Ciacci Piccolomini - Brunello di Montalcino 2014

Vinous : 90+

' Full red-ruby. Deep aromas of dark red cherry, blackberry, licorice, shoe polish, and fresh herbs. Enters big and tannic, with rich dark fruit and herb flavors, but not especially graceful and loaded with currently youthful but also harsh tannins. Clearly not as deep or as well balanced as the best recent vintages of this wine (given the challenging vintage) but closes long with repeating plum and dark berry flavors. This wine’s tannins certainly call for some patience but should come around as there’s enough fruit lurking beneath that tannic cloak. '

Ian D'Agata

Robert Parker : 92+

' Like the other wines I tasted from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona this year, I am surprised by the soft ripeness achieved in the 2014 Brunello di Montalcino. This was a cool and soggy vintage so those dark and sweet fruit flavors are counterintuitive. However, they elevate the wine to a higher intensity threshold and a more profound flavor profile. The wine offers enough crisp acidity and tannic firmness to hold it tightly together at this young stage in its lifespan. Some 60,000 bottles were released. '

Monica Larner

James Suckling : 87

' Aromas of dried roses and light dried red fruit lead to a palate that has compact, punchy, dried red-fruit flavors. Mature now, so drink up. '

James Suckling