Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
Learn Mor About Col d’Orcia Brunello di MontalcinoThrough its Reviews.
2018 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This promising Brunello is hallmarked by pretty cherry, strawberry, currant, and floral aromas and flavors. Starts out elegant and lacy, then the dense matrix of tannins emerges, giving different character to the long finish. Reveals wild herb and mineral notes that add depth. Best from 2025 through 2043.”
93 Pointz Jeb Dunnuck
“Full and enveloping with purple floral perfume, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino is lush with violets, blue fruit, and black raspberry and leather. This moves seamlessly to the palate, where it takes on even more depth, with iron richness, meat, red cherry, raspberry, cedar, and fresh soil. A balanced wine for its style, it is a lovely expression where more warmth is not needed. Drink 2025-2040.”
93 Pointz James Suckling
“Roasted herbs, wild cherries, thyme, and dried mushrooms on the nose. Medium to full body with silky yet firm tannins supporting supple and fresh layers. Excellent length with a delectably savory character. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2023.”
93 Pointz Vinous
“Masses of crushed cherries and cloves give way to nuances of spiced citrus peels and cedar as the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino comes to life in the glass. This is round and pliant on the palate, with a balanced inner sweetness contrasting its mineral-tinged acids and tart wild berry fruits. Grippy tannins mount toward the close, yet fail to slow the 2018’s momentum, as notes of salted licorice are left to resonate under an air of dried roses. This is a deep and characterful rendition of Col d'Orcia’s Brunello, but patience will be required to unlock all of its charms.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
93 Pointz Decanter
"Santiago Marone Cinzano explains that in 2018, délestage played a key role, especially over extended periods of 8-12 hours, allowing delicate skins to macerate with a reduced amount of juice in order to coax out sufficient concentration. Beautifully weighted, it's full yet agile with enough stuffing to carry it over the next decade. Above all, it underscores the freshness of the vintage: fragrances reveal themselves slowly but are very much in the floral spectrum, with cherry and thyme blossoms lifted by traces of pepper. Crunchy red plum and succulent cherry flavours take over on palate, where youthful grippy tannins need some time to yield. Drinking Window: 2024-2035.”
2017 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Made with certified organic fruit, the 2017 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino definitely shows some of the heat of the vintage, and I think this impression is reinforced by the location of this property on the south side of the appellation, where temperatures are normally a few degrees higher on average. The wine-making team at this historic estate is not deterred by hot vintages, and the winemaking protocol captures the freshness and brightness of Sangiovese nonetheless. In fact, the alcohol content measured 14.5%, which is almost contained, compared to some other wines in this report from cooler subzones. A learned comfort with organic farming is key to this wine’s detailed aroma of black cherry, crushed rose, and mediterranean herb. Production is an ambitious 180,000 bottles.”
93 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Subtle aromas of underbrush, new leather, tobacco, and camphor waft out of the glass. Tightly knit and full-bodied, the palate features dried cherry, star anise, and ground clove framed in rather assertive, close-grained tannins. Drink 2024–2029.”
93 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This red offers plenty of cherry, strawberry, wild thyme, and sage flavors. Starts out on the elegant side, before chewy tannins kick in and show a more robust character. Balanced and long, with tobacco and earth accents on the finish. Best from 2025 through 2042.”
92 Pointz Vinous
“The 2017 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino wafts up with a dusty display of cherry, wild berries, crushed stone, and savory herbs. This is silky and elegant in feel, Offering balanced acidity matched by masses of tart red and black berry fruits, along with the firming tannins. Its long, rich, and dark with haunting inner florals, but also a surprisingly classic structure. Despite a 30% loss of production in 2017, Col d’Orcia made a balanced and enjoyable Brunello.”
90 Pointz James Suckling
“A chewy and powerful Brunello with lots of ripe tannins and slightly dried fruit character. Its full and layered with a big finish. A little raw, but should soften with age. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2024.”
2016 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
95 Pointz Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2016 Col d’Orcia Brunello offers notes of pine resin, black cherry, and dried strawberry aromatics. The palate is concentrated and compact, with dried tomato leaf bitterness and tobacco. The structure is not shy, with a rich core of fruit, bold tannin upfront, and just as much acidity to match. This is a bold wine for the 2016 vintage, packed with sun-kissed warmth.”
95 points Vinous
“Dusty earth gives way to dried roses, incense, hints of cedar, sage, currants, and black cherries in a display that makes the 2016 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino a very special experience. It’s nuanced and perfumed from start to finish, boasting silky textures contrasted by tart berries and minerals, but with sweet tannins that frame the expression perfectly. Its inner sweetness is balanced by bright acids, creating an almost-juicy sensation, right up until the moment you realize that your palate is aching with youthful tension. There’s so much going on and much more to come, making me wonder what the Poggio al Vento might offer in the 2016 vintage. For now, that doesn’t even matter, because the 2016 Col d'Orcia impresses on nearly every level.”
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
“An earthy, meaty version, sporting black cherry, plum, raw beef, iron, and bouillon aromas and flavors. The fruit element intensifies on the palate, playing out on a long finish that is balanced and fresh, showing dusty tannins.”
93 Pointz James Suckling
“A very polished, refined red with berry and flower aromas, as well as hints of citrus and rose petals. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely polish.”
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino is a widely available wine with an ample production of 240,000 bottles. It is also a landmark wine in Montalcino, although it tends to be very vintage-sensitive, with some releases showing much better than others. In the case of the twofold 2015 and 2016 powerhouse vintages, I like both wines about the same. This cooler vintage shows dark fruit and spice, while there's an extra layer of leather or cigar ash at the back. This wine is made with organic fruit. It displays a mid-weight mouthfeel with tight tannins and lively acidity, the kind that will cut through your favorite steak dinner.”
93 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Underbrush, wild-berry, pipe tobacco, and violet aromas lead the nose. On the full-bodied palate, taut tannins support black cherry, licorice, and ground clove.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
93 Pointz Decanter
“This starts off as its usual youthfully reductive self, but with plenty of air it displays appealing perfumes of iris, violet, and plum. Midweight and elegant, it seems to defy the generous warmth of the estate’s southwestern site. Nevertheless, layers of dark fruit wrap around the tight, flinty core while dry, powdery tannins give ample support. The finish lingers with spice and garrigue. I suspect this will age slowly and handsomely.”
2015 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
94 Pointz James Suckling
“A full, very layered young Brunello with cherry, floral, and light toffee and cedar character. It’s very layered and fine-tannined. Lively acidity and focus. Really attractive dried citrus at the end. From organically grown grapes. Give this two or three years to soften. Try after 2022 and onwards.”
94 Pointz Vinous
“At first, the 2015 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino is quite closed in the glass, to the point I move on to the wine next to it… However, upon returning to the glass a few minutes later, I come to realize that the 2015 simply needs time to come to life; and once it does, watch out. Here I find a gorgeous and intense display, mixing savory and sweet, as well as, earth and fruit, as dusty cedar and spice give way to ripe strawberry with a hint of citrus, with wild herbs and a hint of animal musk adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures meld into woodland red berry fruits, zesty spice, hints of cedar, savory herbs, saline minerals, and mounting tannins. The finish is long and structured, yet there remains enough primary fruit to balance it all out, as well as resonating acids, intriguing hints of citrus, and spice. This is remarkably balanced, singing already, yet it’s full of potential for the cellar.”
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This combines the best characteristics of Sangiovese, with cherry and strawberry fruit, earth, leather, and iron notes and balsamic elements of wild thyme, rosemary, and Mediterranean scrub. Shows a bit of heat on the finish, yet remains fresh and long. Best from 2023 through 2042. 16,600 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.”
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2015 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino (made with organic fruit) has a very distinctive aromatic profile with subtle hints of rusty iron and moist potting soil. However, this wine also shows an impressive evolution in the glass with those earthy and sanguine notes lifting to reveal sweet oak tones of vanilla and baking spice that remain pronounced in a second underlayer. To me, Col d'Orcia's wines are almost always characterized by a medicinal or balsamic element, and the primary fruit is downplayed as a result. This vintage puts on a good show with wild berry, blackcurrant, and dried blackberry. That said, this wine is more ethereal and spicy than it is fruity per se. Some 240,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”
90 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Warm and structured, this has aromas evoking scorched earth, underbrush, and mature black-skinned berry. On the firm palate, assertive, close-grained tannins accompany dried black cherry, licorice, sage, and tobacco while the warmth of alcohol caps off the finish. Drink 2023–2030.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
94 Pointz Decanter
The Col d’orcia style of Brunello is based on clarity of fruit expression in open-knit wines of medium body, approachable fairly young, and with usefully long drinking windows. The 2015 is especially engaging and mouthwatering. Organic. Drinking Window 2022-2035.
2014 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
91 Pointz James Suckling
“Aromas of plums, flower, and hints of asphalt follow through to a medium body, juicy and savory fruit, and a flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
91 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2014 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino opens to a ripe and dark quality of fruit. These tones underline the slightly warmer growing conditions present on the southern side of the appellation where Col d'Orcia is located. That extra warmth is an important factor, especially in a cool and soggy vintage such as 2014. This wine appears to have suffered less compared to its peers. The bouquet is layered with rich aromas of cured meat, spicy tobacco, and moist potting soil that add to the weight and gravitas of the wine. This Brunello is compact and mid-weight in terms of texture. Some 200,000 bottles were produced.”
91 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Immediate gratification is the hallmark of this red, featuring enticing juicy strawberry, cherry, currant, and rose flavors. Linear and elegant, with a spine of prickly tannins, but this feels balanced in the end. Drink now through 2032.”
88 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Made with organically farmed grapes, this opens with aromas evoking underbrush, tobacco leaf, coffee bean, and black-skinned fruit. It's tight and austere, suggesting unripe cherry, powdered sage, and clove accompanied by assertive, close-grained tannins and bright acidity.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
90 Pointz Decanter
“Col d’Orcia has made a Brunello in every vintage since 1973, including challenging ones like 2002 and 2014. Proprietor Francesco Marone Cinzano notes that he didn’t have problems with fungal disease despite rainy conditions, and credits years of organic farming for this. Still, he reduced production by 20% and will not release a Riserva or single-vineyard bottling. The tannins are quite firm for the vintage but the overall frame is relatively modest. Nevertheless, a further year in bottle will allow this to knit together and there’s plenty of crunchy acidity to carry it.”
2013 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
94 Pointz James Suckling
“The deep, rich red-plum nose sucks you into this powerful Brunello that has great fruit and polished, dry tannins that are beautifully in synch. Long, intense, and rather complex finish. A great food wine for tonight, but this has the structure to hold for up to a decade.”
93 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Earthy aromas of underbrush, tobacco leaf, and grilled porcini lead the nose. The full-bodied linear palate evokes wild cherry, pomegranate,, and ground clove set against tightly knit tannins and fresh acidity. Drink from 2021 through 2033.”
92 Pointz Vinous
“Bright red. Pomegranate and sour red cherry on the fresh, precise nose. Lively but dense in the mouth; peppery red cherry flavors are complicated by tobacco and underbrush nuances. Finishes long, with youthfully chewy tannins and a repeating spicy nuance. Made from organic grapes. I was surprised to learn that this beautifully graceful, very light-on-its-feet Brunello has 29.4 g/L dry extract (I would have guessed less); by comparison, Col d’Orcia’s 2012 Brunello had greater extract (32.5 g/L), but was also less refined. Different strokes for different folks: each wine is lovely in its own right and each will deservedly have fans.”
91 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2013 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino opens to a light garnet color and an elegant appearance. The bouquet is redolent of wild berry, cherry, and red forest fruit. At the back, you get mild spice, cured tobacco, and grilled rosemary. The effect is delicate and finessed. Yet the wine offers a long and polished mouthfeel with integrated tannins and acidity. These help to build power and length on the close.”
90 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Light-weight, yet with dense tannins, offering plum, soy, leather, and iron flavors. Vibrant, with a lingering finish and a dusty sensation at the end. Best from 2021 through 2032.”
2012 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
93 Pointz James Suckling
“Bright and freshly fruity with plum, cherry, and walnut undertones. Medium to full body and firm and silky tannins. Really beautiful and bright. One of the best wines in years from here. Drink or hold.”
93 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“New leather, truffle, sun-baked soil, menthol, and grilled herb aromas practically jump out of the glass. The big, chewy palate delivers mature wild cherry, black raspberry, licorice, and tobacco notes, set against a backdrop of firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2020–2027.”
92 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Macerated cherry and plum flavors mingle with iron, meat, eucalyptus, and tobacco flavors in this dense, beefy red. Compact, leaving a bitter almond note on the finish, yet staying fresh. Best from 2020 through 2032.”
90 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2012 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino offers an authentic interpretation Of the celebrated appellation in southern Tuscany. The bouquet is rich and sophisticated with candied cherry, dried currant, and spice. I tasted this wine very soon after It's commercial release And it took a little while to open. It showed a point of reduction well. Give the glass a few vigorous swirls and the wine begins to peel back. Varietal aromas of moist, button mushrooms, grilled herb, and blue flower ultimately add to the wine's timid complexity. Give this wine two or three years to flesh out.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
#2 Wine of the Year
“Col d’Orcia, meaning the hill overlooking the Orcia River, is located at the very edges of the Brunello di Montalcino geographical limits. It is the largest organic farm in Tuscany, gaining the status back in 2010. Since then, these organic grapes are grown on the highest slopes of the property, and the ageing process of 3 years is handled in large Slavonian oak barrels. Still a touch reticent on the nose yet elegant and spicy, with red fruit embellished by notes of tobacco leaf and dried herbs. Evened, vertical, and refined on the palate, with a clean, inviting finish.”
2011 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
93 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Forest floor, rosemary, ripe berry, new leather, and a whiff of earth are just some of the aromas in this structured red. The full-bodied, chewy palate flexes muscle and restraint, offering ripe black cherry, licorice, clove, and dried aromatic herb while firm, ripe tannins provide the framework. While it won't need many years to become accessible, it also has some staying power. Drink 2019–2026.”
92 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“Notes of smoke and black licorice lend a brooding character To this wine's red plum and black cherry flavors. It's tannins feel firm yet polished, giving a cool structure to the rich fruit core that take on accents of tarragon and black spices. Match its herbal richness to braised lamb.”
92 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Broad and beefy, with rich aromas of cherry, earth, and leather. Retains enough smoothness and acidity to drive the cherry, tobacco, and eucalyptus flavors to a long finish. Best from 2017 through 2025. 16,500 cases made.”
91 Pointz James Suckling
“A delicious and balanced 2011 Brunello with dried cherry, floral, and strawberry character. Medium body, super polished tannins, and a clean, crisp finish. Drink now.”
91 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Streamlined and tight, the 2011 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino shows a tight fabric, bright berry aromas, and a touch of sour cherry on the finish. Col d'Orcia is a winery in a unique position. Because a good part of the vineyards are located on the lower, southern side of the Montalcino appellation, fruit ripens faster and shows bolder characteristics. At the same time, the house style is classic and unembellished. These two factors don't normally jive together, but this estate does a great job of making sure they do, thanks to rigorous green harvesting and fruit selection. The bouquet is redolent of wild berries, white cherry, dried raspberry, and spice. At the back, you'll find delicate tones of cola and rosemary. I'm pleased to see that this wine is not overtly marked by the hot summer”
2010 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Reviews
93 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This smells like beef bouillon, picking up pure cherry and plum fruit on the palate, along with savory elements. Lean, with well-integrated tannins and a long, meaty finish of tobacco and earth.”
92 Pointz James Suckling
“A traditionally styled Brunello with nuts, cherries, and plums on the nose and palate. Full to medium body, firm tannins, and a fresh, lively finish.”
92 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s
International Wine Review
“The 2010 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino is a lovely showing that offers wonderful aromas of sweet red berries and plums which are mixed together with spices, juniper, citrus peel, and freshly cut floral. This is medium to full-bodied Brunello is structured around fine tannins that are beautifully integrated into the silky texture which carries on through the pretty finish. Although this is already quite accessible, it will only get better with some additional bottle age.”
92 points Wine & Spirits
“The fruit in Col d’Orcia’s 2010 feels dark and juicy, layered with low notes of sotto bosco and tobacco and a high note of mint. The texture feels springy and light despite the dark and earthy tone of the flavors, with firm tannins that mold the fruit into shape. Match its woodsy character to a charred sirloin.”
92 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Earthy aromas suggest tilled soil, savory herb, leather, dried rose and a whiff of game. The bright palate offers crushed cherry, black raspberry, savory herb and white pepper alongside polished tannins. It's well balanced and fresh. A licorice note signals the close.”
91 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2010 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino is surprisingly subdued on first nose and a little unsteady on its feet at this young stage. Give it time and the wine gracefully brings out a long chorus line of aromas that hit the high notes and well and the low ones in slow increments. The bouquet is redolent of small forest berry, white ash, smoke, licorice, balsam herb and delicate spice. It's important to underline the extremely elegant and feminine personality of this wine. This Brunello has no place to go but up in terms of its complexity and evolution. Put it aside for at least five more years before popping the cork.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
91 Pointz Decanter
“Clean and reserved exhibiting slow cooked red fruits undertones. Rich and round finishing long with hints of spicy tamarind and strong coffee notes. Very rich and full bodied with lots of concentration - Needs lots of time.”
Where to Buy Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Online.