“Powerful black cherry, red berry and earthy floral notes with a succulent underbelly of plum sauce and cola spice. Incredibly youthful and fervent with fine-grained tannins and a salty finish.”

“Berry aromas with fresh herbs, such as lemon grass and basil, from the mostly whole-berry fermentation. Lots of fresh flowers, too. Medium body with a solid core of fruit and very fine tannins that are polished and beautifully curated. Lovely presence and harmony. So drinkable now, but even better in 2027.”

“This is really fine on the palate with wonderfully integrated tannins that give tension and focus. It’s medium-bodied with lovely berry, cherry, cedar and spice. Peaches and flower stems, too. Creamy texture. Extremely long and vivid. Structured, but showing beautiful drinkability with wonderful balance and form. One to drink or hold.”

“This 2018 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino shows plenty of sophisticated and subtle oak with coffee, spice, cedar, and cream notes on the nose. On the palate it is a very firm, robust style with chewy tannins that linger on the finish. There is medium concentration in the middle of red cherry and tart cherry fruit. It is quite an assertive style, but it feels a little less concentrated in the middle than usual, but it is still very well put together. This estate in the northern part of the Montalcino DOCG is the passionate project of one of Italy’s famous fashion designers Massimo Ferragamo and a luxury hotel is part of the property.”

“The Campo del Drago vineyard is the very highest in elevation in the Capanna area and is the top bottling from Castiglion del Bosco, hailing from their coolest vineyard site. The 2018 vintage of Campo del Drago is already beautifully refined on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet wafting from the glass in a mix of red and black cherries, plums, cigar wrapper, gamebird, fresh oregano, a beautifully complex base of soil, a touch of lavender and cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very elegant in profile, with an outstanding core of fruit, excellent mineral drive and grip, ripe tannins and lovely focus and nascent complexity on the long, impeccably balanced and very refined finish. This is even more elegant in profile than the regular Brunello from Castiglione del Bosco, but it is also a bit more structured and will need a few more years in the cellar before it starts to soften up and drink with true generosity. An excellent wine. 2035-2085.”