100-Points by Kerin O'Keefe.
The gorgeous, fragrant Le Chiuse 2019 Brunello sets a benchmark for Sangiovese and Montalcino. Another stellar wine from this dynamic, leading winery, the nose alone stopped me in my tracks, thanks to the intensity and refinement of its blue flower, rose, camphor, truffle and cake spice scents. Elegantly structured, loaded with energy and utterly delicious, the captivating palate doles out ripe raspberry, crushed cherry, licorice and cinnamon framed in firm but ultra-refined tannins. Bright acidity provides plenty of tension and an age-worthy structure. A truly mesmerizing wine.
 
99-Points by Decanter.
Lorenzo Magnelli says the timing of the harvest was similar to 2015. To avoid richness and over-ripeness, he picked relatively early – between 20 to 22 September. Like a well written story, Le Chiuse’s 2019 has an enticing beginning, significant and juicy middle, and stimulating end. Heady violet, incense and leather waft steadily from the glass, then the palate explodes with surround-sound intensity, filling the mouth with dark red cherry and crushed stones. Long, chalky-textured tannins wrap confidently around the mouth, leaving space for that succulent acidity to work its quenching magic. An interplay of depth and drama with lightness right through to the zesty, citrus-soaked finish. 
 
Italy's first DOCG in July 1980, alongside Piedmont's Barolo.
Brunello di Montalcino is a red DOCG Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, located about 80 km south of Florence, in the Tuscan wine region.
Aging
Brunello: 4-2-4
Brunello Riserva: 5-2-6
Brunello (annata): minimum 4 years of aging, including at least 2 years in wood and at least 4 months in bottle; it can be released starting January 1 of the 5th year after harvest.
Brunello Riserva: minimum 5 years of aging, including at least 2 years in wood and at least 6 months in bottle; release is January 1 of the 6th year after harvest.
Sangiovese Grosso or Prugnolo Gentile (locally Brunello): Noted for having thicker-skinned berries, and because of this, Brunello produces wines with exceptionally bold fruit flavors, high tannin, and high acidity.
 
Le Chiuse
Le Chiuse played a key role in the vineyard holdings of the legendary Biondi-Santi family since the late 18th century. Handed down, generation-to-generation the current owner, Simonetta Valiani is the great granddaughter of Ferruccio Biondi-Santi. Simonetta inherited the estate and decided to start producing wine under the Le Chiuse name in 1993 with the help of her husband, Nicolò Magnelli and their son, Lorenzo. Until then, the vineyards were rented to her uncle, Franco Biondi-Santi, which were at the time used for Biondi-Santi’s Riserva bottling. The vineyards are planted with a form of Massal selection in order to maintain the genetic heritage of the estate. Budwood from 60-70 year old vines of the BS 11 Sangiovese clone, personally selected by Tancredi Biondi-Santi for these vineyards, is grafted onto American rootstock. To maintain the highest quality, yields are carefully controlled. The yields here are half that demanded by consorzio rules. The winery’s gravity-fed cellars are state-of-the-art.