Altesino’s 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a DOCG Riserva from Tuscany, made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso and released only in “exceptional vintages.” The fruit is reported as hand-harvested from several estate sites—Altesino, Macina, Pianezzine, and Castelnuovo dell’Abate—drawing on a broad mix of exposures and elevations within Montalcino. The wine is described as spending extended time in large Slavonian oak, followed by additional bottle aging, and it is listed at 15% ABV.

In the glass, reviewers converge on a style that emphasizes dark-toned fruit with savory and earth-bound detail rather than sheer sweetness. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (93 points) notes “dark fruit and earthy notes with pressed flower and grilled herb,” adding that the wine delivers a “velvety, full-bodied texture.” Wine Spectator (94 points) leans into structure and mineral detail, citing “black cherry, blackberry, earth, vegetal and mineral flavors,” and praising the “fine concentration and length.” It also flags tannins as “stiff” and “grainy,” a reminder that this Riserva is built for cellaring and may benefit from time or decanting.

The top review here is James Suckling’s 95-point score—an excellent mark in a competitive category. Suckling highlights a more polished aromatic register, with “sweet berry, cherry, orange peel, plum and sandalwood,” and later “chocolate, toffee and cedar flavors highlighting the cherry fruit.” Taken together, the set of notes suggests a Riserva that pairs ripe fruit with savory complexity and clear oak shaping, while keeping its center of gravity on Sangiovese’s natural firmness.

The broader 2020 Brunello context is often described as bright and balanced, and this Riserva’s mix of concentration, floral-herbal detail, and firm tannin profile fits that picture, with the strongest endorsements emphasizing length, texture, and aromatic range.