Stephen Brook | The nose is fragrant and complex, with mocha and mint tones, as well as cherries and other red fruits. The attack is svelte, and there’s ample fruit concentration. There are sturdy tannins to give structure, but overall it’s a bit rough and ready, with few nuances and little finesse. Nonetheless, it shows energy and drive, and a long finish. | 92

Andrew Jefford | Dark, alluring, translucent black-red. Warm, glowing and rounded, yet fresh, too: red and black fruits, licorice spice in a cedar box, and a fugitive floral note that you might fancy to call woodland violet. Complete and satisfying. Excellent quality, precision, and definition here: bright, ringing currants and plums, both with some skin-derived pungency; taut, rewarding tannins in proportion; and more brightness from the palate, which is both teased to full ripeness yet fresh and energetic, too. Exemplary and very true to its vintage. | 92

Michael Palij | Antipodean in style, the wine shows sandalwood, blackcurrant, frais de bois, dark chocolate, coffee, and dried fruit. The fruit combined with the obvious legs point to a very rich, hedonistic style of red that struggles to identify with Montalcino. This is powerful and crafted on a large scale, but it lacks the delicacy that ought to be a signature characteristic of Brunello di Montalcino. | 91