Similar to this time last year, release windows of recent weeks have happily aligned with a number of Montalcino's most revered producers - a handful of limited allocations having already landed, as well as a number on their way and set to land in the coming days!
There is some more streamlined youthful charm to be enjoyed behind a number of Rosso di Montalcino options, each one here now and waiting to be enjoyed with your favourite Italian meal, but the main bulk of the offer lies upon the 2021 vintage for these world-class expressions of Brunello. We have been blessed that, with the more favourable vintages of the past few years, names like Canalicchio di Sopra, Conti Costanti, Fuligni, Poggio di Sotto and Salvioni are all available, and can come together in a single mail-out!
"Stated simply, 2021 is a triumph for Montalcino. A vintage that has truly proven itself. There is something magical about the 2021's. The wines offer both near-term appeal and the balance to mature over the next 15 to 20 years. Vibrantly fruit-forward, with highly expressive bouquets and crisp, crunchy textures. Their concentration and depth create a saturating tension that’s beautifully balanced by lively acidity, the saving grace for this warm vintage. It's not difficult to find pleasure in them today." - Eric Guido, Vinous
Many winemakers and suppliers are rightfully comparing the 2021 Brunellos to those from 2015 - such is both harvest's fruit-forward approachability, lively acid profiles and touches of sweetened playfulness. The aromatics on these 2021's remind us of why this blessed region has become so beloved, with perfumed harmonised scents of red and black cherry, blood orange, mulberry, wild herbs, coffee bean, you name it. The palates are quite energetic and flashy, but all the same still unfurl gradually like well-wrapped gifts, pushing blackberry twang, licorice, cocoa, lavender, and classical mineral undertone. A star of the show is difficult to pick, but indeed it's hard to ignore the Fuligni Brunello, having just won the Italian Wine of the Year accolade from James Suckling's team!
We hope you enjoy browsing below as much as we did putting it all together! You'll find links to the wines that are here ready to go, as well as pre-order links to email us, should you be interested in any of the incoming arrivals.
2021 Vintage Report for Montalcino -
"Significant spring frost curbed yields from the start. Hot though not torrid, the summer was exceptionally dry. Mid-august rainstorms finally brought reprieve and the lead up to harvest saw marked diurnal temperature differences. Intense, characterful wines boast surprising balance and solid ageing potential. As such, 2021 is a vintage that will satisfy the hedonist looking to dive right in as well as the collector who revels in future rewards." - 4.5/5 Vintage Rating, Michaela Morris, Decanter
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Brunello di Montalcino 2021
$159 on special this week ($179 RRP)
"The estate’s flagship Brunello is among the top ‘classic’ bottlings of the vintage. With equal parts from holdings in Montosoli and Canalicchio, it combines the best of both in one harmonious expression of Montalcino’s northern sector. Vibrant aromas don’t give away everything all at once. Instead, they emerge with paced precision conveying dark red cherry, raspberry, sage and rosemary blossom. Florals and balsamic herbs perfume the beautifully composed, pristine palate, while concentrated acidity and sandy tannins are seamlessly embedded. Saline minerals draw out the finish. This is as mouthfilling as it is elegant." - 96 Points, Michaela Morris, Decanter
"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is explosive in the glass, with waves of crushed rocks, savory herbs, nuances of split pine and dried strawberries. It communicates both juiciness and refinement, with crystalline mineral tones contrasting racy red and black fruits. The 2021 leaves the senses drenched in primary concentration as a sour twang of citrus mingles with fine tannins through the dramatically long finale. Despite having separated out the single-vineyard wines over the years, I am continually impressed with Canalicchio di Sopra's Brunello."- 95 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
Brunello di Montalcino 'La Casaccia' 2021
$419 on special this week ($480 RRP)
"Displaying a saturated red/garnet color, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna La Casaccia has a detailed, layered profile that unfolds with notes of fresh rosemary, lavender, kirsch, boysenberry, and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, its savory Mediterranean profile shines brightly on the palate, with ripe tannins, refreshing acidity, and a lasting finish. It’s fabulous all around and will be worth stashing away and drinking over the next 20 years." - 97 Points, Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casaccia is exotic in the glass, with a spice-box bouquet that combines cedar dust, spiced orange peels, dried strawberries and hints of mint. It's surprisingly energetic and fleshy, with a solid core of ripe wild berry fruits underscored by tactile mineral tones. Tantalizing acidity imparts further liveliness. It firms up through the finish, leaving steely minerality to meet a tart blackberry twang and nuanced tannins. The 2021 is youthfully compact and geared for the cellar." - 96 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
Rosso di Montalcino 2023
$99 on special this week ($115 RRP)
"Sangiovese from high-altitude vineyards near Montalcino, Tuscany, on galestro and marl soils that lend finesse and aromatic lift. Often referred to as a 'baby Brunello', this wine is crafted with the same meticulous care as the estate’s Brunello di Montalcino, including fermentation in stainless steel (with selected yeasts) and ageing for 12 months in a mix of Allier and Slavonian oak barrels. Expect a nose of sour cherry, crushed raspberry, rose petal, cedar, and orange peel, and a palate that reveals bright red fruit, savoury herbs, spice, fine tannins, and a long mineral finish. Conti Costanti remains one of Montalcino’s most traditional estates, yet continues to evolve without losing its identity, producing wines of character, depth, and elegance that Tito himself would be proud of." - Importer Notes
+ About to land
(If interested, please click here to email us your order)
Brunello di Montalcino 2021
$259 pre-arrival offer ($295 RRP)
& $525 for MAGNUM ($595 RRP)
"Year after year Costanti makes decisive, ageworthy Brunello from north-to northwest-facing vineyards just east of town. The 2021 is no exception and will require time in the cellar before disclosing its deeply embedded intricacies. Discreet whiffs of beeswax and flint eventually cede to violet and dark-toned fruit. The palate is equally restrained and tight yet precisely sculpted. A core of wild forest berry is well corseted, all elevated by a salivating crunchiness." - 95 Points, Michaela Morris, Decanter
"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is darkly inward in its youthful state, brooding and tense with tobacco, minty herbs, cedary spice, plum and nuances of black cherry. Soft textures wash across the energetic palate as mineral-inflected red berry fruits saturate. Structured and incredibly long, the 2021 leaves the cheeks puckering amidst fine-grained tannins and a contrasting accent of sour citrus." - 95 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020
$395 pre-arrival offer ($495 RRP)
Following the relatively hefty Rosso and decisively tannic Brunello, it is no surprise that Conti Costanti’s 2020 Riserva is somewhat of a brooding, structured specimen. Savoury and earthy rather than fruit driven, it hints at soy, leather and bay leaf. The palate demonstrates more of its innate class with textually rich waves of dark, fleshy berries offset by puckering acidity. Suede-like tannins are tightly fastened. One of the few Riservas that demands more time." - 95 Points, Michaela Morris, Decanter
"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is hauntingly dark and pleasantly rich, with an attractive bouquet of balsamic black cherries, rubbed sage, dark chocolate and spiced orange. It is soft-textured but quickly builds tension as nuances of sour citrus blend with tart wild berry fruits and mineral tones. Painfully young, the 2020 leaves edgy tannins and a tart cranberry resonance." - 94+ Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
'Ginestreto' Rosso di Montalcino 2023
$99 on special this week ($115 RRP)
"In the 2023 vintage—a year defined by freshness and balance—this Rosso is singing. The nose is a beautiful, high-toned display of wild red cherry, raspberry, and pressed violets, with that signature Fuligni dustiness and a touch of white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and "crunchy," with a snappy acidity that makes the fruit pop. The tannins are polished and silky, making this incredibly drinkable right now. It’s perfect for a weekday pasta with ragù or a simple grilled steak. A touch of class for the price." - 95 Points, Orazio Campoli
+ About to land
(If interested, please click here to email us your order)
Brunello di Montalcino 2021
$259 pre-arrival offer ($295 RRP)
& $525 for MAGNUM ($595 RRP)
"So perfumed and seductive on the nose, with black cherries, minerals and rose petals that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine tannins. Its finesse and vision tell you why Brunello is great. Long, vivid and beautifully balanced. Already a joy to taste, but best after 2027." - 99 Points + Italian Wine of the Year, James Suckling
"The Fuligni 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is an elegant expression with layers of dark fruit and blackcurrant that give way to pressed rose, grilled herb and petrichor, recalling rocks bathed in hot sunlight. The wine is chiseled and refined, owing to the classic nature of the vintage and the restrained, non-extractive house style that distinguishes Fuligni, a historic estate based just outside the village of Montalcino on higher-elevation sites. The wine shows precision with fine tannic tension and a linear, poised finish, making it an ideal match for traditional Tuscan dishes such as pappardelle al cinghiale or grilled lamb with rosemary. The wine ages for three years in Slavonian oak casks and tonneaux." - 96 Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020
$395 pre-arrival offer ($495 RRP)
"Produced since 1970, Fuligni’s Riserva celebrates its 50th anniversary with this 2020 release. While I am not sure it will be the estate’s longest-lived edition, it is undeniably poised to deliver substantial pleasure over the course of its lifespan. Unequivocally in its youthful phase, it currently exudes dark red cherry and pomegranate punctuated by sweet spice and an exotic hit of mahogany oil. Grenadine and candied violet suffuse the palate. The tannins are taut and refined, buttressing the weighty core. On the precipice of tipping the scales just as the fresh acidity breezes through with an effortless lift."
- 96 Points, Michaela Morris, Decanter
"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, which marks the winery's 100th anniversary, mixes masses of dried black cherries with dusty cedar spice box, an air of tobacco, worn leather and mint. It is seamless in feel, with silken depths of ripe red berry fruits as crisp mineral tones and hints of citrus build tension toward the close. Staining, chewy and long, the 2020 reveals its heroic structure as nuances of blood orange create a lovely punctuation under an air of rosy inner florals. Quite backward today, it will pay dividends in the cellar." - 95 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
Brunello di Montalcino 2021
$259 on special this week ($295 RRP)
"Mid ruby. Unusual nutty nose with hints of subdued cherry and herb liqueur. Supple and without any edges on the palate and with sweet-sour cherry aromas and soft, gritty tannins on the finish. Long and focused. Can age but is already approachable." - 17/20 Points, Walter Speller, JancisRobinson.com
"In Montalcino’s northern sector, the Gorelli estate is comprised of two separate plots totalling 6.5ha. Predominantly cool clay soils are juxtaposed with a warm southwest exposure. Rather lifted to begin with, the 2021 leads with heady floral and leather top notes; medicinal herbs and damp earth kick in as it sits in the glass. Layered and vigorous, the palate demonstrates great tension with citrussy acidity and tightly screwed tannins. It's bitter and chalky on the finish, with a hint of wood sticking out. Give it another year or so in bottle for it to come together." - 93 Points, Michaela Morris, Decanter
About to land
(If interested, please click here to email us your order)
Brunello di Montalcino 2021
$695 pre-arrival offer ($800 RRP)
(Limited availability)
"This is huge in every way, from the open, spicy, giving scents to the ferrous tannins and tongue-wagging acidity. It’s so wrapped up in its structure it’s hard to identify any fruit; it tastes more of earth, roses and thorns. Dark, firm and elegant; just needs 20 years." - 19/20 Points, Tara Q Thomas, JancisRobinson.com
"Defined by a noble mineral precision that remains subtly in the background, the Poggio di Sotto 2021 Brunello di Montalcino delivers beautiful clarity to the bouquet and freshness to the palate. Within that framework, the wine reveals layers of cassis, red rose and grilled rosemary, offering impressive complexity inside a full-bodied but elegantly streamlined structure marked by vibrancy and energy. The wine is produced using the estate’s long-standing approach of fermentation and aging in Slavonian oak and cement, a formula that preserves finesse and site expression. Production totals approximately 35,000 bottles plus larger formats, and while the price is undeniably high, the quality fully supports the ambition." - 98 Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Also available (final bottles) -
Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino 2022
$235 on special this week ($270 RRP)
All grapes on the diverse Poggio di Sotto estate are treated as if to make a Brunello di Montalcino designated wine. During the elevage some barrels are chosen to go to bottle early, producing their Rosso di Montalcino. The light, pinot noir-esque style at Poggio di Sotto makes this Rosso di Montalcino one of the lightest and most pretty examples on the market. It’s worth a special effort to find - Our Notes
Rosso di Montalcino 2024
$225 on special this week ($250 RRP)
(Limited availability)
Brunello di Montalcino 2021
$399 on special this week ($450 RRP)
(Limited availability)
"The Salvioni 2021 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola opens quickly and gains clarity with each swirl, settling into a place of elegance and classical Sangiovese harmony. Dark fruit forms the core, framed by mineral tones and lifted floral highlights, and the palate carries this vintage forward with grace, revealing a delicate Sangiovese sweetness intertwined with subtle peppery spice and tart blood orange. Despite its 15% alcohol, the wine remains transparent and finely tuned, supported by beautifully managed tannins that are both firm and silky. This is a production of 14,750 bottles." - 97 Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is deeply complex and spicy, with a wild bouquet that blends orange shavings, sour cherries, rosemary and nuances of split pine. It possesses an impenetrable core of crunchy red berry fruits and mineral tones, with hints of clove adding a bitter bite under an air of violet inner florals. Youthfully dense yet refined, there is simply so much going on here, as tart cranberry blends with a saturation of fine tannins and inner rose tones swirl throughout. Nearly a minute goes by, and the 2021 can still be sensed through a tinge of licorice and lavender. This is a drop-dead gorgeous and radiant effort for Salvioni, with a bright future in store for patient collectors." - 97 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above to buy online or email us your pre-order on those yet to arrive. Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Special prices valid until Wednesday the 30th of September