Poggio Landi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Chiuso del Lupo Italy 2018 (14.50% ABV) – 91.7
BB | Deep ruby to garnet. Ripe, rich, black- and red-fruits nose, just a touch vegetal, with bell peppers, black cherries, and sweet tobacco. Ripe, sweet-fruited palate, long and clean, with black fruits returning on the finish. 92
MP | Rich, powerful, and very ripe on the nose, with obvious notes of blackberry, black plum, raspberry compote, white pepper, licorice, bay leaf, coffee, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. In the mouth, the notes of Christmas cake and stewed fruit, including date and fig, are countered by delicate tannins and lemony acidity. The overripe character of the fruit prevents this from getting a higher score, but there is much to like in this charming, if obvious, Brunello. 95
AJ | A very darkly colored wine for this tasting: deep red-black, just off opacity. Sweet, warm, soft, a touch toffeed; impressive, but a little bit simple. Another wine with a big shovelful of rather coarse fruits, oddly rough in style for Brunello, though with the virtue of generosity. There is supporting acidity, and the tannins are palpable, bringing some shape to the engine of fruit. Not bad at all but (as with so many) rather rough and indigestible as yet. 88