From a special vineyard near the chapel that gives the wine its name, Il Marroneto’s 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie is a wine of beautiful complexity and delicacy, distinguished by an elegant savory note reminiscent of cypress trees on a warm summer day. It shows striking focus and intensity yet remains finely balanced, with a sense of richness carried by a refined, seamless texture. The tannins are softly polymerized thanks to a slow fermentation that emphasizes patience and finesse over extraction, carried out spontaneously with no temperature control. It matures in oak botti for 47 months, a regimen that shapes the wine’s depth and balance. Only 9,000 bottles were made. (ML)

The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie dazzles with a beguiling display of dried strawberries, spiced blood orange, cinnamon, mint and crushed stones. It is harmonious throughout, with textures of pure silk, a subtle inner sweetness and tantalizing acidity that offsets its penetrating core of tart cherry and blackberry. The 2021 leaves a chewy sensation and an array of sweet tannins that pinch at the cheeks as an air of rosy inner florals mixes with hints of Earl Grey and spice. In 2021, Madonna delle Grazie has taken on a whole new identity, relying more on beauty than power. (EG)