2013 Salicutti Brunello Montalcino Piaggione

Vivid red. Bright floral and extremely clean aromas and flavors of black cherry, strawberry, sandalwood and minerals are lifted by a very strong note of violet. This very fruity and floral Brunello is a remarkably easy-to-drink, downright pretty wine that has sneaky concentration and a captivatingly complex, suave, multilayered finish. Both violet and black cherry notes echo on your palate long after you swallow. Another knockout Brunello from owner Francesco Leanza, who has transformed Salicutti into one of the world’s benchmark Sangiovese estates. 95+ points

Salicutti`s 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione shows a brilliant ruby appearance that captures the ambient light. This is a classic expression from Montalcino with seamless aromas of wild flower, cassis, smokey ash and Mediterranean herb. The mouthfeel awards an incredible feeling of linearity, precision and focus. This is a wine of pedigree that promises a long aging evolution ahead. The lucky new owners of this estate have purchased a real gem in the Italian winescape. 95 points

Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this radiant red offers enticing scents of tobacco, new leather, dark-skinned berry and a whiff of camphor. The elegant, structured palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and orange zest set against well-knit, fine-grained tannins. It’s beautifully balanced, with bright acidity. Give this ample time to develop to its full potential. Drink 2023–2038. 96 points