Cerbaiona

Vinous

93 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2008

Succulent red cherries, dried roses, violets, tar and spices are some of the many notes that are woven together in the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino. Intensely perfumed, the 2008 shows many of the classic Cerbaiona signatures, even if it is a touch less polished than some of the recent vintages. At the same time, the 2008 has come together nicely over the last few years, so it will be interesting to watch what happens with further time in bottle. Dried rose petals and spices add complexity to the subtle, layered flavors. This is one of the stronger wines of the year.

92 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2009

Dark cherries, plums, mocha, dark spices and leather flesh out in the 2009 Brunello di Montalcino. Layered and voluptuous in the glass, the 2009 is one of the best early drinking Brunellos I have ever tasted from Cerbaiona. Clean veins of minerality and graphite wrap around the fruit on the expressive finish. This is a strong showing from one of Montalcino's great artisan estates.

Wine Advocate

96 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2011

Cerbaiona's 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the protagonists of the vintage. There is no denying the sheer beauty and focus of this wine. It makes a fabulous first impact with super sharp tones of wild berry, cola, balsam herb, flint and crushed oyster shell. Those drying mineral notes leave a lasting impression. In the mouth, this wine is super elegant, tight and delicately nuanced. Unfortunately, I have not had the best track record with aged Brunello from Cerbaiona (ten years or more) personally, but I am hopeful that a wine of this caliber and depth will restore my faith. No matter what the aging trajectory ultimately demonstrates, this wine certainly does taste fantastic at this young stage.

95 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2012

Cerbaiona's 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a nuanced and delicate wine that offers ample power, intensity and length. What the wine does best is paint a portrait of the grape in its most pure and naked state. It offers crisp outlines with loads of wild berry, blue flower and moist earth on the inside. That balanced ensemble of flavors adds to the long and polished persistence you feel in the mouth. Give this wine another 10 years of aging to best appreciate its slow evolution and budding complexity.

93+ - ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2015 WHITE LABEL

I've been having a hard time keeping up with samples from Cerbaiona. The management prefers to release the wines a bit later and shies away from the classic en primeur or critics' tasting events. Indeed, most years I just end up buying the bottles that I review, when I can find new vintages in retail. It's a true pleasure to return to a simple, honest, fresh and pretty wine such as the 2015 Rosso di Montalcino. It offers enormous purity and finesse, despite its rather simple and straightforward construction. What you get here is the purity of Sangiovese with some dark plum, crushed flower and tilled earth. The wine presents a glossy, silky quality of elegant tannin. This is one of the best Rossos I tasted this year. - ML

93 - ROSSO VDT NV

The Cerbaiona NV Rosso V.D.T. is a real beauty. This mysterious blend of what appears to be about 90% Sangiovese and 10% Pinot Nero (with no vintage declared on the label) opens to a sultry, dark appearance with some deep ruby shine that shows from within. The bouquet has elements that remind me of a classic Tuscan Sangiovese (made in a hands-off and transparent manner) on the one hand, and fragrant, blue flower elements that do in fact recall a distant Pinot Nero on the other. It also has some carbonic-adjacent aromas and a whole lot of freshness, with mint and medicinal herb. Dusty earthenware or baked terracotta also appear. The wine is certainly beautiful, and I'm excited to recommend it. ML

Wine Enthusiast

95 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2011

This delicious Brunello opens with classic Sangiovese aromas of dark-skinned berry, new leather, crushed herb and baking spice. Showing impressive freshness and elegance for what was a scorching vintage, the balanced palate delivers layers of juicy morello cherry, licorice and cinnamon while refined tannins provide polished support. Drink through 2026.