Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino 'Madonna delle Grazie' 2017

Sitting at the highest part of the estate at around 450m, this single site has the oldest vines on the property and takes its name from the little church just above the vineyard. This Brunello 'Grand Cru' as Alessandro refers to it, takes a different path than his other 2 wines. Once picking is complete, all the fruit is placed into large wooden fermentation vats that see no agitation or stirring before fermentation - the fruit is simply left to kick off its own fermentation. Post fermentation maceration lasts again for weeks, the wine is racked off into similar bottis and left for 41 months.

"Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential." Drink 2025-2037. 98 Points KERIN O'KEEFE

"The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie lights up the senses from the very first moment. Its aromatics alone are worth the price of entry; an exotic, spicy bouquet blends lavender, blood orange and tart raspberries with mentholated herbs, smoke and crushed stone. The textures are unbelievably soft, like liquid velvet, enveloping with mineral-tinged ripe cherries and sweet, sweet spice. This is so pretty and expressive, yet also juicy and fresh. Fine tannins mount, though they are only noticeable through the finale, where saline-minerals mix with sour citrus and autumnal spice in an expression that just goes on and on. The 2017 transcends the vintage, and while it may not possess the power typical of Madonna delle Grazie, it instead communicates its undeniable beauty and grace. I tasted the 2017 both in Montalcino, at the winery, and in our office, where it only got better over the three days I followed it. It's a total classic." 96 Points ERIC GUIDO for Vinous, Antonio Galloni

"This is one of the icon wines of the appellation. The Il Marroneto 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie shows an elegantly streamlined appearance with shiny ruby highlights. This warm-vintage expression does not have the same vertical lift that we saw in the glorious 2016 edition, but that wine sets the bar very high (and it earned a 100-point score). This vintage is perhaps shapelier and more saturated with rose, wild cherry, peat moss and blood orange. The house style embraces extreme finesse, and you get that here. Alessandro Mori has also expertly managed the tannins, with results that appear silky and almost glossy. Thanks to elevation and soils, this cool growing site north of Montalcino village performs very nicely in the hot vintages such as this." 98 Points MONICA LARNER for The Wine Advocate

Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Sub Region: Brunello di Montalcino