Argiano
Argiano's Brunello di Montalcino is 100% Sangiovese from marl and clay above Sant'Angelo in Colle. The 2020 is fresh and seductive: black cherry, orange zest and savoury herbs over dense, tidy tannins. Decanter and Wine Advocate both scored it 94.
Drinker and critic notes converge on a fresh, seductive Sangiovese: black cherry and orange zest, baking spice and savoury herbs over dense but tidy tannins. Decanter and Wine Advocate both rated the 2020 94 points.
Aromas open on black cherry and pomegranate lifted by orange zest, with baking spice, dried savoury herbs and a note of rose petal. In keeping with 2020's hot but cool-finishing season in Montalcino, the fruit stays fragrant and lifted rather than jammy.
Orange peel
Rose petal
Black cherry
Plum
Tobacco
Oak
SpicyMedium-bodied and notably fresh, with lively acidity and dense but tidy tannins from Sangiovese grown on marl and clay above Sant'Angelo in Colle. Ageing in large Slavonian oak casks frames the fruit without dominating it, and the 14.5% alcohol stays well integrated.
The 2020 finishes dry and precise, with a faintly saline, iodine edge and lingering spice and savoury-herb echoes.
A gracefully structured, classic Brunello that drinks well now but has 10 to 12 years ahead. Decanter and Wine Advocate both scored the 2020 94 points, and Vivino drinkers average 4.2 across 554 ratings; this is Argiano's flagship estate bottling.
Three UK merchants currently stock the 2020 between about 64 and 73 pounds for the standard 750 ml bottle, a typical UK range for estate Brunello at this level.
Scored across six axes, this is a structured, classic Sangiovese: strong on food and occasion, more a cellar wine than an everyday pour given its 65-pound-plus shelf price.
High acidity and firm tannins make this a classic food red, ideal for savoury Tuscan meat, game and aged cheese.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from a benchmark estate, scored 94 by two major critics, is a natural special-occasion bottle.
DOCG rules mandate five years of ageing before release and critics see 10 to 12 years of further cellaring for the 2020.
At about 65 pounds it sits above entry Brunello, but matching 94-point scores from Decanter and Wine Advocate make it fair for the quality (no category price_aggregate sample available).
Scoring is rule-based and deterministic. The model and weightings are documented in our editorial methodology.
A compact view of what the Brunello di Montalcino denomination actually requires, and how this bottle sits inside it. Pulled from the official Italian disciplinare.
Compare tracked offers from verified retailers at a glance. Stock is shown only where the retailer exposes it. Logos, sale pricing, and the strongest offer are surfaced first.
2020 paired a hot, dry summer with cooler September nights, and freshness became the vintage's signature in Montalcino. Argiano's wine landed among the stronger results, fragrant and accessible with mid-term ageing potential.
2020 brought a hot, dry summer tempered by cooler September nights, and freshness is the vintage's signature in Montalcino. Argiano's bottling is among the stronger results, fragrant and accessible, and earned 94 points from both Decanter and Wine Advocate.
Drink-now / hold guidance reflects general style cues for this wine, not a forecast for a specific bottle. Where vintage-level editorial notes exist, they appear above.
Argiano farms organically on marl and clay at 280 to 310 metres above Sant'Angelo in Colle, with vines between 12 and 60 years old. Fruit, terroir and the five-year DOCG ageing rule drive the cost more than oak.
Italian wine law sorts bottles into a pyramid. DOCG sits at the top: tightly drawn boundaries, prescribed grapes, mandatory ageing, government tasting before release. DOC is the same idea with looser thresholds. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is broader still, requiring only that 85% of the grapes come from the named territory.
Brunello di Montalcino is in the DOCG tier. That is not a quality verdict, it is a description of how much freedom the producer has at vinification and ageing.
Brunello di Montalcino falls within Tuscany , covering Comune di Montalcino, Toscana.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG cannot be sold until five years after harvest, two of them in oak; the 2020 ties up Argiano's capital and cellar space into 2025.
Argiano farms organically with vines 12 to 60 years old on calcareous marl at 280 to 310 m above Sant'Angelo in Colle, lowering yields and lifting fruit cost.
Maturation in large Slavonian botti rather than cheap small barrels adds cellar cost while keeping the wood signature restrained.
Decanter and Wine Advocate both scored the 2020 94 points, and Argiano's reputation supports its roughly 65-pound UK shelf price.
At 14.5% ABV the still-wine duty of 2.67 pounds plus 20% VAT account for over 13 pounds of a 65-pound bottle before the retailer's margin.
Three UK retailers list the 2020 between about 64 and 73 pounds, and that competition keeps the street price from drifting higher.
Dishes that complement this wine
Brunello's bright acidity and firm tannins are built for rich, savoury Italian plates. The 2020's freshness lets it cut through fat without tiring the palate.
Sangiovese's firm tannins bind to the protein and char of grilled beef, softening on the palate while the wine's acidity refreshes each bite. Brunello's structure is built for this kind of plate.
Try with: Fiorentina steak · Tagliata · Grilled lamb · More pairings →
Long-braised meats match Brunello's medium-full body and savoury depth, while its bright acidity cuts the richness of the sauce. The 2020's savoury-herb edge bridges to game.
Try with: Brasato al Barolo · Ossobuco alla Milanese · Agnello Ragu Lucano · More pairings →
The acidity and tannin in Brunello scrub away the fat and salt of aged sheep's-milk cheese, resetting the palate. Tuscan pecorino is the natural regional partner.
Try with: Pecorino sardo e pan carasau · Aged pecorino toscano · Parmigiano · More pairings →
Sangiovese's high acidity mirrors the acidity of cooked tomato, so the wine tastes rounder rather than sour. The 2020's freshness keeps lighter Tuscan dishes lively.
Try with: Pappa al Pomodoro · Ribollita · Tomato and herb pasta · More pairings →
The earthy, savoury notes of Brunello echo the umami of mushroom and truffle, while its tannins stay fine enough not to overwhelm them. An autumn-table classic.
Try with: Tagliatelle al tartufo di Acqualagna · Truffle risotto · Porcini mushroom risotto · More pairings →
High alcohol and firm tannin amplify chilli heat and turn harsh, while sweet glazes flatten Sangiovese's fruit and expose the tannin. Keep this Brunello away from spicy or sticky-sweet dishes.
Skip with: Vindaloo · Sweet-and-sour pork · Chilli stir-fries · Pairing guide →
Critics call the 2020 approachable now but capable of ageing gracefully for 10 to 12 years. Released only after five years, it reaches UK shelves already part-way through its drinking arc.
Peak around 2030. Best in the years above; holds without falling over either side.
A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.
DOCG rules mandate five years of ageing before release and critics see 10 to 12 years of further cellaring for the 2020.
£42.81 is the lowest tracked offer for the current vintage and we have no signal of further discounting.
Read directly from each retailer’s public product page once a day. Last refresh: 7 Jun 2026, 14:15 BST. We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.
Confidence · HighDrawn from what drinkers consistently report on Vivino and Wine-Searcher, summarised in our own words. A crowd read across many tasters, not a single critic.
Confidence · MediumFrom the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.
Confidence · HighOur reading of the price, drawn from the disciplinare, public UK duty rates, and typical landed-cost benchmarks. Not a quote from the producer or a retailer.
Confidence · MediumStyle guidance for this kind of wine at this price point. Treat it as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.
Confidence · MediumIt is 100% Sangiovese, the grape Montalcino calls Brunello. Argiano grows it organically on marl and clay soils at 280 to 310 metres above Sant'Angelo in Colle, in the warmer south-west of the zone.
Expect black cherry and pomegranate lifted by orange zest, with baking spice, rose petal and savoury herbs. It is medium-bodied and fresh, with dense but tidy tannins and a dry, faintly saline finish.
It drinks well now but is built to age. Critics see it developing gracefully for another 10 to 12 years, so the 2020 sits comfortably between roughly 2025 and 2035.
Its acidity and firm tannins suit rich Tuscan plates: Fiorentina steak, brasato and wild boar ragu, plus aged pecorino. The wine's freshness also handles tomato-led dishes like pappa al pomodoro.
At around 65 to 73 pounds across UK merchants, the 2020 sits above entry Brunello, but a 94-point score from both Decanter and Wine Advocate makes it strong value among benchmark Montalcino estates.
4 retailers
From
£42.87
Il Poggione
4 retailers
From
£39.24
Fattoria dei Barbi
3 retailers
From
£39.23
3 retailers
From
£44.79
Affiliate disclosure. Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Editorial coverage, ratings and tasting notes are written independently and a retailer cannot pay to be listed or to be ranked higher.
How retailer prices are sourced.
Prices and stock are read from each retailer’s public product page once a day. Outbound buy links carry rel="nofollow sponsored noopener". The list is sorted by price; we do not accept payment for placement.
What we will never do. Imply we tasted a bottle when we didn’t. Imply stock when a retailer is out. Imply independence on links that are paid affiliate links.
Verified retailers
Price comparison
Updated daily
