Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020
(Tuscany, Italy) - [JS 94] [WA 94] [DM 94] [WS 94] [JD 93] [VM 93]

Winemaker Notes:

Argiano Brunello di Montalcino is distinguished by its elegance and its deep ruby red color. It presents a good concentration on the mid-palate and a persistent aftertaste, with a rounded and voluptuous body, and interesting, silky tannins. It unites potency and elegance and looks like having a promising future. With its tempting perfumes of red berries and its clean freshness, the complexity of this wine presents an excellent balance. To fully appreciate its qualities, decant the wine at least one hour before serving.

2018 Vintage was #1 Top 100 Wines of 2023

Vinification

Sangiovese grapes are usually harvested between the end of September and the middle of October, depending on the type of soil, the exposure of the vineyards and the climatic trend. The must is allowed to ferment in contact with the skins in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for two or three weeks. The fermentation time varies from one tank to another, depending on the vineyards where the grapes are grown. Upon completion of alcoholic fermentation, malo-lactic fermentation begins spontaneously. This is a natural process that transforms malic acid into lactic acid and conveys smoothness to the wine. This second fermentation can last from several weeks to several months, varying on the basis of a variety of factors, such as the temperature in the cellar. Not only does this process add smoothness to the wine, reduce its acidity and stabilise it naturally, it also conveys greater depth, complexity and elegance.

94 Points - James Suckling:
"A little tight now, with cherry and cedar character on the nose and palate. Plenty of flowers as well. Medium-bodied and crisp, with firm tannins that are all together. There’s energy and brightness to this. Give it two or three years to open. Drink from 2027." (Sep 2024)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
"Here's a nicely balanced Brunello that boasts bright cherry fruit intensity despite the many years of cellar aging required by the appellation. The Argiano 2020 Brunello di Montalcino offers a robust layer of red and purple berry fruits along with soft spice, grilled herb and sweet potting soil. There is a slightly botanical element to the wine with green herb and dried lavender. The wine is made with fruit from old and new vines, ranging in age from 12 to 55 years old. The tannins are very fine-grained, and the acidity is present to good effect but is not too sharp. This is an ample 104,000-bottle release." - Monica Larner (Nov 2024)

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"From six parcels blended after fermentation in cement and aged in 30- to 50-hectolitre oak casks, the 2020 estate Brunello is an absolute charmer. Exotically scented, it leads with spiced persimmon, arbutus bush and heady lavender. Hints of sea and sand are redolent of the not-so-faraway Tuscan coast. Appetising and accessible, the palate is packed with glossy, almost candied fruit, and there is a fullness of flavour without being heavy. Fine, powdery tannins dissolve fluently, exposing a juicy core of succulent blood orange. Impossible not to like.: - Michaela Morris (Nov 2024)

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Offering rose, red berry and earth aromas, this perfumed red adds to its flavor profile with iron and tobacco notes. Complex and balanced, with lively acidity and an edge of chalky tannins on the long aftertaste. Shows terrific intensity and freshness. Best from 2027 through 2043." - Bruce Sanderson (Jun 2025)

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The bright red 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is pretty and pure, with a fruit-forward profile on the nose of bright red cherries, sweet tea, candied orange, and fennel. Medium-bodied, it floats on the palate with fine tannins and a snap of mouthwatering acidity that adds a bit of energy to this more elegantly styled vintage from Argiano. It’s very pretty and approachable now but should age gracefully over the coming 10-12 years. (Drink between 2025-2037)." - Audrey Frick (Jan 2025)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is decidedly savory and intense, with notes of tobacco, wilted violets, dusty earth and ashen stones. It flows across the palate with ease, drenched in primary concentration, soft-textured and round, offset by a core of tart wild berries. A tinge of spice slowly saturates the nose toward the close, tapering off staining and long, with a balanced tannic inflection that promises many years of balanced maturation. (Drink between 2026-2036)." - Eric Guido (Nov 2024)