96 Kerin O'Keefe - kerinokeefe.com

Enticing aromas of blue flower, pipe tobacco and crushed berry mingle with an earthy whiff of tilled soil. On the tense, full-bodied palate, tightly woven, refined tannins accompany juicy strawberry, red cherry, star anise and rusty nail. Vibrant acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2026-2038. 14.5% abv. November 2022

94 Eric Guido - Vinous Media

What a darling; the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino from Padelletti seduces with vivid black raspberries, wild blueberries and sweet roses forming its bouquet. It envelopes the palate with ripe red fruits and exotic spice, all energized by a core of vibrant acidity, as saline-minerals add a crunchy sensation. Its tannins are round and sweet, gently tugging at the cheeks, as hints of hard candy and licorice fade. At times, tasting the 2018 is more like eating perfectly ripe fruit off the vine than sipping wine, and I mean that in the best possible way. Give this beauty a couple of years of cellaring, and then enjoy it with abandon.

94 Decanter

Claudia Padelletti has been running this historic property for decades. Since joining in 2008, her son Silvano has made small tweaks without forsaking the staunchly traditional approach - and the wines have gained in purity and precision. The 2018 is another admirable example: a beguiling interplay of flint, balsamic herbs and fragrant lilac lace though juicy red berries. Light on its feet, this Brunello has a lovely, elegant flow. The gracious structure makes it immediately approachable but there are depths and layers that will keep giving for another decade or so.