One of the oldest estates producing Brunello di Montalcino, Valdicava is located in the Montosoli area, famous in Montalcino for wines with great balance of body and aroma. Vincenzo Abbruzzese, owner and winemaker, has been making wine at Valdicava for more than 30 years. He and his family have long-crafted Sangiovese masterpieces, and their Brunellos are considered a benchmark - among the finest in the region. Vincenzo is known to be one of the masters of Brunello due to his passion and intense dedication to the vineyard, and clinical attention to detail at each step of the wine-making process.

Nearly 67 of the 333 acres of the property are dedicated to vines, all strictly Sangiovese. Martini Bramante, Vincenzo Abbruzzese’s grandfather, bought the property in 1953 and began bottling “Brunello Valdicava” in 1968. Today, with the help of Valdicava’s agronomist, Andrea Paoletti, and oenologist Attillio Paglio, Vincenzo has succeeded in bringing his wines to the next level and in establishing a stellar reputation.

Valdicava's philosophy is to work more in the vineyards to express balance and terroir. They like to produce a Brunello that represents the best tradition in structure and aromatics with more elegance, harmony, and fruit. Grapes from their Poggio, Pievecchina, Pratea and Sferracavallo vineyards provide for their primary wine, Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino.

The 2013 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino is a notable wine from the Tuscany region of Italy, specifically the Brunello di Montalcino sub-region. This red wine, made from Sangiovese Grosso grapes, presents a robust profile with a 13.5% alcohol content and is sealed with a cork.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine a score of 94, highlighting its "beautifully saturated expression" and "dark garnet appearance." The review emphasizes the wine's "soothing, velvety texture" and a bouquet filled with "dark berry nuances," ranging from ripe cherry to black fruit tones of prune and plum. The wine's texture, structure, and power are identified as its strongest attributes. The Advocate also notes the wine's ample volume and long staying power, with a total production of 56,100 bottles (3/1/2018, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).

Wine Spectator gave the 2013 Valdicava Brunello a score of 92, describing it as "fresh and harmonious." The review mentions the presence of flavors like cherry, plum, leather, iron, and coffee, with well-integrated tannins and a rich texture. The finish is noted as long and tinged with tobacco. Wine Spectator suggests that the wine will be best enjoyed from 2020 through 2033, with 4,675 cases made and 1,800 cases imported (6/15/2018, Wine Spectator).

Wine Enthusiast's review awarded the wine a score of 91, calling attention to its "exotic spice, blue flower, plum, leather and a whiff of game." The palate is described as vibrant and tightly wound, offering flavors of black cherry, espresso, and star anise, framed by assertive, close-grained tannins. The reviewer recommends drinking this wine after 2023 (5/1/2018, Wine Enthusiast).

James Suckling provided an excellent review, scoring the wine 98 points. He praised the wine for its complexity and balance, noting its "berry, dried mushroom and flower character" alongside hints of orange peel. Suckling describes the wine as having a "full body, firm and velvety tannins, and a flavorful finish," which he finds "so complex and beautiful." He suggests that while it is enjoyable now, it will also age well for decades, recommending to try it starting in 2021 (11/27/2017, jamessuckling.com).

In summary, the 2013 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino is a well-regarded wine with high praise for its texture, structure, and flavor complexity. It has received excellent reviews, particularly from James Suckling, and promises to age gracefully.