Biondi-Santi (Il Greppo) Brunello di Montalcino 2018

96 points Kerin O'Keefe: "The 2018 Biondi Santi Brunello shows the winery’s hallmark finesse that French investment group EPI, owners of the historic estate since 2017, have scrupulously preserved thanks to the passion and determination of a great on-site team. It also shows the finesse of the vintage, starting with its heady aromas of wild rose, dark spice, forest berry and eucalyptus. It’s refined and linear, delivering juicy red cherry, star anise and hints of dried herb that dance across the palate before closing on a note of bitter orange. Bright acidity and taut, refined tannins provide balance and polished support. Showing youthful tension, this will age well for years. Drink 2028–2038. (May 2024)"

96 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino will be released on March 1, 2024. The color is medium red/garnet, and the nose opens to fresh aromas of orange citrus peel, dusty earth, cranberry, spices, and juniper. Medium-bodied and more linear, it lifts through the palate with fine tannins and a refreshing, mouthwatering finish. It has a great saline feel and is a savory and fresh wine. This is a Brunello I’d love to drink over the next 10 years for its accessibility and refined texture, although I imagine it will also have some real potential for cellaring. Drink 2024-2040. (Feb 2024)"

95 points Eric Guido (Vinous): "The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous, floral and finessed, wafting up with a classic Sangiovese profile blending dried rose and black cherries, complicated by dusty earth, worn leather and hints of cedar spice. This shows a beautiful ripeness of fruit, pure and lifted yet potent, with masses of red, wild berries and inner florals that cascade across a core of zesty acidity. This finishes long and staining with regal tannins and a tart cranberry tinge that lingers on and on. Simply magnificent, the 2018 takes the perfumed character of the vintage and marries perfectly to a core of vividly intense fruit. This is entirely atypical of the vintage and the result of extreme selection that reduced production quantities by 20%. Drink 2026-2036 (Dec 2023)"

95 points Decanter: "The 2018 was just the second harvest under new ownership for Biondi Santi. CEO Giampiero Bertolini says that picking started late by the estate’s standards. They waited until 25 September, by which time the strong north wind had an opportunity to dry out the vineyards. The results in the bottle are impressive: cool fragrances of juniper, coriander, pepper and liquorice root leave room for a more subtle violet expression. The palate is decidedly red fruited with pomegranate and sour cherry nuanced by herb flowers, with an underlying stony-mineral crunch. Not lacking in concentration – yet by no means robust – this is graciously weighted. Nor does it have the scratchy bite of a young Biondi Santi Brunello. Instead, tannins are fine-boned and suede-like. Racy acidity is in the driver’s seat bringing focus, linearity and a vibrancy that pops on the finish. Drink 2026-2039 (Nov 2023)"

95 points Falstaff Guide: "Elegant, dark ruby ??red with subtle brick-red reflections. On the nose, butter cookies, a touch of lovage, rich cherry, with subtle hints of iron. Good juiciness and clear fruit on the palate. Slightly broad but ripe tannins. Somewhat vegetal, slightly salty at the back. Currently still somewhat unbalanced and needs time. (Mar 2024)"