance and incredible aging potential. A super classic. Drink or hold.”

“The Il Marroneto 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of special depth and elegance. Alessandro Mori tells me that fermentation in 2020 proceeded nicely with what he describes as a primordial stew of grape must, resulting in high pressure geysers or liquid bombs that rip right through the cap because of pressure build-up. Someone is having tons of fun in the winery. High temperatures (between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius) serve to fix the wine's ruby color and the elegance of its perfumes, which are more floral than fruity. At the end of fermentation, he manages the skins with light wetting by hand with a tube. This vintage offers softness and a silky texture that feels glossy to the palate.”

“The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is an understated beauty, slowly emerging with a delicate blend of rose petals, fresh mint, crushed rocks and vividly ripe black cherries. It hovers across the palate, lifted and finessed yet spry, with ripe red berry fruits and hints of lavender, taking on a liquid floral concentration toward the close. Pleasantly chewy and long, the 2020 leaves the senses stained in primary concentration, with a tinge of bitter cranberry and pretty inner florals that resonate over a bed of classically dry tannins. This is a more concentrated and intense yet wonderfully balanced rendition of Il Marroneto's Brunello.”

“Precise and vibrant in its sensorial profile, it shows notes of lemon peel, ginger, wild thyme, lime, bergamot, lemongrass, karkadè, marjoram, eucalyptus, hawthorn and magnolias. Many shades of white myrtle, plums, currants and raspberries enliven the secondary scene with the right dynamism and the right crunchiness of the small red fruits. Medium body, perfectly ripe, silky tannins, incredibly graceful in their position in the wine matrix and a finish of commendable beauty. Better from 2026.”

“Showing structure and finesse, the Il Marroneto 2020 Brunello is a wonderful expression of the vintage and shows the estate’s hallmark elegance and class. It opens with aromas of violet, ripe forest berry, camphor and pine forest that on the focused, savory palate segue into wild strawberry, ripe Marasca cherry, cake spice and crushed mint. It’s balanced, with fine-grained tannins and a core of tangy acidity.”

“Bright, elegant ruby red. On the nose, subtle hints of candle wax, with fine meaty notes, mint, sea salt, red berries, nuances of plums and truffles. Initially on the palate, youthful tannins and a nice juiciness, becoming somewhat coarser and more savoury on the finish.”