Agostina Pieri Brunello di Montalcino Italy 2018 (14% ABV) – 93
BB | Garnet to tawny. Earthy, closed, and a touch rustic on the black- and red-fruits nose; a tobacco, blackberry, and forest-floor character. Intense, firm, structured palate, with very fine, exuberant tannins well supported by the sweet, black fruit. A very long and herbal finish. Needs time but should develop nicely over the next 10 years or so. 94
MP | A very slight whiff of volatile acidity, with tomato leaf, black plum, cranberry, licorice, and an intriguing note of dried herbs including oregano and bay. This is full-bodied and powerful, and lovers of full-bore reds will enjoy this wine's high alcohol, obvious use of toasty oak, and jammy notes of raspberry compote. The finish is convincing, if a little dominated by tannins, and the acidity is present and correct. 93
AJ | Clear, deep black-red. Sweet, silky, elegant, soft: gentle strawberry and almond milk. Teasing, fragrant, lifted, and very graceful. Attractive and enticing—you want to sip. The palate is a little sappier and more linear than the attractively fragrant nose suggested, but perhaps this is no bad thing; there is gathered force and energy here, too. Sweet, full, sappy; again a sense of the richness of nuts, too. Mouthfilling and convincing. Ample, toothsome ripeness, but well supported by soft acidity and fine-grained tannins. 92