94pts Vinous

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is cool-toned and remarkably pretty, scents of fresh wild herbs and peppery florals giving way to crushed woodland berries and a contrasting flourish of blood orange. Its textures are like pure silk, energized by zesty acidity and becoming quite spicy over time, as tart cherry-berry flavors and saline-minerals saturate deeply. Grippy tannins come forward through the licorice-tinged finale as this tapers off slightly structured, almost salty and remarkably fresh. The 2017 possesses all of the traits of a classic Voliero Brunello, and it’s only in the slightly gruff tannins that you find any mark of the warm, dry vintage. This is exceptional.

93pts James Suckling

Aromas of ripe cherries, dried flowers and orange peel follow through to a full body with round, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Juicy, plush and fruity at the end. Drink or hold.

92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Voliero 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is a robust expression with dark fruit, earth and oak spice. The wine shows thick concentration with black cherry and plum. It has the proverbial shoulders (the tannins and the acidity) to support it all. Leather and tobacco play supporting roles, and the wine is also characterized by dry clay and crushed stone. Some 7,600 bottles (and 133 magnums) were filled, and you can drink this bottle straight out of the gate.

Winemaker Notes

Voliero Brunello di Montalcino offers aromas of red plum, cherry and kirsch with hints of flowers. The palate is lush and silky with lingering notes of cherry, herbs, and mineral.

Voliero is a second project of the very talented Andrea Cortonesi of Uccelliera and other producers started in 2006. These grapes come from the northern end of the Montalcino zone because they wanted to enhance the different aspects of the this extraordinary terroir. As the grapes for Voliero are from a cooler area, Andrea continues his minimalist approach to winemaking, and wants to only amplify the purity and finesse of the Northern Zone.