95+pts Vinous
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is a fascinating interpretation of Vigneti di Versante. It takes the lifted, floral, exotic nature of the vintage and marries it beautifully to Pian dell’Orino’s style of finesse and refinement. Mint leaf, crushed rocks, hints of camphor and dried strawberries are complicated by suggestions of ground ginger in the glass. This is elegant and refined, silky to the core, with tantalizing acidity and mineral tones further enlivened by hints of orange as red plums settle upon the senses. Its tannins are soft and dusty, with an admirable concentration seldom seen in 2018, finishing fresh yet lightly structured. This is simply delectable. This is the first vintage where Pian dell’Orino used an optical sorter, which drastically helped with the selection. In 2018 there will not be a Bassolino di Sopra. All the juice went to the Vigneti del Versante. To be released in March of 2024.

– ByEric GuidoonNovember 2023

The 2018 vintage played right into the hands of Caroline Pobitzer and Jan Hendrik Erbach. The exotic florality and bright red fruit of the vintage, combined with Pian dellOrinos elegance and crystalline purity, have created something very special within the Vigneti di Versante, the only Brunello bottled in 2018. Its a remarkably pretty Brunello with a classic feel and accessibility that will provide a long and open drinking window. This was also the first vintage in which the winery used an optical sorter in the selection process. Fans of Pian dellOrino will not want to miss this, but readers should be aware the wine will enter the market only in the spring of 2024. Speaking of being patient, this recent visit also included a preview of the 2019s, which are already bottled yet wont be released until 2025. Both the Vigneti di Versante and Bassolino di Sopra from 2019 are shaping up to be fantastic additions to this estate’s body of work. I am repeatedly blown away by the depth and balance achieved within the Bassolino di Sopra, a wine that now flirts with perfection. Both wines will require extensive cellaring to hit their apex, while the estates killer Rosso di Montalcino holds readers over while waiting.

Vineyard & Terroir
The Vigneti del Versante bottling represents a meticulous selection of fruit from the eastern-facing vineyards of the estate, notably Poggio dellOrino and Poggio al Vento, planted at 350400 meters elevation. Soils are rich in galestro (marl), limestone, and clay, providing excellent drainage and imparting the wine with both structure and mineral finesse.

Eastern exposure and altitude help mitigate warm conditions, enhancing aromatic clarity and freshnessa crucial asset in the cooler, more temperate 2018 vintage.

Pian dell’Orino follows strict biodynamic viticulture, with very low yields (~30 hl/ha) and manual work throughout. No synthetic chemicals are used. Vineyard work is based on lunar and cosmic rhythms, emphasizing soil health and vine balance.

Vinification & Aging
Grapes were harvested by hand in early October after a cool and slow-ripening season. Fermentation occurred with indigenous yeasts in wooden vats, with gentle extraction and long maceration (~30 days). Aging took place over 36 months in large untoasted Stockinger oak casks (2530 hL), followed by further aging in bottle. The wine is unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Brilliant ruby red with subtle garnet reflections.
• Nose: A perfumed bouquet of rose petals, wild strawberry, blood orange, and red currant, complemented by nuances of cedar, tea leaf, wet stone, and dried thyme.
• Palate: Medium-bodied and linear, the wine offers crystalline red fruit, vibrant acidity, and silky, chalky tannins. Elegant and precise, with flavors of pomegranate, sour cherry, and savory herbs, finishing with saline minerality and gentle spice.
• Finish: Exceptionally long, pure, and lifted, showing harmony between fruit, acid, and earth.

Vintage Overview
2018 was a cooler and more classic vintage in Montalcino, with ample rain in spring and a long, mild growing season. The wines tend to be aromatically expressive, refined, and terroir-transparent. Pian dell’Orino capitalized on the vintages virtues with a wine that emphasizes elegance over power, showing superb drinkability and aging potential.

Cellaring Potential
While approachable now after decanting, the 2018 Vigneti del Versante will evolve gracefully through 2040, gaining secondary and tertiary complexity with time.