94 and 93 points for the Brunello 2018 by Donatella
James Suckling, as always, is the first of the great international critics to publish his judgments on Brunello, and he rewards those by Donatella with 93 and 94 points
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
WHO IS JAMES SUCKLING
James-Suckling-with-ErikaRibaldi-DonatellaCinelliColombini
He was born in Los Angeles in 1959 and lives between his home in Borro (Arezzo) and Hong King but is also an honorary citizen of Montalcino.
After his studies in political science and journalism at the Universities of Wisconsin and Utah he began to write and from 1981 for the new born magazine Wine Spectator. In 1984, he followed his passion for wine by making his first trip to Europe and the following year he became the European correspondent of the Wine Spectator, a role he held until 2010.
Subsequently his activity as a taster continued with an online magazine that bears his name and that organizes splendid events all over the world. He was among the first to understand the potential of digital communication and is on the podium as one of the strongest wine influencers in the world.
Suckling is internationally regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and influential critics for wine and vintage cigars. His sophisticated style is known in life as in tastings. For example, Suckling has always tasted only with his glasses and now uses a line of crystal goblets created especially for him.
Brunello-2018- 93/100-James-Suckling
He is passionate about Italian wine and in particular Tuscan wines, he played a decisive role in the success of our enology in the USA. But Suckling has a special predilection for the Montalcino area, to the point of being renamed with the nickname “Mr Brunello”.
James Suckling is one of the very few critics to invite winemakers to his home by organizing splendid parties with live music, dinner among the olive trees and a magnum table where everyone can taste the best wines by their colleagues.
Every year he is the first to review the new Brunello vintage and this year too his ratings arrive in November. Here are his wonderful comments about ours.
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 PRIME DONNE
94/100
This is a delicious, complex and layered Brunello with cherries, nutmeg, liquorice, dried flowers and walnuts on the nose. Firm and fine tannins give a sturdy framework to the evolving and concentrated core of fruit and spice. Powerful and seductive. From organically grown grapes. Try in 2025.
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018
93/100
Rich and bold aromas of chocolate, walnut, sage, spice box and dark cherries. Full-bodied with a ripe core of dark fruit, accompanied by fine-grained tannins. Lots of flavour. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2023.