Uccelliera

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

2019

Vintage

Varietal

Sangiovese

ABV

15.5%

Peak 2034-2048

Where it is, June 2026

Too Young: holding.

In May 2026, the 2019 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is deeply young and demanding. The drinking window does not open until 2028, and even then the wine will be in its earliest accessible phase. The Riserva format, with its additional selection and aging, means the wine will take years beyond 2028 to fully reveal its potential. The peak window of 2034 through 2048 is where this wine will be at its most profound. The tannins today are firm and assertive, the aromatics compressed around a dense fruit core, and the full aromatic complexity suggested by the fresh mentholated spice and balsamic depth will not emerge until well into the 2030s. Cellar this wine carefully and resist all temptation to open it before 2030 at the earliest.

Related vintages

The ‘19 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva.

Uccelliera's pinnacle Brunello: dark, structured, and profoundly complex from a five-star vintage, built for decades of cellaring.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · too young, 2026

Tasting note

The Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva represents the estate's pinnacle expression, selected only in exceptional vintages from the finest barrel lots and aged for an additional year beyond the standard Brunello requirements. The 2019 vintage is a wine of extraordinary depth, structure, and complexity. The nose is immediately striking: mentholated black cherry and balsamic spice open the aromatics, followed by sage, pine resin, and flint that add a cool, herbal mineral dimension. Graphite, smoke, and dark chocolate provide depth and secondary complexity, while cardamom and rosemary contribute an exotic aromatic dimension that distinguishes the Riserva from the standard Brunello. Ripe red and blue fruit emerge through the aromatic layers, and zesty acidity keeps the nose vibrant and focused despite the richness. On the palate the wine is dark and full-bodied with fine-grained chalky tannins that provide magnificent structural grip without roughness. The fruit is concentrated and layered, the acidity is bright and persistent, and the finish is extraordinarily long, carrying the mineral, herbal, and dark fruit character through a conclusion of uncommon length and complexity. A wine built for decades of cellaring.

The 2019 vintage

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino vintage received a five-star rating from the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the appellation's highest assessment. The growing season delivered ideal conditions for Sangiovese Grosso: warm summer heat built concentration and richness, while the hillside soils and elevation preserved acidity and freshness. For Riserva production, where only the finest barrels are selected and the wine undergoes extended aging, the 2019 vintage provided the fruit depth, tannin quality, and structural integrity that justify the additional time and selection. Uccelliera's meticulous farming of its Camigliano hillside site amplified the vintage's gifts into a wine of exceptional potential.

About Uccelliera

Uccelliera produces its Brunello Riserva only in years when the vintage delivers truly exceptional fruit and structure, making it an infrequent bottling that reflects the estate's highest standards. The Riserva selection process involves identifying the finest barrel lots from the estate's holdings and aging them beyond the standard DOCG requirements to allow the wine's full complexity to develop before release. The resulting wines are among Montalcino's most cellar-worthy and complex, demonstrating the full potential of Uccelliera's traditional winemaking approach and southern-slope terroir.

From the cellar: pair with

Slow-roasted wild boar with black olive tapenade

The wine's mentholated black cherry, balsamic spice, and herbal complexity are a natural companion for the earthy, gamey richness of wild boar prepared with Mediterranean herbs.

Aged Bistecca alla Fiorentina with rosemary and garlic

Brunello Riserva's firm chalky tannins and concentrated dark fruit demand the richest, most intensely flavored preparations of Tuscany's great steak.

Aged Pecorino di Fossa with truffle honey and walnuts

The wine's walnut, dark chocolate, and balsamic depth create a compelling bridge with the nutty, funky richness of cave-aged Pecorino.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 17 to 18 degrees C (63 to 64 degrees F)
Decanting: If opening before 2034, decant for a minimum of 4 hours. After 2034, a 60 to 90 minute decant will suffice.
Cellar Storage: 12 to 13 degrees C (54 to 55 degrees F)

Track this bottle Read the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

What is the difference between Uccelliera's Brunello and the Riserva?

The Riserva is produced only in exceptional vintages from the finest selected barrels, aged for an additional year beyond the standard Brunello requirement, resulting in greater concentration, complexity, and cellaring potential.

When should I open the 2019 Riserva?

The drinking window opens in 2028, with peak drinking from 2034 through 2048. This is a wine for extraordinary patience; do not open before 2030.

Is the 2019 vintage truly exceptional for Brunello Riserva?

Yes. The Consorzio awarded 2019 its maximum five-star rating, and Uccelliera's Riserva selection process means only the finest barrels from an already outstanding vintage made it into this bottling.

How long will this wine last?

The hard decline is projected at 2055, giving the wine nearly three decades of cellaring potential from today. It is among the most age-worthy wines in the entire Cellared catalog.