Cortonesi’s Brunello di Montalcino “La Mannella” 2021 is a single-site Sangiovese from the north side of Montalcino, near Montosoli, where cooler conditions can help preserve lift in a warm year. Winemaker Tommaso Cortonesi told *Decanter* that “reduced yields due to frost and the warm growing season” helped explain the “extra weight this demonstrates in 2021,” and he also brought in new, large-format oak that year, “50-hectolitre casks” (Decanter).

At its best, the wine marries ripe fruit with structure and a distinctly savory edge. Monica Larner calls it an “excellent” showing in her 94-point review for *Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate*, noting it “opens to savory notes of dark fruit and spice,” with a “medium-rich, velvety texture” and “a fine balance between freshness and fruit weight.” Larner adds useful detail for collectors: the site benefits from “relatively cool growing conditions,” with vines planted in 1983 and 1998, and production of “approximately 35,000 bottles.”

Multiple critics underline both perfume and firmness. *Decanter* (92) finds “classic scents of yellow broom” alongside “sweet herbs, baked stone and a hint of sundried tomato,” while describing a “compact, dark cherry core” shaped by “assertive and dry, sand-textured tannins,” finishing with “an iron-like element.” Eric Guido at *Vinous* (93) highlights “crushed black raspberries, clove, and lifting mint nuances,” with “brisk acidity” and a “mineral tinge” plus a “hint of citrus.”

The styling reads modern without losing Brunello grip. James Suckling (92) notes “graphite, warm bread and baking spices,” calling it “rich, modern and juicy…tightly wound tannins,” and advises, “Drink from 2027.” *Wine Spectator* (93) emphasizes freshness and density—“black cherry, blackberry, violet and oak spice”—and projects longevity: “Best from 2029 through 2045,” with “3,500 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.”