Le Ragnaie Vigna Passo del Lume Spento Brunello Di Montalcino Italy 2018 (13.50% ABV) – 92
BB | Garnet to pink. Refined, complex, elegant, lively nose, with small red fruits, orange peel, rosemary, sage, smoke, and meat. Medium- to full-bodied, refined and complex, with sweet, black fruit, long and inviting. A class act, both for immediate drinking and laying down in the cellar. 95
MP | A fairly obvious nose, with black-fruit notes of blackberry, black cherry, and black plum alongside oak-derived notes of charred wood, cedar, and vanilla. This has a compact, muscular form, with ripe, melding tannins and sufficient acidity to keep it on the boil. The fruit is ripe without being jammy, and there's decent length, although this is still just short of true greatness. 94
AJ | Clear, bright black-red. Sour plum and sweet strawberry mingled, with some of the kerosene-like aromas which certain wines show in this vintage. Nonetheless fragrant and sustained; and the aging very well managed to convey a sense of refinement and ease. That same slight kerosene touch is evident on the palate, which mitigates a little from enjoyment; aside from that, this is structured, almost stern, with intense fruits, ample drive, length, and resource. There are, though, more charming wines in this tasting. 87