A Storied Past

Imagine walking around the undulating hills of Tuscany, where ancient vineyards lie basking in the sun. This is where Brunello di Montalcino was born, a wine with a history as rich as its flavor. Made from 100% Sangiovese, it gets the nickname “Brunello” or “Ancient Beginnings:

Although wine has run through Montalcino since the 14th century, it was in the 19th century that a visionary by the name of Clemente Santi re-invented the game. He crafted a wine meant to age gracefully, setting it apart from all else.

 

 

Official Accolades: Brunello di Montalcino wasn’t only good; it was nothing short of stellar. In 1966, it got the much-vaunted DOC status, and by 1980, it was among the first to receive DOCG status, Italy’s highest wine honor.

 

The Magic of Montalcino

So, what makes Brunello di Montalcino so outstanding, then? It’s the kind of perfect storm of quality, terroir, craftsmanship, and acclaim.

 

Aging Like Fine Wine

This is not wine in a hurry. Brunello di Montalcino has no choice but to wait at least five years before it arrives in your glass, of which two years are spent in restful slumber in oak barrels and four months in the bottle (six months for Riserva). With such painstaking care, alluring layers of complex flavor develop over decades into a divinely realized form.

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Terrific Terroir

Montalcino’s peculiar mixture of soils, from clay to limestone, in conjunction with its sunny and dry climate, makes this a paradise for the Sangiovese grape. The grapes mature perfectly, absorbing minerals that give the wine its special character.

 

 

Made with Love

The winemakers of Montalcino intertwine, in a harmonious and well-balanced way, time-honored traditions and modern ways of winecraft. Many of them follow sustainable and organic traditions, making sure each bottle is a masterpiece of meticulous care.

World-Class Reputation

Brunello di Montalcino is a wine that, vintage after vintage, surprises consumers and critics, scoring very high and receiving great awards. Where the producers are often legendary, such as in the case of Biondi-Santi, quality simply attains the gold standard.

 

Exclusive and High Demand

With limited production and followers spread all over the world, Brunello di Montalcino is definitely a rare gem, both in rarity and potential for collectors and experts.

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The taste of a legend

And let’s now talk about the tasting experience of this Tuscan treasure.

Appearance: Picture a deep garnet liquid swirled into your glass with ruby highlight gleams of light. Age turns the appearance into a more graceful brick-red color

Aromas: Inhale deeply and immerse yourself in the heady aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and plum. With time, the bouquet broadens to show off dried herbs, tobacco, leather and an edge of earthiness. You may even detect a bit of dried flowers or violet.

 

Taste

• Body: Richly robust and substantial in mouth feel.
• Tannins: Firm and already well integrated, the tannins show real potential and can get quite bold when the wine is young, but tend to soften to a velvety smoothness over time.
• Acidity: The acidity of this wine is bright and energetic, balancing the wine’s richness to make it wonderfully refreshing and age-worthy.
• Flavors: Your palate is going to do a dance with the dark fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and plum, along with dried fig, licorice, and spice. Oak aging adds delightful notes of vanilla, cedar, and sweet spices.
• Finish: The finish of a Brunello di Montalcino is long and persistent, with flavors evolving and lingering forward that create a strong aftertaste.

 

 

The Experience

Young Brunello: Younger Brunello wines are bold and bright; they are an experience for your senses. Let these sit open for a few hours to open up and let all the complexities really come through.

Aged Brunello: It is becoming more harmonious and gentle over time. The fruit is mellowing into a chorus of developed notes, making for a very classy, sophisticated wine.

After all, Brunello di Montalcino is wine—the experience, a ride into the heart of Tuscany, done with passion and precision to detail. Each sip might be from a young bottle or a mature masterpiece, but in every single one of them, we find a definition of the tale of wine that stands the test of time. Cheers to discovering the magic of Brunello di Montalcino!