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Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Lustrous mid ruby…herbal and minerally on the nose. Plenty to look forward to here.

17+ Points Jancis Robinson

Reviews

2016

JANCIS ROBINSON / 17.5 pts

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Earthy, sweet cherry that is still a little subdued and with hint of iron. Succulent palate that still needs to open up to the fruit and with gravelly, well-behaved tannins. Long, well balanced and focused. (WS) 14% – Drink 2024-2034

FALSTAFF / 93 pts

Bright ruby red. The nose exhibits rich barrel spice, Amarena cherries, a hint of marzipan, as well as plums and sugared violets. Dense on the palate and with many layers, very polished, with hearty tannins on the finish. – OK

ROBERT PARKER / 94 pts

The Máté 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (a certified-organic wine) shows a luminous appareance with a dark ruby shine. It’s great to see this level of effort in this particular vintage, with classic lines, powerful fruit and a good sense of inner elegance. – ML

JAMES SUCKLING / 94 pts

Plenty of plums and fresh flowers with cedar and sandalwood follow through to a medium to full body, with round yet fine tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Tight at the end. Shows focus and length. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2024.

WINES CRITIC / 95 pts

Open on the nose showing notes of raspberries, pomegranate and withered white flowers. Medium to full bodied, biting tannins, slightly rigid at the moment and a tight, vibrant finale which needs time to distend. Better from 2024.

VINOUS/ 93 pts

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is sweetly seductive, with dusty black cherries, roses and hints of worn leather forming its attractive bouquet. This is pure and polished in feel, casting ripe red berries and spices across the palate. There doesn’t seem to be a hard edge in sight up until the finale, where a coating of finegrained tannins combines with salty minerals to create a youthfully structured and poised expression. The 2016 Riserva will require a few years of cellaring to fully flesh out.

2015

CANDIDATO PLATINUM – THE WINEHUNTER AWARD 2021

WINE SPECTATOR / 94 pts

Enticing flavors of black cherry, plum, earth, tobacco and mineral are allied to a rigid structure of dense, dusty tannins. Nicely balanced, with lively acidity driving the lingering finish. Best from 2024 through 2047. 250 cases made, 150 cases imported. – BS

JAMES SUCKLING / 94 pts

Coffee and dried leaves mingle with ripe and dried fruit. Notes of raisins and walnuts. It’s full-bodied with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. This needs time to soften. Try after 2023.

ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA SOMMELIER / 96 pts

Compact garnet red, impressive dynamic bouquet of pomegranate juice, citrus fruit, dried rose petals, notes of blood, humus, undergrowth, kentucky tobacco. Rich, excellent mouthfell, powerful, with very fine, well-integrated tannins. Good acid-sapidity balance. Fruity, spicy finish.

VINOUS/ 92

The 2015 Máté Brunello di Montalcino Riserva pulls you close to the glass with a classic display of ripe red berries, cinnamon and cedar offset by notes of leather and undergrowth. It’s refined yet expressive, boasting silky textures with mineral-laced cherry and strawberry, while zesty acids build tension. Licorice, a twang of orange citrus and inner violet florals linger on the long and youthfully tannic finish. While showing a bit of spicy oak, this is a beautiful balanced Riserva with plenty of upside potential.

2012

JAMES SUCKLING / 93 pts

Plenty of ripe plums and cherries to this one. Hints of cedar and perfume, too. Full body, round and polished tannins and a flavor finish. Attractive aftertaste. Drink now.

GAMBERO ROSSO/ 2 GLASSES (NOMINATED FOR 3 GLASSES)

VINOUS/ 92

Good full red. Enticing aromas of strawberry, mocha, fresh herbs and spices. Offers a restrained sweetness to the savory, soil-inflected red berry flavors that carries nicely through to the rich,deep, medicinal, long finish. Lovely Riserva.

VERONELLI / 91 pts

WINE SPECTATOR / 90 pts

2010

RISERVA 2010 – JAMES SUCKLING / 94 pts

A powerful and rich wine with dried berries, mushrooms and mahogany. Full body, firm tannins and a chewy mouthfeel. Tight and bright, Lots of citrus and mineral undertones. Better in 2017.

RISERVA 2010 – ROBINSON / 17+ pts

Tasted blind. Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Herbal and minerally on the nose and slow to open up. Elegant palate with loads of sweet-sour cherry that goes on and on. Great crunch. Tangy on the finish. Plenty to look forward to here. Drink 2018-2032

RISERVA 2010 – FALSTAFF/ 93 pts

Shimmering, dark garnet. Aromatic, a finely drawn nose with appealing aromas of pomegranate,crisp, red cherries, and cloves in the background. Juicy and much crisp fruit on the palate, with silky tannins that unfold slowly but steadily build up; a long finish.

—Othmar Kiem

RISERVA 2010 – WINE SPECTATOR / 91 pts

Fresh and sleek, this red evokes cherry, leather, eucalyptus and graphite flavors. Vibrant and firmly structured, with a lingering tobacco aftertaste. Drink now through 2026 – BS

2008

RISERVA 2008 – WINE SPECTATOR / 91 points

Intense cherry and kirsch aromas and flavors highlight this rich, powerful red. Spice, leather and tobacco elements chime in, keeping this fresh and resonant on the long, energetic finish. Best from 2016 through 2028 – B.S.

RISERVA 2008 – FALSTAFF/ 91 pts

Funkendes, mitteldichtes Rubin-Granat. Eröffnet in der Nase met würzigduftigen Noten, etwas Bergamotte, dann viel Weichselkirschen und Granatapfel, einladend. Griffiges Tannin, umwoben von schönem Schmelz, zupachend – aber mit Samthandschuhen, im Finale schöner Druck, halltlange nach. — OK

RISERVA 2008 – LA REPUBBLICA – 4+1/2 stars Luciano di Lello

2007

RISERVA 2007 – WINE ENTHUSIAST/ 93 pts

This bold and beautiful riserva shows a modern touch of ripe fruit and spice that drives the wine smoothly over the palate. An array of delicate aromas appear on the backend, including vibrant cherry, cigar box, pomegranate, cassis and lingering notes of smoky tobacco. This is a muscular and intriguing wine from a producer worth watching. — ML

RISERVA 2007 – JAMES SUCKLING / 92 pts

This is tangy and delicious with juicy fruit and a clean berry, cedar and light chocolate character. Medium to full body. Drink now or hold.

RISERVA 2007 – WINE SPECTATOR / 91 pts

Ripe and aromatic, featuring leather, underbrush, cherry and spice notes. Fresh and concentrated, with a long finish. Best from 2015 though 2029. —BS

RISERVA 2007 – FALSTAFF / 91 pts

Brilliant, rich ruby-garnet, the nose starts out with pronounced fruity notes of ripe raspberries, blackberries and some dark cherries. Very supple palate, also showing lots of ripe berry fruits, then opening up to fine, smooth tannins, long finish, very juicy. — OK

RISERVA 2007 – FALSTAFF / 91 punkte

Glänzendes, sattes Rubin-Granat.Eröffent in der Nase mit betont fruchtigen Noten, nach reifen Himbeeren, Brombeeren, etwas dunkle Kirschen, im Hintergrund leichte Kräuternoten. Am Gaumen sehr geschmeidig, zeigt auch da viel reife Beerenfrucht, öffnet sich dann mit feinkörnigem, geschmeidigem Tannin, langer Nachhall, sehr saftig. — OK

RISERVA 2007 – STEPHEN TANZER / 90 pts

Bright, dark red. Pungent aromas of red currant, spices and dried flowers are complicated by licorice and menthol notes. Smooth and plush in the middle, but with good verve and definition to the intense red berry and licorice flavors. Concentrated, nicely balanced Brunello (3.4 g/l extract and 6.5 g/l total acidty) with suave tannins; the classically dry finish shows good floral lift and lenght.

RISERVA 2007 – VINI D’ITALIA 2014 / 4 bottiglie Le Guide de l’Espresso

Dietro qualche velatura emergono note floreali e minerali; saporito, espressivo, sfodera un finale molto reattivo, caratterizzato da una forte salinità e da una robusta grana tannica. Alla luce dei convincenti risultati di quest’anno possiamo ben affermare che il temperamento e la forza comunicativa dei Brunelli della famiglia Máté non passeranno inosservati.

RISERVA 2007 – LA REPUBBLICA/ 4 stars

Excellent depth and length. With volumes of balsamic, it manages to be both supple and aristocratically sever.

RISERVA 2007 – LA REPUBBLICA/ 4 stelle

Possiede profondità e lunghezza, riesce ad essere flessuoso ed aristocraticamente severo, annunciando le prime e lunghe volumetrie balsamiche.