There are arguably few places in the wine world as blessed by provenance as Montalcino, Toscana, Italy. Towering over the splendid Sienese landscape, this lofty mediaeval fortress is a poignant reminder of how wines with gravitas shine through time. Its water-holding, clay-rich soils and unique Sangiovese Grosso clones imbue Brunello (the highest status conferred on Montalcino wines) with juiciness in their youth, tempered by the varietal’s typical granular tannins. Later, they remarkably metamorphosise into a complex and elegant layering of molasses, goji berry, sage, and spice. Brunello is undoubtedly one of the best matches with tomato and meat dishes.
Crowning a hill, the vineyard diversity predicated by soil and aspect renders an almost unparalleled array of regional taste nuances. Leaving the narrow, cobbled streets you’ll pass iconic Biondi Santi and Fattoria dei Barbi, whose spicy, dark-fruited, and intense wines have mesmerised connoisseurs for centuries. Towards the coast and the home of the Super-Tuscans, concentration, spiciness, and complexity intensifies. Heading to Montepulciano, the wines take on a pronounced red-fruit character, reverberating with cranberry, wild herbs, and cherry spilling over powdery tannins.
Immerse yourself in this rich landscape by selecting some of our fine examples from this magnificently memorable wine region.
