A “spectacular site” with 98 points and over half off?!

If you’re into collecting the best of the best, snag some of this. And while you’re at it, CHECK THE APP EXCLUSIVE OUT!

Nope, you are not hallucinating. It’s the vintage that continues to give. Leave it to The World of Fine Wine to articulate this poetically: “Nature was generous to Montalcino in 2021 - and Montalcino in turn was generous to us with an outstanding vintage.”

Monical Larner for Wine Advocate chronicles, “I spent a lovely morning with Tommaso Cortonesi driving to the far reaches of the appellation to better understand his vineyard sites… he grew up closely connected to these two distinct properties, each of which today yields a single-vineyard expression of Brunello. The Poggiarelli site, situated at 450 to 460 meters in elevation along the road to Castelnuovo dell’Abate behind Fattoria dei Barbi, is particularly compelling. Defined by steep slopes bordered by forest and pure galestro schist soils, it is often among the last parcels to be harvested due to its cooler conditions.”

A little map sleuthing reveals that if you continue down that road, you arrive at a couple of my all-time favorites, Poggio di Sotto and Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona. Similar vibes are obvious in this beauty.

Visually AND aromatically, it’s dark and deep, glistening ruby in the glass. The bouquet blossoms into a charismatic display of dried cherries, dusty rose, incense, and cedar, contrasted by savory herbs. The seamlessly silky texture communicates elegance and polish, imposing a mélange of tart raspberries and blackberries, complicated by saturating minerals and profoundly round tannins. Through it all, a beam of bright acidity maintains freshness and balance. Structured, with a lively twang of spiced citrus peel and ripe red plums that effortlessly lasts over a minute. Stunningly energetic, built to last a LONG time.

If you’re not salivating already, get your palate checked. If you’re even remotely intrigued by Brunello, the ultimate expression of Sangiovese in Tuscany, this wine will make you a believer.

Even at the full $140, this wine is RARELY seen, and our allocation is about to disappear at $65.

98 Points – The Tasting Panel “Silkiness, depth, and restraint show a quiet confidence, with cedar and tobacco surrounding savory cherry. A lift of violets, forest floor, and flinty mineral tones emerge, coming into focus on the elegant finish.”

95+ Points – Wine Advocate “The Cortonesi 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Poggiarelli reflects the estate’s reputation for ripe yet balanced Sangiovese. Dark-spectrum flavors of blackberry and cherry dominate, and the wine shows a powerful, almost monolithic profile at this early stage. While tightly wound today, there is ample freshness to support further development with bottle age. Production is limited to 9,000 bottles. The wine emphasizes structure and depth, aligning with Cortonesi’s more muscular interpretation of Brunello. The wine is aged in French oak, something Tommaso Cortonesi says is necessary given the tannins and power of fruit from this spectacular site. Drink 2027-2045.”