Il Marroneto - Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Delle Grazie 2018

The wine from this unique vineyard is made from a selection of small, hand-picked clusters, resulting in dense fruit and a well-defined structure. Alongside the estate’s “classic” Brunello, it often exhibits a more earthy and autumnal character. The 2018 follows this trend, with aromas of chestnut and forest floor juxtaposed with the sweetness of the vintage’s fruit. Layers of long, suede-like tannins envelop a fleshy black cherry. As it opens up, subtle hints of pepper, leather, and incense foreshadow what’s to come. Above all, the Madonna delle Grazie embodies the vintage’s finest qualities, unfolding with agility and grace. 2024–2036

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie Il Marroneto reveals both elegance and power. The fruit is crisp and vibrant, while the wine exhibits medium-bodied concentration and a more elaborate style. This vintage of Il Marroneto has two distinct personalities. On the one hand, it is a wine brimming with beautiful primary fruit that is somewhat more approachable; on the other, it is a wine that promises excellent aging potential thanks to its freshness and silky tannins that melt on the palate. It is young yet mature. It is refined yet complex. The grapes come from the vineyard located below the Madonna delle Grazie chapel, and the wine is aged in special oak barrels for 41 months. The production run is 8,500 bottles.

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie takes its time to open up in the glass, complex and darkly seductive with its musky notes of red currant and savory spices, yet with lovely swirling hints of rose. A hint of smooth smokiness adds a lovely contrast. Its textures are like flowing velvet, with a chalky minerality that emerges quickly, perfectly balanced by a massive wave of dark red berries; yet throughout it all, the balance is expertly maintained by refined acidity that creates a sense of total inner harmony. The 2018 leaves a structured impression, yet its tannins are silky and refined, paired with a hint of violet and a hint of lavender that I find extremely alluring. I’ve tasted this wine over the past two years and have been monitoring this recent bottle for 48 hours; during that time, it never faltered and only gained in depth and complexity. Il Marroneto’s 2018 Madonna delle Grazie is undoubtedly one of the top three wines of the vintage. I tip my hat to Alessandro Mori and his team. 2025–2033

It offers a range of red and black fruits along with coffee, dark chocolate, mild spices, and earthy notes. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a pronounced black fruit character on the palate. Slightly tight and structured, with a firm, lingering finish that reveals notes of walnut shells and crushed stones. Best enjoyed after 2025.