Top 30: Vins toscans de 30 à 60 €

Tosco The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino from Camigliano and the 2021 Chianti Classico from Fontodi are tied in rating (8.0) and price (€31), but they don't really suit the same cravings. The Camigliano is a Sangiovese Grosso aged at least 5 years, ideal if you're looking for a reference appellation to go with red meat or game, at a price lower than its usual rank. The Fontodi, organic and aged at least 12 months, suits better those who want a softer, fruitier red to go with cheeses and everyday dishes, with equally solid recognition. The Chianti file does not explicitly tie its distinctions to this 2021 vintage, which weighs a bit in the balance.

Tosco Both Brunello 2019 wines score an identical 8.0, but they don't appeal to the same desires. Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – Antinori banks on recognition with its three Veronelli stars, 5 Bibenda grappoli and three guides at 90, for €54 a bottle, a slightly gentler price; choose it if you want a prestigious name and maximum distinctions. Brunello di Montalcino DOCG – Donatella Cinelli Colombini, at €58, stands out for superior typicity (8.6) and stronger versatility at the table (8.1), with aging that includes oak barrels; it suits you better if you prioritize the taste profile and food pairings. In short, Antinori for the aura and value-for-recognition ratio, Cinelli Colombini for the terroir and the table, the gap remaining slim overall.

Tosco Both Brunellos carry an identical La Toscane Cachée score of 8.0, but Camigliano stands out for its price of €31 versus €36 for Fattoria dei Barbi, and above all for its mentioned organic farming, a criterion that weighs heavily if it matters to you. Fattoria dei Barbi strikes back with greater recognition (3 bicchieri versus 2) and a more recent 2020 vintage. If your budget is tight or organic is a must, choose Camigliano; if you want the richer list of awards and a younger wine, Fattoria dei Barbi remains a safe choice, the €5 price gap justifying the difference.

Tosco The Fontodi comes out ahead on the producer side: organic farming, stainless steel fermentation, skin maceration, and a Producer & Winemaking score of 8.3 versus 7.9 for the Brunello. The Brunello, for its part, costs €35.90 with a Montalcino terroir and aging of at least 5 years, ideal for someone seeking a cellaring bottle for a special table. For a tighter budget and a wish for organic, go for the Chianti Classico at €30.80, knowing that its distinctions are not explicitly tied to the 2021 vintage.

Tosco Both Brunellos carry an identical score of 8.0, with nearly twin criteria for typicity and recognition, but the €18 price gap is the real deciding factor. The Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Fattoria dei Barbi, 2020 vintage, at €36, suits a controlled budget or a first discovery, with equivalent distinctions (3 bicchieri, Veronelli, Suckling 90). The Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Antinori, 2019 vintage, at €54, is for those who want the prestige of the Pian delle Vigne name at a price already reduced from its €67.89 list price, for a special occasion or a demanding enthusiast. Both share the same food pairings and the same lack of detail on organic certification, so choose according to your wallet and your appetite for Antinori's renown.

Tosco Fattoria dei Barbi 2020 at €35.90 is the choice if your budget matters, with an overall score of 8.0 and solid distinctions (3 bicchieri, 3 stelle Veronelli, 90 points from Suckling, Parker and Spectator). Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2019 at €57.81 has the same overall score but a better-rated terroir (8.6) and finer versatility at the table (8.1), making it the pick for anyone who wants a more refined Brunello and is willing to pay more.