96 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Back in its day, the 2001 vintage was somewhat underrated. The local growers' association gave it four stars (out of a total of five) in a self-policing system that has always been extremely generous toward the appellation. Tasted from magnum, the 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto smells and tastes like it comes from a five-star vintage, determined as such by the most discerning critics. This wine meets the tallest expectations and surprises the skeptics. It opens to seamless integration with dried fruit aromas that slowly merge into soft spice and tobacco. In the mouth, the wine shows beautiful suppleness and firmness. The 2001 vintage saw reduced yields because of freezing temperatures on Easter night. This led to very small and concentrated berries and high quality."