Vinous

There’s something almost animalistic about the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli, which I’m finding quite appealing. Wild blueberries, crushed violets, allspice, spiced orange rinds and hints of cocoa can all be found in the glass. The clay soils of the area impart a velvety-smooth and undeniably elegant feel, with a dense textural wave of ripe dark red fruits that coats the palate in concentration, complemented by sweet inner herbal tones and hints of lavender. Like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, the 2018 reveals a massive wall of fine-grained tannins through the finish, leaving only nuances of sour citrus and currants to linger. This untamed beast of a Brunello will require extensive cellaring to reveal all of its charms. Of note, there will be no Riserva PS bottled in this vintage, and so all of that juice was used to bolster the Pelagrilli and the Rosso.

93 Points / Drinking 2026 - 2034

By Eric Guido / December 2022