WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
The 2018 CastelGiocondo is an intense shade of ruby red. Always set apart by its elegance, this characteristic is more marked than ever in this vintage. The fruity notes, the first to hit your olfactory receptors, are dominated by blueberry and blackberry, flanked by blackcurrant and other berries. They are followed by floral hints of violet and dog rose, which are always found in the bouquets of the best Brunello di Montalcino. Next on the nose are clear spicy notes of black pepper and cardamom, chased by a pleasant aroma of licorice. On the palate, the tannins are dense but not harsh, accompanied by delicate mineral notes. The consistency between the nose and palate and the long and persistent finish make it particularly balanced.
TASTING NOTES:
Very aromatic and beautiful with blackberry and black-cherry aromas. Hints of flowers. Medium-bodied and extremely refined. Bright and elegant.
- James Suckling, 95 pts.
In the pale cream-colored label, the Frescobaldi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino CastelGiocondo is richly textured and packed with dark fruit, black cherry and dried blackberry. The wine shows good concentration—probably a little more than your standard Brunello—with integrated tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is moderate in length, and this wine is ready to drink straight out of the gate.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 pts.
Elegant, with a vibrant structure shoring up cherry, raspberry, plum, earth and underbrush flavors. Turns compact on the finish, yet bright acidity and vestiges of the fruit keep this focused. Best from 2025 through 2040.
- Wine Spectator, 92 pts.