The bouquet on the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is just as extroverted as ever. An array of cloves, cinnamon sticks, dried flowers and spiced orange rinds give way to crushed black cherries. This switches gears on the palate, lifted and refined with cooling acidity and crisp wild berry fruits framed by a core of saline minerals that add a savory edge. It leaves the palate reeling with zesty tension as the mouth salivates for more, and a tart cranberry concentration puckers the cheeks. Costanti's 2018 remains atypical of the vintage, with a mix of high acidity and low alcohol that keeps the glass in constant motion.
94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Oct 2024)
This 2018 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino has a softly sweet cedar nose with a little game and leather notes too. It has a very silky texture, creamy and medium-full bodied, again with slight game or leather flavors. This wine is beautifully balanced by a very bright acidity, a voluptuous texture and fine but elongated tannins. It is a crowd pleaser for lovers of traditional-style Brunello and for me the bright, lively acidity and savory, fine tannins provide a beautiful framework for this brunello.
94 points, Susan Hulme, Wine Independent (Feb 2023)
In 2018, Andrea Costanti used fewer tonneaux than usual, opting instead for larger, less oxidative casks, a significant portion of which were new. This lends some oak nuances but doesn’t detract. Aromas of exotic spice, violet and chestnut are amplified by a touch of volatile acidity. Those dark purple floral notes carry through to the palate, which brags lovely weight with balanced proportions and mouthwatering, citrussy acidity. The tannins are weighing down the finish right now, but give this another year or so to come together and it should be a joy to drink.
94 points, Michaela Morris, Decanter (Nov 2022)
This wine displays a dark garnet color that suggests a robust and savory wine to follow. Indeed, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino does reveal a rather austere approach with dried fruit, blackcurrant and fig. I wish there was just a hint more fresh fruitiness to those aromas, but the wine has already veered toward an evolved stage. This prompts me to suggest a shorter drinking window. There is a hint of dryness to the tannins, and the acidity is welcome.
93 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Mar 2023)
A racy red penetrated by juicy cherry, raspberry, rose hip and fresh thyme flavors fused to a linear structure, with dense, quivering tannins. Best from 2025 through 2040. 2,550 cases made, 835 cases imported.
93 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Jun 2023)
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