Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is a premiere wine estate located on the southwest side of the Montalcino municipality in Castelnuovo dell’Abate. It covers a vast area of 170 hectares, encircled by vineyards, olive groves, woods, grain and pasture lands, at an altitude of 790 to 1,200 feet. The history of the estate dates back to the 17th century when the Palazzo, the oldest part of the property, was built by Montalcino’s bishop, Fabivs de’ Vecchis of Sant’ Antimo Abbey.

Due to its strategic position and ideal microclimate, the Pianrosso Vineyard is the best expression of the estate. It is the source of the best grapes for the Brunello Pianrosso and Brunello Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso wines.

This wine, made with 100% Sangiovese Grosso, is the result of a careful selection of grapes from the Pianrosso vineyard and has always been the estate’s most representative wine.

The Pianrosso vineyard covers 11,69 hectares (29,22 acres) and is composed of medium-grain soil with good levels of marl, dating from the Eocene period. The wine is aged for 36 months in 20-62 hl Slavonian oak barrels, followed by a minimum of 8 months period of bottle ageing.

Brunello Pianrosso has a ruby red color verging towards garnet. The bouquet is intense, complex, fruit-forward and spicy with hints of ripe red berry fruits enriched by various spicy notes. Warm, soft and harmonic on the palate, it has great balance among pronounced tannins, acidity and savoriness. This elegant wine has good potential for further cellar ageing.

The 2018 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is a distinguished Sangiovese Grosso from Tuscany's renowned Brunello di Montalcino region. This red wine, bottled at 14.5% alcohol by volume and sealed with a cork, has gained significant acclaim from various wine critics.

Kerin O'Keefe from kerinokeefe.com awarded this wine an impressive 98 points, highlighting its aromatic complexity with notes of "camphor, forest floor, wild berry and dark spice." She praised its full-bodied and elegant nature, noting the presence of "ripe Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco" on the palate, all balanced by bright acidity and velvety tannins. She recommends enjoying this wine between 2025 and 2038.

James Suckling gave it a near-perfect score of 97 points, appreciating its complexity and depth. He described the wine as having "lifting citrus and herb undertones to the blue and red berry fruit," along with thyme, sage, lavender, mocha, and clove. Suckling noted its full-bodied nature, firm yet seamless tannins, and evolving espresso finish. He suggested trying it after 2025.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also lauded this wine with a 96-point rating. Reviewer Monica Larner highlighted its "medium-rich appearance and vibrant color saturation," which remains intact despite the tendency of Sangiovese to lose color quickly. She noted flavors of "sweet cherry, redcurrant, spice, blue flower, balsam herb and orange peel," creating a balanced wine sourced from an 11.7-hectare vineyard. The wine's production amounts to 37,000 bottles.

Vinous rated the wine at 94 points, describing its "dark depths of crushed plums and black cherries" offset by rosemary, spiced citrus peels, and hints of cocoa. The review emphasized its "lively and spicy character" with cooling mineral tones and zesty acidity, recommending it between 2024 and 2033.

Wine Spectator also scored it 94 points, noting the wine's complexity with "dark, savory notes of licorice, eucalyptus and tobacco" alongside cherry and berry flavors. They praised its texture and the long finish with wild herb and iron elements, suggesting it will be best from 2026 through 2045.

Decanter provided a 92-point review, highlighting the wine's "deliciousness" and umami quality. They noted the presence of iron and salty minerals alongside persimmon and hibiscus, finishing with Mediterranean herbs. The review emphasized its immediate drinkability and textural complexity due to gentle sandy tannins.

Finally, Wine Enthusiast rated it 95 points, appreciating the "classic Sangiovese aromas of vanilla, orange peel, cherry and cola." The palate was described as sophisticated with austere tannins, fiery acidity, and a finish of violet, cherry, orange zest, and coffee.

In summary, the 2018 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is a highly acclaimed wine, praised for its complexity, balance, and elegance. It is recommended for aging, with optimal drinking windows varying among the reviewers.