2018 Brunello di Montalcino ‘Cielo’
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The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Podere S. Giuseppe Cielo is on the market now and is part of a series with wine names that change every year according to the winemakers' whim. Stella di Campalto named this bottle Cielo (or "sky" in Italian) along with Bosco ("forest") and Aria ("air) for the mystical themes they represent to her. With the release of the upcoming 2019 vintage, all these wines will have different names. Cielo seems the most advanced to me, and the wine that is most accessible now. It has dried currant aromas and a whiff of Indian tea leaf. The tannins are tightly knit, silky or almost slippery. This wine also shows a softly floral side. In terms of winemaking, she uses some whole berries (depending on which vineyard is used) that can represent as much as 50% to 70% of the total. The rest are crushed berries. Fermentation is started with native yeasts, and she opts for long maceration times with delicate pump-overs done by hand. In order to slow down air exchange once the wine is in bottle, she applies a thin layer of beeswax over the cork. I recommend a slightly shorter drinking window for the Cielo.
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Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Eric Guido, Vinous
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The enticing 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cielo contains a classic, dusty blend of dried strawberries and cherries complicated by a whiff of mint leaves, incense and Tuscan dust. This is cool-toned and sleek with silken textures, a core of tart red berry fruits and crunchy mineral tones that add traction as hints of tangerine zest embellish the close. It leaves a tinge spice, black raspberry, and a beguiling licorice concentration on the mid-palate, finishing with fine tannins, yet not tannic, simply irresistible. The Cielo is more accessible today, yet possesses excellent balance. What a beauty.