Le Chiuse 2016 Brunello di Montalcino

Le Chiuse was originally part of the Biondi-Santi Estate dating back to the late 18th century. Handed down over the years to the current owner, Simonetta Valiani who is the great granddaughter of Ferruccio Biondi-Santi. Simonetta decided to start producing wine under the Le Chiuse name in 1993 with the help of her husband, Nicolò Magnelli and their son, Lorenzo. Until then, the vineyards were rented to her uncle, Franco Biondi-Santi, which were at the time used for Biondi-Santi’s Riserva bottling.

On this tiny 14-acre vineyard, budwood from 60-70 year old vines of the BS 11 Sangiovese clone, personally selected by Tancredi Biondi-Santi, is grafted onto American rootstock.

All of the fruit is harvested by hand, and carefully selected at the winery sorting table. Grapes are crushed and transferred to tank by gravity followed by a 18 days maceration with natural yeasts. The wine aged 3 years in large Allier and Slavonian oak barrels followed by 2 years in bottle. This 2016 is perhaps the best wine they have ever produced.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded this a Cellars Selection and scored it a perfect 100 points saying "This gorgeous wine opens with fragrant aromas of violet, wild berry, new leather, tilled earth and spice. Showing the estate’s hallmark elegance, structure and precision, the focused, full-bodied palate delivers cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and tobacco before finishing on a note of black tea. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it vibrant and balanced. Drink 2024–2046."

Jeb Dunnuck Scored this 100 points saying "The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is lifted with aromatics of soft medicinal herbs, fresh soil, cherry fruit, and dried flowers. The palate is fresh with black cherry fruit, tea leaf, orange peel, and mineral-rich, stony earth. There is well-integrated structure, with crispness, fresh acidity, and a beautifully long finish. This is one of my favorite wines of the vintage for its classic structure, high complexity, and nuanced, balanced style. Drink 2025-2042."

Wine Spectator scored this 98 points saying "Pretty strawberry, currant and cherry flavors take center stage in this taut and linear red, flanked by floral, mineral and tobacco notes, with fine balance and intensity on a slim frame. This is ample, yet the refined tannins provide structure. Best from 2024 through 2048."

The Wine Advocate scored this 97+ saying "Le Chiuse's 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine buzzing with energy and spirit. You sense this in the sheer crunch and snap of the primary fruit that recalls wild berry, cassis and sour cherry. Those lifted red fruit aromas are framed by light smoke, tar, potting soil, blue flower and crushed mineral or limestone. This is an extremely elegant wine that has been shaped by an epic vintage. The wine draws its fruit from an eight-hectare parcel with limestone clay. Le Chiuse's star is rapidly rising, and this new release from 2016 just thrust that shooting star into hyper speed. With 13,576 bottles made, this estate gives us one of the best buys of the vintage."