Valdicava’s 2021 Brunello di Montalcino “Vigna Montosoli” is a single-vineyard Brunello from the Montosoli cru on Montalcino’s northern side, made from 100% Sangiovese. It’s also a scarce bottling: Wine Spectator reports “900 cases made, 200 cases imported,” which helps explain the attention it draws when released.

The critical consensus is that this is a high-intensity, long-lived Brunello built around ripe fruit, firm structure, and site-driven freshness. James Suckling awarded an excellent 99 points and called it “one of the wines of the vintage,” highlighting “aromas of raspberries, dark cherries, lavender and roses,” followed by a “chewy and tight tannin structure” and a “long, intense and muscular finish.” Suckling is clear that the power is not just for show; “the tannin backbone necessitates aging,” with a recommendation to “try after 2029.”

Vinous’ Eric Guido (98 points) focuses on complexity and clarity of expression, describing a “gorgeous bouquet” that moves from “sweet smoke and stone dust” into “crushed woodland berries, rubbed sage, exotic spice and a lifting hint of fresh pine.” On the palate, he finds it “youthfully dense but seamless and smooth,” with “polished red fruits” lifted by “a contrasting tinge of sour citrus.” Guido emphasizes its completeness and precision, concluding: “This is one of the most complete 2021s I’ve tasted—Valdicava has achieved a striking new level of purity.”

Wine Spectator (97 points) underlines the wine’s aromatic range—“mint, mineral, kirsch, black currant, blackberry, violet and underbrush”—and frames the style as energetic as well as concentrated: “Fresh and even racy, with bracing acidity focusing the tightly wound flavors.” The note sums up the near-term experience simply: “All of the components are there; this just needs time,” projecting a long window, “best from 2030 through 2050.”