95pts Wine Spectator
Though reserved in aroma, this red boasts ample cherry, black currant, violet and mineral flavors, with underlying woodsy accents. The vibrant structure lends definition, and this is more about finesse than power. Shows fine length, with a chalky feel. Best from 2023 through 2042. 1,000 cases made, 100 cases imported.
93pts Decanter
Redolent of dark, earthy forest, the inaugural vintage of Chiuso del Lupo brings together underbrush and ripe wild berries with menthol and floral accents. Sweet, plush fruit is countered by a salty tang, its tannins expansive but not aggressive; just youthful and chewy. This is selected from a one-hectare plot reaching a lofty altitude of 550 metres. Fermentation is spontaneous with indigenous yeast, and ageing is in 30hL French oak cask.
93pts James Suckling
A fine-tannined and pretty Brunello with currant, walnut and floral aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied, firm and focused. Drink after 2022.
91pts Vinous
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Chiuso del Lupo is dark and understated in the glass, as nuances of leather and cedar give way to hints of black cherry. Within, I’m finding a silky, pliant expression, with a core of savory red berries and spices lifted by bright acidity. It tapers off structured and a bit chewy, yet potent and long. The Chiuso del Lupo would benefit from another two to three years of cellaring to show its best.
Tasting Notes
Complex on the nose, with distinctive nuances of black cherry, with deep hints of wild berries and leather Very long finish.
About the Wine
The wine gets its name from the place where is located the vine of 1 hectare, literally “closed” in the wood. The image on the label represents the wolf's eyes that light up in the night, immersed in the rows of the vineyard.
Vinified according to Montacino tradition: after two weeks of natural spontaneous fermentation, the wine is racked into 30HlLFrench oak barrels where it ages for 38 months. Refined in bottle for 6 months minimum.
