Brunello di Montalcino 'La Mannella'

Decanter, Nov/2024

2020 -

"The estate’s home plots are nestled under the town of Montalcino. Picked between 20-30 September, the 2020 is a beautiful interpretation of the vintage. Still fittingly youthful and restrained, the nose hints at yellow blossom, tobacco and wet stone. There's lovely juiciness on the palate too, with no hint of under- or over-ripeness, just perfectly à point. Self-assured tannins hold everything in place, and the finish reverberates with bitter orange peel. As the estate will not be releasing a Riserva, their oldest vines in La Mannella – planted in 1983 – are incorporated into this." - Michaela Morris

Wine Align, Nov/2024

2020 -

"Headiest of 2020 perfumes, bright and high-toned for excitable feelings incited. Then at once the aromas concentrate, circulate and release once again. Classic Cortonesi style, as textural as it is aromatic, as flavourful as it is broad in mouthfeel. All parts being equal this sangiovese will age slowly, purposefully, with all of its faculties in check. There will be no major peaks, nor valleys neither, but simply a linear trajectory, with wood integrating and fruit slowly morphing until it becomes secondary, to acidity as well, further on down the road. " - Michael Godel

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Nov/2023

2020 -

"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella smolders in the glass, earthy and tightly wound. Grilled herbs and crushed black raspberries are lifted by a hint of menthol. This displays silken textures and medium-bodied weight as waves of ripe red and blue fruits slowly saturate the senses. It finishes spicy and long, leaving edgy tannins offset by residual acidity as hints of tart blackberry fade." - Eric Guido

Jeb Dunnuck, Jan/2025

2020 -

"The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino La Mannella is a youthful magenta/red color and is ripe and generous on the nose, with warming aromas of blackberry compote, violets, sweet earth, and crushed rosemary. Full-bodied, it offers ripe, expanding tannins, a well-balanced richness, and mouthwatering salty earth notes through the midpalate and finish. It's a very nicely styled wine in this vintage from Cortonesi to drink over the next 8-10 years." - Audrey Frick

The SOMM Journal, Jun/2025

2019 -

"Sangiovese from a 1,000-foot high hill to the north and an even higher elevation of 1,150 feet on the region's coolest southeastern side spawned this luxurious red. Lightly veiled without density or edge, notes of coffee, cocoa, roses, and peonies are captured and refreshed by the acid structure of the wine, which spent 36 months in large, tightly grained Slavonian oak. Its accessibility for drinking now is remarkable, yet its longevity is undeniable."

Decanter, Nov/2023

2019 -

"To the north of Montalcino, La Mannella is situated in one of the coolest corners of the zone. Plots sits at 270 metres, where the soil alternates from yellow to red, then brown clay and finally river stones. Tight and flinty to begin with, it then reveals a gorgeous purity of lilac and orange florals. Precise and well-sculpted, the palate presents a black cherry backdrop framed by powdered, textured tannins which creep up and build to quite an assertive grasp while remaining polished and elegant. Lovely spaciousness and freshness here."

James Suckling, Sep/2023

2019 -

"Pretty sweet-berry and cherry aromas with hints of cedar and crushed stones. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Tight and refined. Give it two or three years to open. Best after 2026."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Nov/2023

2019 -

"The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is darkly floral with a dusting of sweet spice and dried flowers giving way to black cherries. It’s soft textured and round with pretty wild berry fruits that swirl over a stream of lively, juicy acidity. This finishes gently tannic and with medium length, leaving violet inner florals and hints of cocoa to linger."

Jeb Dunnuck, Feb/2024

2019 -

"Ripe and inviting, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino La Mannella displays a ruby color and opens in the glass to notes of raspberries, a touch of blue fruit, candied flowers, menthol, and sweet herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it is easygoing and open on the palate, with supple tannins, a rounded mid-palate, a soft cushion of fruit, and mineral undercurrents. It’s a very elegant and graceful wine with a pliant texture, and although it’s very well made, I think it’s in its prime window for drinking over the mid- and near-term. Drink 2024-2028."

Wine Enthusiast, Dec/2023

2018 -

"The nose recalls an October day, as an autumnal earthiness mingles with the density of dark chocolate and the spice of anise, and the last of the summer's stone fruit. On the palate, the chocolate grows sweeter as Halloween approaches, but earthy, bitter notes persist through the astringent, chalky, tannic finish." - Danielle Callegari

VinePair, Nov/2023

2018 -

#37 of Vine Pair's Top 50 Wines of 2023. "This Brunello di Montalcino from third-generation family winery Cortonesi is a textbook example of the Tuscan red’s ageability; you could cellar it for decades or enjoy it now after decanting. The wine opens with flavors of cherries, strawberries, and earth, framed by grippy tannins. It’s very food friendly, too, and would be stellar with a heaping plate of chicken parm. 

Since the '70s the Cortonesi family has been managing 138 acres of land in Italy's historic Montalcino region, including 19 acres dedicated to producing the world-class Brunello clone of Sangiovese. The family's decades of experience and the estate's distinct terroir come through in this elegant wine. The beauty of this bottle is in its expressiveness. It takes some time to open up, but when it does, the nose brings aromas of red fruit, herbs, and spices. The palate has Brunello's signature intensity, with dark fruit, grippy tannins, and a striking acidity. This wine can continue to age beautifully for decades, but can also enjoyable now with some decanting."

James Suckling, Nov/2022

2018 -

"A flavorful Brunello with aromas of bramble berries, strawberries, sage, chicory root and basil. It’s full-bodied with fine, velvety tannins. Lovely creamy texture and intensity, with a fresh and balanced finish. Drink from 2024."

Jeb Dunnuck, Mar/2023

2018 -

"Generous and ripe aromas of pressed purple flowers, baked strawberries, blue fruit, sweet herbs, and fresh forest floor jump from the glass of the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino La Mannella. Full-bodied, its ample fruit is evenly balanced through the palate, with ripe tannins and a fresh mineral texture. It offers notes of fresh leather, ripe cherry, cedar, and warming spices throughout, with its perfume lasting long after the wine is gone. It is a lovely wine to drink over the next 10-15 years."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Mar/2023

2018 -

"The Cortonesi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella is similar to the Poggiarelli in terms of brightness and fruit wealth, yet this wine is perhaps more savory, spicy and accessible. It offers a velvety, medium to full-bodied texture with lingering tones of campfire ash and leather. The differences between the two wines are not that big, but this is marked in that one respect. This is also a much larger production of 25,000 bottles."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Oct/2022

2018 -

"Wild and herbal in the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella wafts up with a smoky mix of dried strawberries, rosemary and hints of animal musk. This is seamlessly silky with medium-bodied weight and a polished mix of red and black fruits. Its acidity maintains a lovely freshness, as the 2018 finishes structured with fine tannins and long, leaving hints of licorice and currants to linger on. What a beauty. Of note, in 2018 La Mannella benefited from the addition of the old-vine fruit that would typically be used for the Riserva."

Decanter, Nov/2022

2018 -

"In north Montalcino, Cortonesi’s La Mannella property was more affected by the rain and humidity than the estate’s Poggiarelli vineyard in the southeast. It required a greater number of passages at harvest and after a severe selection, production was down an estimated 20%. While lifted in its floral fragrance, the 2018 is not giving up everything all at once. Equally tight on the palate, compact concentrated fruit is enfolded in slightly dry tannins. Invigorating acidity gives some levity, and smoky black currants emerge on the finish. This crams in quite a bit for the vintage but will show more after another year or so in bottle."

Wine Spectator, Jun/2023

2018 -

"Fragrant, this red evokes rose, cherry and spice aromas, followed by flavors of cherry, strawberry, loam, eucalyptus and cumin. Offers a lacy texture backed by light, dusty tannins. Drink now through 2038. 2,500 cases made." - Bruce Sanderson

Wine Enthusiast, Apr/2022

2017 -

"New leather, ripe black-skinned fruit, tobacco and menthol are just some of the aromas you'll find in this delicious red. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the accessible palate delivers dried cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and a hint of white pepper set against velvety tannins. Drink 2023–2029"

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Feb/2022

2017 -

"The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella shows exciting depth, power and length. It stands tall as a fine example of Brunello made in the not-always-easy 2017 vintage. Even its appearance is especially attractive, given its dark but glossy garnet shine. The wine's aromas unwind slowly, starting with dark fruit and plum, but carefully transition to spice, smoke and cedar. There is tension and grip on the finish."

James Suckling, Nov/2021

2017 -

"Extremely refined and together 2017, with round, fine tannins that show tension and balance. Medium to full body, creamy texture and a delicious finish. Savory and juicy. Drink now."

Gismondi on Wine, Nov/2024

2017 -

"...Surprisingly fresh and lively, it has clearly been managed in the vineyard and at the winery in the face of a hot and dry 2017 growing season. This is a powerful version of Brunello but with equally bright acidity that allows it to present itself in balance. Even in this concentrated state, it retains the elegance of fine Brunello while pitching a classic savoury underside and fruity finish. This giant wine will take a decade to unfold and reach its zenith. Beef, game, and mushrooms are all matches today and are likely in the future." - Anthony Gismondi

Decanter, Nov/2021

2017 -

"In 2017, Tommaso Cortonesi reduced maceration time (no more than 20 days) and kept fermentation temperatures relatively low, at between 26 to 30°C, to avoid extracting bitter or harsh tannins. From vineyards in Montalcino’s north, La Mannella demonstrates admirable finesse. Scents of rosemary and mint blossom weave through cherry and pomegranate. The palate is polished yet firm and boasts an appealing mineral stoniness. Still youthfully vigorous, this should develop harmoniously over the next seven to eight years."

Wine Spectator, Jun/2022

2017 -

"There's ample fleshiness to the structure of this generous red. Cherry, raspberry, plum, floral and leather flavors ply the rich texture, while dusty, resonant tannins roam the lingering finish. Offers fine succulence and harmony. Best from 2025 through 2042."

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, Nov/2021

2017 -

"The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella is dark, dusty and youthfully backward, with black currant and violet inflections forming its bouquet. Its textures are silky, and a pleasant inner sweetness creates an impression of opulence, as mineral-tinged red berries give way to pretty inner florals toward the close. Grippy tannins linger, clenching the palate in youthful poise, as this tapers off to hints of licorice and spice. Give this some time for the bouquet to evolve, but don’t expect a long drinking window."

Wine Align, Dec/2022

2016 -

"This is a beautiful Brunello from an excellent vintage now heading into prime time. The nose is nicely lifted and generous with classic fruit with gorgeous raspberry/red cherry, subtle fresh rosemary-like herbals, well ingrained cedar, spice and dried flowers. It is medium-full bodied, smooth, tidy and warm, with fine sandy tannin. The length is excellent. Begin to enjoy with some aeration, but it should hold nicely through this decade." - David Lawrason