James Suckling 96 Pts; Wine Advocate 95 Pts; Wine Spectator 95 Pts

Tenuta CastelGiocondo Ripe al Convento Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the flagship Brunello Riserva from the historic CastelGiocondo estate, owned by the Frescobaldi family. Produced only in the best vintages, it comes from a small, high-altitude vineyard (around 450 metres) on the estate, where old Sangiovese vines planted on galestro-rich soils consistently produce grapes of exceptional concentration and longevity. After meticulous grape selection, the wine is aged for several years in Slavonian oak casks and French oak barrels before extended bottle maturation, and is released only in the sixth year after harvest.

The Frescobaldi family has been making wine in Tuscany for over 700 years and is one of Italy's most influential wine dynasties. Tenuta CastelGiocondo, situated in the south-western part of Montalcino, is among the region's historic estates and played an important role in establishing Brunello di Montalcino as one of Italy's greatest wines. The Ripe al Convento label represents the estate's finest expression of Sangiovese.

The 2012 growing season was hot and dry throughout the summer. Thanks to the vineyard's deep-rooted vines and clay-rich galestro soils, water stress was limited, allowing slow, even ripening and excellent phenolic maturity. The result is a rich, powerful and concentrated Brunello with excellent ageing potential.

The wine shows a deep ruby colour with developing garnet hues. Aromas are intense and layered, offering black cherry, plum, blackberry and cassis, complemented by dried flowers, incense, tobacco, leather, Mediterranean herbs and sweet spices. The palate is opulent yet balanced, with velvety tannins, vibrant acidity and remarkable persistence. The finish is long, savoury and mineral, reflecting the vineyard's altitude and distinctive soils.