Uccelliera Brunello Di Montalcino 2018

Uccelliera is a small estate and winery on the southeast slopes of the Tuscan hilltop village of Castelnuovo del’Abato in southern Montalcino. It is highly regarded for its red wines made from Sangiovese, most notably its Brunello di Montalcino Riserva.

The 2018 vintage was characterized by a cold winter with abundant precipitations, both snowy and rainy, that helped to recover the lack of water reserves in the soil from the previous year. Higher temperature than the average registered in March and April followed by a fairly rainy May. From the first week of June the temperatures started to rise again until the month of August with occasional, scattered thunderstorms. Sunny days in September with significant diurnal temperature range allowed a good phenolic and aromatic ripening of the grapes.

Winemaker Notes: Aromas of black cherries, plums, and walnuts with undertones of cedar. The palate is dense and full-bodied, with rich tannins, and a complex finish.

Expert Tasting Notes: The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino opens nicely in the glass, drawing upon more intensity and depth as it does. It shows firm lines and a fleshed-out mouthfeel that encourages plenty of layering and textural richness. That velvety quality is the enduring signature of this estate, one that has achieved consistent results over the years. The only outlier to this pretty portrait is a 15% alcohol content that, although well absorbed by the wine’s texture, does risk becoming a distraction. – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 94 Points