Critical Acclaim 2018:
WS92
Wine Spectator
Packs a mix of ripe cherry, plum, rose hip, wild thyme, earth and menthol flavors aligned to a dense, brawny structure. Balanced in a rustic way, with fine length. Think grilled steak with this bad boy. Best from 2026 through 2045.
JS92
James Suckling
Hazelnuts, chocolate, lemon peel and sweet berry fruit. Bright and energetic with a full body and tight-grained tannins. Tangy yet excellent weight.
RP91
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Le Raunate (with 6,000 bottles released) shows more fiber and textural richness next to the very dry Brunello annata. This wine also has more fruit, albeit on the dark side with baked plum and blackcurrant. It reveals solid structure and more phenolic richness too, thanks to the warm growing conditions. It ages in casks for two years followed by one year in tonneaux. Production is 6,000 bottles. I'd go with a 10-year drinking window at most.