98 point

A sweet, floral nose welcomes you with a warm embrace of vanilla and cherry before an earthy savoriness surprises you with notes of soil, leather, sun-dried tomato and oregano. The tomatoes sweeten on the palate joined by cherries and chili heat before a saline finish. A wine that defines itself with fruit so alive you could take its pulse, and contoured, seductive tannins.

97 point

This sleek, delineated red grabs your attention with a beam of cherry and black currant, while pointed tannins line the finish. Shows earth, menthol, white pepper and juicy red berry flavors that are expressive and mouthwatering. Superlong finish. Best from 2026 through 2048.

98 point

An essential part of Ilcinese history, a wine product of the great zonation work strongly wanted by Bernardino Sani. The nose is faceted, with hints of wild plum, pepper leaf and star anise. Tension and sapidity to the palate, with fruity-officinal return.

96 point

A very fine and polished Brunello with fine, creamy tannins that are polished and very curated. Cherry and bark character. Medium to full body with ripe tannins. Juicy. Orange peel. Try this after 2025, but already delicious.

94 point

Intriguing and complex in the glass alternating notes of red prunes with hints of blood orange, chinotto, cherry, helichrysum flowers, chamomile, linden and guaranà. A lot of green mandarin dominates the secondary scene. Full bodied, perfectly matured tannins and a finale in the classic mold, delicate and persuasive.

Pressed rose, aromatic herb, wild berry and Mediterranean brush aromas take center stage on this breathtaking red. Elegantly structured, the savory palate features tart cherry, star anise and a hint of coffee bean accompanied by tightly woven fine grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it perfectly balanced.

95 point

95P+: Darkly alluring and understated in the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Suolo wafts up to show musky black currants offset by hints of sage and clove. This is graceful and finessed, yet enveloping, with bright acidity enlivening its red plum and ripe strawberry fruits, as hints of balsamic spice resonate throughout. The 2018 finishes with a grippy tension, as fine tannins penetrate deeply, leaving hints of dried cherries and lavender that slowly fade. The Vigna del Suolo will require patience to fully soften and unlock its aromatics. That said, it will be worth the wait. This is a beauty.

95 point

Winemaker Bernardino Sani describes Vigna del Suolo simply as the best fruit of the estate. It hails from the oldest plantings on a limestone-rich soil reaching an elevation of 320 metres. While it demonstrates greater density than the estate bottling, do not expect a brawny beast - this is exquisitely refined and midweight, though not insubstantial. Gorgeous scents of raspberry, rooibos tea and rhubarb greet the nose. The palate is pure-fruited and invigorating, with crunchy acidity. Grainy tannins grip confidently, and it closes with a long, energetic and mouthwatering finish. Very appealing now but should charm for the next dozen years.

95 point

A more serious and mysterious profile emerges in the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Del Suolo, with unfolding layers of cherry liqueur, leather, smoky cedar, licorice, and rocky earth. Medium to full-bodied, with fantastic structure and balance, it has depth without weight, offering ripe tannins that are well-integrated and driving acidity that creates fantastic tension throughout. Notes of tea leaves, bergamot, clove, and turned soil all work together harmoniously.

94 point

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, 20% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese, the hot-vintage 2020 Solengo (in a heavy glass bottle) is very rich and dense with firm textural support and a full-bodied style. The wine is bold and beautiful and so is the quality of the fruit.

Now this is a knockout. Bright red. Spicy tobacco, red fruit, blood orange, lemon curd, pot pourri and sweet spice on the captivating, very complex nose. Very high but balanced acidity extends the flavours nicely on the long finish, but also makes this young wine’s tannic clout all the more obvious. Time spent in a good cellar will fix that. Really outstanding stuff here, the 2018 Brunello by Argiano easily ranks as one of the ten best of the vintage.