97pts Vinous

Hauntingly dark, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva displays a lovely elegance. A bouquet of mentholated black cherries and balsamic spices is lifted by whiffs of dried sage and pine shavings. Velvety smooth and nearly creamy in feel, it floods the palate with hints of ripe red and blue fruit. It has a core of zesty acidity maintains amazing energy and freshness. This leaves the senses enshrouded in a veil of fine-grained tannins, dramatically long and structured but with a concentration of primary saturation to balance. Bury this deep in the cellar—it's a masterpiece in the making.

96pts Jeb Dunnuck

An inky red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is expressive and concentrated with aromas of black cherry liqueur, toasted vanilla, pine, fresh sage, and sappy herbs. Its oak spice is more prevalent at this young stage in its development, but it's well-managed and has a lux feel. Full-bodied, savory, and structured, it demands more time due to its brooding and grippy feel. Though the tannins are ripe, it has a lot of tension in its broad-shouldered and more muscular feel. It will take time for its oak to integrate fully, but it's a very well done wine in its style..

96pts James Suckling

Aromas of flowers, flint, graphite and smoke on the nose. Reductive in a very good sense of the word. Similar character on the palate with lots of black cherries, dark chocolate and cedar. Medium-bodied, this has well-integrated tannins and a persistent finish. Shows excellence now with balance and integrity. Drink after 2027 and beyond..

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

We have not seen a Riserva from Uccelliera in a few years. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva wears a heavy mantle of oak that adds sweet cinnamon and vanilla stick. Those oak tones are prominent, but they do remain sweet and hydrated nonetheless; and that's a plus, because you don't get drying tannins, although there is a pinch of astringency at this young stage. Blackberry and dried rose potpourri are featured along with sandalwood and sauna wood. The alcohol content is high at 15.5%. This is a release of 10,400 bottles plus larger formats, and it should be interesting to watch its bottle evolution.

94pts Wine Spectator

The cherry and strawberry fruit in this red is framed by oak spice notes, with an underlying element of flint. Elegant and light-bodied, this shows staying power. The lingering finish echoes the fruit and spice accents....

Winery Notes

Wine produced with selected sangiovese grapes from Brunello di Montalcino designated vineyards of approximately 7 hectares planted in 1975/1988/1998/2000 in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, south-east of Montalcino at an altitude that varies from from 150 (492 ft), 250 (820 ft) and 350 (1150 ft) meters a.s.l. The soil is of medium consistency, calcareousclayey with presence of sands and marl, rich in minerals and skeleton.

The Uccelliera estate was at once part of neighboring Ciacci Piccolomini until 1986, when winemaker Andrea Cortonesi purchased it from his friends and former employers. After refining his trade as cellar master for Ciacci, Andrea ventured out on his own with the formation of Uccelliera. His first vintage was 1991 with the production of a mere 500 bottles!

The wines have quickly become cult favorites amongst the cognoscenti. Tucked away in the southeast corner of the appellation in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, the soil here is loose and stony which when coupled with a warm microclimate gives the wines of Uccelliera a rich and ripe expression, vintage after vintage. Two hectares adjacent to Ciacci’s famous ‘Pianrosso’ vineyard were recently added to this boutique estate, bringing the total to a mere six hectares. Andrea Cortonesi is tireless in his approach to winemaking, with all vineyard work done exclusively by hand.