Val di Suga

Beautiful and very balanced red from the three main historical areas of Montalcino, which bring different geo-climatic characteristics due to their different slopes and altitudes - and thus provide a unique balance between freshness and structure, body and elegance.

Ruby red with garnet highlights, opens immediately with a rich, complex nose. Initially dark cherry, chinotto orange and violet. Then it opens to broader, more complex notes of blueberry, vanilla, tobacco, cinnamon and chocolate with a subtle menthol finish. This juicy 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers plenty of energy and brightness, carried through the cherry fruit and wild berry flavors at its core. The primary fruit is surrounded by spice, grilled herbs and floral earth. The natural complexity, purity and depth of the Sangiovese grape comes through particularly well in this dream vintage and especially in this Brunello. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, noble ruby red with a radiant core. Open-hearted and inviting nose, slightly fleshy, with nuances of ripe sour cherries, pepper and raspberries, reverberating with rose hips. Shows very polished and balanced on the palate, with tight tannin, opens up great as it progresses, slightly salty finish." Falstaff

"Bricky ruby. Senescent fruit sweetness, lovely ripe cherry and undergrowth. Some apparent oak sweetness on the palate too but even so there is a delicacy here, perhaps because the tannins are so fine and relatively light. Elegant, dry, delicate, long, even juicy." Jancis Robinson

"There’s something savory and slightly rustic about the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino that I find quite attractive. Baked black cherries, balsamic spice and hints of animal musk form up to create a beguiling display. The textures are silky-smooth, with cooling acids and salty minerals lifting the expression while giving way to tart red fruits. Tannins mount, slowly drying out the senses yet there’s still plenty of pleasure to be found here today, as the 2016 comes across as both youthfully structured but also spicy and fresh. This is a blend of Val di Suga’s vineyards throughout Montalcino." Vinous

"Dusty notes with crushed gravel and dried tea leaves are a prelude to aromas of fresh button mushrooms and hints of fennel. Savory mushrooms and olives, followed by firm, fine-grained tannins. Structured and full-bodied." James Suckling

The name Poggio al Granchio comes from the small pond in the middle of the vineyard, located under an imposing holm oak and home to some lively freshwater crayfish. It is the area with the highest vineyards on the hill of Montalcino. It is a vineyard that gets the morning sun and is exposed to the strong climatic influence of Monte Amiata (former volcano and sacred mountain of the Etruscans) that rises opposite. This area of Montalcino has rich Galestro soils that are particularly good for Brunello. On Galestro, the Sangiovese becomes mineral and savory, with silky tannins; on the nose, it has notes of ripe fruits of the undergrowth, combined with that unmistakable hint of flint that you can smell right on the slate. On the palate, the wine shows a subtle, elegant but assertive entry and proves tasty and mineral. The Brunello here is dark in color and has great aging potential.

Intense ruby red with violet glints. Powerful and sharpened bouquet of fresh cherries, red currants, blackberries, anise and myrtle. On the palate, it has an unmistakably subtle Sangiovese character, the wonderfully fanned primary flavors flanked by long, silky tannins. It has a very tasty and mineral finish that only this region can give to Sangiovese. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling ruby with lots of garnet. Multi-layered nose with notes of plums, pickled cherries and liquorice. Very good tension on the palate, unfolds with present, grippy tannin, shows bite and firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Ripe, featuring sweet plum, cherry, balsamic and iron notes, this is powerful and expressive. Dense tannins underlie the fruit on the lingering aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"Purity of cherries and watermelon comes through here with some fresh, floral character to the aromas. Medium to full body. Round and fruit-laden tannins follow through to a flavorful finish with lovely fruit." James Suckling

"Full, deep red. Aromas of blueberry, red cherry cola, violet, coffee and smoke, complicated by balsamic undertones. An absolutely beautiful wine that is already sweet, pliant and accessible, but with a solid, polished spine nicely framing the musky red fruit, mocha, and licorice flavors and ensuring a long life ahead. Clearly deeper than the regular and Vigna al Lago 2015 Brunellos, this finishes long and suave. Made with grapes picked in a vineyard in the southeastern sector of Montalcino. This 2015 is excellent." Vinous

"Val di Suga makes three single-vineyard expressions of Sangiovese, and this is one of them. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio comes from a sun-kissed 18-hectare plot located at the southeastern side of the appellation that also sees very cool nights, thanks to the soft breezes and diurnal shifts that come off the nearby Monte Amiata. You can see a sketch of this vineyard in the little drawing on the front label. Compared to the other wines in this series, this wine is distinguished by a thickly textured mouthfeel and warm aromas of dark plum and blackberry. That acidity comes in at the end to give the wine linearity and length." Robert Parker

The name Poggio al Granchio comes from the small pond in the middle of the vineyard, located under an imposing holm oak and home to some energy-landed freshwater crayfish. It is the area with the highest vineyards on the hill of Montalcino. It is a vineyard that gets the morning sun and is exposed to the strong climatic influence of Monte Amiata (former volcano and sacred mountain of the Etruscans) that rises opposite. This area of Montalcino has rich Galestro soils that are particularly good for Brunello. On Galestro, the Sangiovese becomes mineral and tasty, with silky tannins; on the nose it has notes of ripe fruits of the undergrowth, combined with that unmistakable hint of flint that you can smell right on the slate. On the palate, the wine shows a subtle, elegant but assertive entry and proves tasty and mineral. The Brunello here is dark in colour and has great ageing potential.

Intense ruby red with violet glints. Powerful and sharpened bouquet of fresh cherries, red currants, blackberries, anise and myrtle. On the palate, it has an unmistakably subtle Sangiovese character, the wonderfully fanned primary flavours flanked by long, silky tannins. It has a very tasty and mineral finish that only this region can give to Sangiovese. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, intense ruby red. Opens with fine spicy notes of sandalwood and liquorice, some star anise, then lots of plum. Grippy, dense tannin characterises the palate, deep and earthy, slightly balsamic notes, firm pressure and long finish." Falstaff

"Smudgy ruby. Taut and zesty, with more tension than on the straight Brunello. Really tight but everything in place. Needs more time." Jancis Robinson

"Aromas of roasted coffee bean, licorice and menthol form the nose along with hints of rose petal. Full bodied and elegantly structured, the smooth, enveloping palate features sour cherry, blood orange, espresso, star anise and toasted hazelnut set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"A dusty and mineral start to this, followed by dried lavender, smoke and truffle. It's full-bodied and juicy with a wealth of ripe cherries, wild strawberries and lemon peel. Ripe tannins. Tight and polished." James Suckling

"The Poggio al Granchio vineyard lies on schistous or 'galestro' soil, which accounts for this Brunello's iron-tinged, meaty succulence. The tannins have an engaging thickness, plumping up the fruit without colonising it, allowing the flinty flavours typical of this vineyard full play." Decanter

"Black currant, cherry and plum flavors abound in this red, accented by licorice, tar, menthol, iron and tobacco notes. Pure, detailed and harmonious, with spice and mineral elements lingering on the long aftertaste. Almost approachable now, but better in three to five years." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio is a dark and rich expression of earth and black fruits, laced with crushed stone minerality and hints of sour citrus. There are depths of silky textures here yet also a lifted and cooling feel to the expression, giving way to zesty wild berries, savory spice, mint and inner florals. It's classically structured and showing only a glimpse of what's to come after time in the cellar, leaving an impression of poise and purity. The Poggio al Granchio is a gorgeous expression of the vintage, hailing from the Southeast of Montalcino and refined entirely in large Slavonian oak. Tasted twice with consistent results." Vinous

As with the Annata, the grapes for this Riserva come from the three main historical areas of Montalcino, which bring different geo-climatic characteristics due to their different slopes and altitudes - and thus provide a unique balance between freshness and structure, body and elegance.

The longer Riserva maturation of about one year enriches this Brunello both in its complexity and depth as well as with a more nuanced bouquet. There is a little more of everything here: more fruit, more minerals, leather, licorice, and on top of that, deep vegetal aromas make this wine more generous, layered, and enchanting. Its body is also fuller and more elegant than in the fresher, racier and more clearly focused 2016 Annata, due in part to the warmer, more opulent 2015 vintage. SUPERIORE.DE

The northern slope of Montalcino was not once covered with vines, but was cultivated with cereals, olives and cherries. In this area, which is influenced by the Apennines, the seasons are more pronounced, continental and the north wind lowers the temperature significantly in winter. Therefore, it is the coldest Brunello area at this time of year, but also the wettest. This northern slope is a gentle hill: a characteristic more reminiscent of the Crete Senesi area, right next to it, than of the two stiffer, steeper and warmer southern slopes of Montalcino.

Due to the climate and the origin of the soils, the grapes in this area of Montalcino are harvested last every year. Vigna del Lago is the vineyard that welcomes all visitors arriving from the north of Montalcino. It takes its name from the lake that surrounds it and which plays a fundamental role in the microclimate of the area; the soil is a constant alternation between clay and strips of very fine galestro.

Brunello Vigna del Lago is a historic cru of the Val di Suga winery, it is an old school Brunello, from the times before the arrival of barriques and technology. An authentic product that is enjoying increasing demand. Unlike the Poggio al Granchio, which is aged in new French 300-litre barriques, this wine is aged in large 30- and 50-hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels.

It is a wine with lower alcohol content, bright orange-ruby colour, with very fine and almost imperceptible tannins, with a floral nose of citrus notes, myrtle and fresh cherries. It is a Brunello of great richness and balance, and also has a very pleasant lightness, well-contoured acidity and a salty, mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Brilliant, rich ruby garnet. Open and approachable nose with nicely ripened cherry, some blackberry. Shows present, powerful tannin on the palate, pithy on the back end, good pressure." Falstaff

"Nice deep red color. Pure aromas of red plum and ripe strawberry, with notes of minerals and balsamic oils. Soft and rich in the mouth, with an unctuous texture and insidious sweetness. Rather broad in flavor for this bottling and much rounder than usual; no doubt the warmer 2015 vintage contributed a certain measure of fat here. An excellent Brunello that finishes long." Vinous

"Aromas of black-skinned berry, charred earth and new leather lift out of the glass. The concentrated medium-bodied palate offers dried black cherry, tobacco, star anise and orange zest alongside austere fine-grained tannins and firm acidity." Wine Enthusiast

"This succulent red combines strawberry and cherry fruit, with earth, iron and tobacco flavors. Elegant and detailed, unfolding to reveal a lingering aftertaste of red fruit, mineral and earth elements." Wine Spectator

"The Val di Suga 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Lago draws its fruit from a low-lying vineyard site (at 300 meters in elevation) next to a big water reservoir. The heat of the summer sun permeates these vines, and you can feel that intensity in the wine's medium-dark appearance and its ripe fruit flavors. This release of 8,000 bottles offers an attractive level of ripeness and balanced dark fruit." Robert Parker

"This shows focus and balance, compared to some of the other Brunellos here in this year. Full body, creamy and ripe tannins with roundness and beauty. Lovely already." James Suckling

The northern slope of Montalcino was not once covered with vines, but was cultivated with cereals, olives and cherries. In this area, influenced by the Apennines, the seasons are more pronounced, continental and the north wind lowers the temperature significantly in winter. It is therefore the coldest Brunello area at this time of year, but also the wettest. This northern slope is a gentle hill: a characteristic more reminiscent of the Crete Senesi area, right next to it, than of the two stiffer, steeper and warmer southern slopes of Montalcino.

Due to the climate and the origin of the soils, the grapes in this area of Montalcino are harvested last every year. Vigna del Lago is the vineyard that welcomes all visitors arriving from the north of Montalcino. It takes its name from the lake that surrounds it and plays a fundamental role in the microclimate of the area; the soil is a constant alternation between clay and strips of very fine galestro.

Brunello Vigna del Lago is a historic cru from the Val di Suga winery, it is an old school Brunello, from the times before the arrival of barriques and technology. An authentic product that is enjoying increasing demand. Unlike the Poggio al Granchio, which is aged in new French 300-litre barriques, this wine is aged in large 30- and 50-hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels.

It is a wine with a lower alcohol content, bright orange-ruby colour, with very fine and almost imperceptible tannins, with a floral nose of citrus notes, myrtle and fresh cherries. It is a Brunello of great richness and balance, and also has a very pleasant lightness, well-contoured acidity and a salty, mineral finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Powerful, bright ruby. Very clear and precise nose, fragrant, of ripe dark cherries, cardamom in the background. Very much juicy fruit on the palate, opens with well-integrated, fine-meshed tannin, round and smooth, fine salty components in the final." Falstaff

"Just mid ruby. Perfumed cherry and oak nose with a hint of coffee bean. Elegant and vibrant cherry and raspberry palate, yet with great depth. Fresh, nervy and long with coating tannins adding more depth to the fruit on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"Forest-floor, camphor, wild-berry and toasted nut aromas lead the way. Elegantly structured, the linear palate offers dried cherry, blood orange, star anise and hazelnut framed in close-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"This starts out with pronounced iron and graphite aromas and flavors, wrapped around a beam of black cherry and black currant fruit. Earth, tobacco and wild herb accents get swept up in the dense, dusty tannins on the finish." Wine Spectator

"Crushed gravel and dried earth on the nose with intense layers of mushrooms, dried oysters and potpourri. Dried flowers and grapefruit peel. It's full-bodied with refined tannins and a long, elegant finish. Quite tight. Juicy and savory at the end." James Suckling

The Spuntali vineyard is historically known as the best area of the south-western, sea-facing slope of Montalcino. Spuntali is a historic cru for Brunello di Montalcino: it is its unique terroir, moreover, it is the sunniest and driest of the three slopes of Brunello, the sea just 40 km away already provides a Mediterranean climate here.

In general, the Mediterranean Sea plays a crucial role here, moderating the warm summer nights and cold winters. This allows for an early reawakening of the plant in spring and an important day/night temperature change in summer. Because of these particular climatic conditions, it is the site whose grapes are harvested first in the appellation. Here, Sangiovese takes advantage of the beneficial effects of the sun, reaches maximum ripeness and produces rather creamy wines, with sweet, soft tannins and notes of candied fruit.

Strong ruby garnet. Unveils a warm, intense and refined bouquet of ripe fruit with notes of sour cherry, dried figs and candied fruit. On the palate, the sweet and soft tannins accompany the long finish, rich in notes of plums and blackberries. Deeply layered on the palate with rich flavours of cherries, blackberries and dark fruits. There is much to discover in the background: spices, leather and balsamic herbs. All these elements are skilfully interwoven and make for a very impressive interpretation of the Sangiovese grape. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, rich ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Very clear and fragrant nose, full of blackberry and mulberry, plus some leather and liquorice. Shows rich and sturdy on the palate, opens up with grippy tannin in many layers, very long final, a long runner." Falstaff

"Concentrated ruby. The most oak-driven of all the 2016 Val di Suga Brunellos. Oak notes hovering over brooding cherry fruit. Succulent and deep yet not heavy at all. Fantastic chewy tannins on the long finish bursting with tangy cherry fruit." Jancis Robinson

"On the luminous slopes of Montalcino's southwest, Vigna Spuntali is characterised by sandy soils. Winemaker Andrea Lonardi explains that this yields bigger berries than schist or clay. In some vintages, like 2016, he bleeds off 10-15% of the juice to give more density. Very Mediterranean in personality, it explodes with thyme, oregano, mint and sage blossom. There's a lusciousness to the palate which exhibits exotic red fruit and a salty lick. Sandy tannins lend textural complexity to this radiant Brunello." Decanter

"Blue-flower, baking-spice, new leather and ripe black-skinned berry aromas are front and center on this fragrant, full-boded wine. Polished and elegantly structured, the savory palate features ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon and licorice framed in firm, fine-grained tannins. It's already tempting but give it time to develop even more complexity." Wine Enthusiast

"Full of ripe cherry, plum and floral aromas and flavors, this red delivers plenty of energy and focus. Backed by a dense swath of tannins, this remains balanced and elegant through the lingering finish. The fruit element is the lasting impression." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Spuntali from Tenimenti Angelini - Val di Suga opens up slowly in the glass. Its understated bouquet focuses on bright red fruits and florals with hints of cedar and a dusting of confectioners' spice. Silky in texture, cast upon a medium-bodied frame, the 2016 impresses more on purity than power, with a display of wild strawberry and salty minerals which pepper the senses. Tension builds, as crystalline tannins penetrate deeply, clenching the palate in youthful poise yet with a coating of concentrated primary elements here that tempt the imagination." Vinous

"Dried leaves and roots, bark, walnut husks and black olives. Plenty of savory notes. Great depth of flavor, too. On the palate there's more walnut, chocolate, black cherry and olive. It's full bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Wonderful depth here." James Suckling

The name Poggio al Granchio comes from the small pond in the middle of the vineyard, located under an imposing holm oak and home to some lively freshwater crayfish. It is the area with the highest vineyards on the hill of Montalcino. It is a vineyard that gets the morning sun and is exposed to the strong climatic influence of Monte Amiata (former volcano and sacred mountain of the Etruscans) that rises opposite. This area of Montalcino has rich Galestro soils that are particularly good for Brunello. On Galestro, the Sangiovese becomes mineral and savory, with silky tannins; on the nose, it has notes of ripe fruits of the undergrowth, combined with that unmistakable hint of flint that you can smell right on the slate. On the palate, the wine shows a subtle, elegant but assertive entry and proves tasty and mineral. The Brunello here is dark in color and has great aging potential.

Intense ruby red with violet glints. Powerful and sharpened bouquet of fresh cherries, red currants, blackberries, anise and myrtle. On the palate, it has an unmistakably subtle Sangiovese character, the wonderfully fanned primary flavors flanked by long, silky tannins. It has a very tasty and mineral finish that only this region can give to Sangiovese. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling ruby with lots of garnet. Multi-layered nose with notes of plums, pickled cherries and liquorice. Very good tension on the palate, unfolds with present, grippy tannin, shows bite and firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Ripe, featuring sweet plum, cherry, balsamic and iron notes, this is powerful and expressive. Dense tannins underlie the fruit on the lingering aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"Purity of cherries and watermelon comes through here with some fresh, floral character to the aromas. Medium to full body. Round and fruit-laden tannins follow through to a flavorful finish with lovely fruit." James Suckling

"Full, deep red. Aromas of blueberry, red cherry cola, violet, coffee and smoke, complicated by balsamic undertones. An absolutely beautiful wine that is already sweet, pliant and accessible, but with a solid, polished spine nicely framing the musky red fruit, mocha, and licorice flavors and ensuring a long life ahead. Clearly deeper than the regular and Vigna al Lago 2015 Brunellos, this finishes long and suave. Made with grapes picked in a vineyard in the southeastern sector of Montalcino. This 2015 is excellent." Vinous

"Val di Suga makes three single-vineyard expressions of Sangiovese, and this is one of them. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio comes from a sun-kissed 18-hectare plot located at the southeastern side of the appellation that also sees very cool nights, thanks to the soft breezes and diurnal shifts that come off the nearby Monte Amiata. You can see a sketch of this vineyard in the little drawing on the front label. Compared to the other wines in this series, this wine is distinguished by a thickly textured mouthfeel and warm aromas of dark plum and blackberry. That acidity comes in at the end to give the wine linearity and length." Robert Parker

The name Poggio al Granchio comes from the small pond in the middle of the vineyard, located under an imposing holm oak and home to some energy-landed freshwater crayfish. It is the area with the highest vineyards on the hill of Montalcino. It is a vineyard that gets the morning sun and is exposed to the strong climatic influence of Monte Amiata (former volcano and sacred mountain of the Etruscans) that rises opposite. This area of Montalcino has rich Galestro soils that are particularly good for Brunello. On Galestro, the Sangiovese becomes mineral and tasty, with silky tannins; on the nose it has notes of ripe fruits of the undergrowth, combined with that unmistakable hint of flint that you can smell right on the slate. On the palate, the wine shows a subtle, elegant but assertive entry and proves tasty and mineral. The Brunello here is dark in colour and has great ageing potential.

Intense ruby red with violet glints. Powerful and sharpened bouquet of fresh cherries, red currants, blackberries, anise and myrtle. On the palate, it has an unmistakably subtle Sangiovese character, the wonderfully fanned primary flavours flanked by long, silky tannins. It has a very tasty and mineral finish that only this region can give to Sangiovese. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, intense ruby red. Opens with fine spicy notes of sandalwood and liquorice, some star anise, then lots of plum. Grippy, dense tannin characterises the palate, deep and earthy, slightly balsamic notes, firm pressure and long finish." Falstaff

"Smudgy ruby. Taut and zesty, with more tension than on the straight Brunello. Really tight but everything in place. Needs more time." Jancis Robinson

"Aromas of roasted coffee bean, licorice and menthol form the nose along with hints of rose petal. Full bodied and elegantly structured, the smooth, enveloping palate features sour cherry, blood orange, espresso, star anise and toasted hazelnut set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"A dusty and mineral start to this, followed by dried lavender, smoke and truffle. It's full-bodied and juicy with a wealth of ripe cherries, wild strawberries and lemon peel. Ripe tannins. Tight and polished." James Suckling

"The Poggio al Granchio vineyard lies on schistous or 'galestro' soil, which accounts for this Brunello's iron-tinged, meaty succulence. The tannins have an engaging thickness, plumping up the fruit without colonising it, allowing the flinty flavours typical of this vineyard full play." Decanter

"Black currant, cherry and plum flavors abound in this red, accented by licorice, tar, menthol, iron and tobacco notes. Pure, detailed and harmonious, with spice and mineral elements lingering on the long aftertaste. Almost approachable now, but better in three to five years." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio is a dark and rich expression of earth and black fruits, laced with crushed stone minerality and hints of sour citrus. There are depths of silky textures here yet also a lifted and cooling feel to the expression, giving way to zesty wild berries, savory spice, mint and inner florals. It's classically structured and showing only a glimpse of what's to come after time in the cellar, leaving an impression of poise and purity. The Poggio al Granchio is a gorgeous expression of the vintage, hailing from the Southeast of Montalcino and refined entirely in large Slavonian oak. Tasted twice with consistent results." Vinous

The Spuntali vineyard is historically known as the best area of the south-western, sea-facing slope of Montalcino. Spuntali is a historic cru for Brunello di Montalcino: it is its unique terroir, moreover, it is the sunniest and driest of the three slopes of Brunello, the sea just 40 km away already provides a Mediterranean climate here.

In general, the Mediterranean Sea plays a crucial role here, moderating the warm summer nights and cold winters. This allows for an early reawakening of the plant in spring and an important day/night temperature change in summer. Because of these particular climatic conditions, it is the site whose grapes are harvested first in the appellation. Here, Sangiovese takes advantage of the beneficial effects of the sun, reaches maximum ripeness and produces rather creamy wines, with sweet, soft tannins and notes of candied fruit.

Strong ruby garnet. Unveils a warm, intense and refined bouquet of ripe fruit with notes of sour cherry, dried figs and candied fruit. On the palate, the sweet and soft tannins accompany the long finish, rich in notes of plums and blackberries. Deeply layered on the palate with rich flavours of cherries, blackberries and dark fruits. There is much to discover in the background: spices, leather and balsamic herbs. All these elements are skilfully interwoven and make for a very impressive interpretation of the Sangiovese grape. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, rich ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Very clear and fragrant nose, full of blackberry and mulberry, plus some leather and liquorice. Shows rich and sturdy on the palate, opens up with grippy tannin in many layers, very long final, a long runner." Falstaff

"Concentrated ruby. The most oak-driven of all the 2016 Val di Suga Brunellos. Oak notes hovering over brooding cherry fruit. Succulent and deep yet not heavy at all. Fantastic chewy tannins on the long finish bursting with tangy cherry fruit." Jancis Robinson

"On the luminous slopes of Montalcino's southwest, Vigna Spuntali is characterised by sandy soils. Winemaker Andrea Lonardi explains that this yields bigger berries than schist or clay. In some vintages, like 2016, he bleeds off 10-15% of the juice to give more density. Very Mediterranean in personality, it explodes with thyme, oregano, mint and sage blossom. There's a lusciousness to the palate which exhibits exotic red fruit and a salty lick. Sandy tannins lend textural complexity to this radiant Brunello." Decanter

"Blue-flower, baking-spice, new leather and ripe black-skinned berry aromas are front and center on this fragrant, full-boded wine. Polished and elegantly structured, the savory palate features ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon and licorice framed in firm, fine-grained tannins. It's already tempting but give it time to develop even more complexity." Wine Enthusiast

"Full of ripe cherry, plum and floral aromas and flavors, this red delivers plenty of energy and focus. Backed by a dense swath of tannins, this remains balanced and elegant through the lingering finish. The fruit element is the lasting impression." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Spuntali from Tenimenti Angelini - Val di Suga opens up slowly in the glass. Its understated bouquet focuses on bright red fruits and florals with hints of cedar and a dusting of confectioners' spice. Silky in texture, cast upon a medium-bodied frame, the 2016 impresses more on purity than power, with a display of wild strawberry and salty minerals which pepper the senses. Tension builds, as crystalline tannins penetrate deeply, clenching the palate in youthful poise yet with a coating of concentrated primary elements here that tempt the imagination." Vinous

"Dried leaves and roots, bark, walnut husks and black olives. Plenty of savory notes. Great depth of flavor, too. On the palate there's more walnut, chocolate, black cherry and olive. It's full bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Wonderful depth here." James Suckling