2019 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne

Le Ragnaie is one of the most exciting names in Brunello today, known for their elegant, high-altitude expressions of Sangiovese. Based at one of the highest vineyard sites in Montalcino, the estate crafts wines that balance power with finesse, showcasing the bright acidity and aromatic complexity that come from cooler, slower-ripening conditions. Winemaker Riccardo Campinoti works with a mix of old vines and newer plantings, and winemaking employed is traditional with the emphasis on delicate handling and extended macerations. Everything here is long, slow, and deliberate, and the resultant wines are pure and energetic symbols of contemporary Brunello.

Other Reviews....
This wine is a star of the vintage. It is made with fruit from vines planted in 1968 in ancient soils rich in quartz at a very high 600 meters in elevation. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. (the initials stand for “vecchie vigne,” or "old vines") reveals a soulful personality with a very elegant set of aromas and compelling complexity. There is heritage rose, lilac and something earthy like tarragon or marjoram. Underripe cherry and redcurrant are found at the core; however, that ethereal herbal note continues to the palate where it meets a chalky mineral tone. Powdery tannins stick to the side of your mouth for a very long time. Only 4,400 bottles were made. Drink 2028-2050.
99 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023)

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino VV is youthfully coy in the glass, lifting up with a nuanced blend of dried roses, licorice and clove, excited by hints of spiced oranges. This is cool-toned and saline in character, with silken textures contrasted by crisp red fruits and salty mineral tones that saturate the senses. The 2019 finishes long, primary and with crunchy tannins, yet there are depths of complexity here just waiting to unfold. This is quite forbidding today, yet in five to ten years, I expect a magical experience. Drink 2027-2040.
95+ points
Eric Guido - Vinous

A similar medium red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. is another showstopper, with stunning floral and layered aromas of licorice, ripe red cherries, blood orange, and clove. Mouthwatering and structured, this is a noble wine, and while it’s medium-bodied. It’s not for the faint of heart. With ripe, angular tannins that frame this wine, it propels through the palate with notes of saline and vibrant acidity. Long and tension-packed, it demands several years of proper cellaring and feels as though it will improve over the coming two decades at a glacial pace. Drink 2027-2047.
98 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

Owner Riccardo Campinoti reports that the 2019 harvest was slightly early by the estate’s standards: he picked his 50-plus-year-old vines on 4 October, giving the must a long maceration of 45-50 days. After seven months in bottle, it demonstrates the same precision and minerality that were evident in cask. Currently somewhat stern, it's intriguing in its reticence. Through iron and warm stone nuances, black raspberry pokes through. This will never be a big, rich wine, yet as the dense layers unfold and those chalky tannins relax their grip, its enveloping nature will provide much pleasure. Drink 2026-2041.
96 points
Michaela Morris - Decanter