Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2019

97 Points, Luca Gardoni – 95 Points, James Suckling

CastelGiocondo represents the crown jewel of Frescobaldi’s Montalcino holdings. It sits in the southwest corner of Montalcino at 300 meters elevation – treasured land in Tuscany. Their 2019 Brunello has what Luca Gardoni calls a “spicy elegance.” His 97-point review highlights refined black cherry aromas with touches of juniper and cinnamon, leading to remarkable density and drinkability. And he wasn’t alone in his praise of the wine.

James Suckling awarded 95 points, noting “black cherries, black bark, blackberries and lavender” with “juicy and polished tannins.” Decanter was one of three experts who came in at 93 points, praising the wine’s “suede-like texture” and calling it, “Well-made with everything effortlessly in place.” This is Brunello operating at the highest level and you can make a strong argument that it’s not even close to its prime yet.