Press and Tasting Notes
WINE SPECTATOR
97 / 100
Balsamic notes of juniper, sage and eucalyptus are buried underneath the cherry and plum fruit in this expressive, supple red, which is dense and well-structured, with terrific balance and a long iron and saline aftertaste. Just a tad richer and broader than the blended Brunello. Best from 2021 through 2038.
VINOUS
97 / 100
Good full pale ruby-red. Knockout aromas and flavors of red cherry, raspberry, licorice and minerals, complicated by hints of iris and violet. Extremely suave and polished on the extremely long, pure, mineral finish. Deeper, richer, more tannic and longer than the lovely 2013 Brunello Classico from Altesino, this is an absolutely beautiful Brunello. I especially like that the pristine, refined aromas and flavors of the famed Montosoli site are showcased to maximum effect here. One of the best Brunellos of the vintage.
WINE ADVOCATE
95 / 100
This celebrated single-vineyard wine follows through with many of the attractive themes presented in the base Brunello, only you get more robust intensity and power here. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is slightly more angular and edgy. You don’t get the same immediate silkiness that you find in the non-vineyard-specific alternative. This wine plays up its structure with firm tannins and solid building blocks of red fruit and spice. There is a sweet note of clove or cinnamon on the close.
Varietal
SANGIOVESE
Sangiovese may be the most recognizable red grape grown it Italy. Sangiovese can be found throughout Tuscany and, depending on the subregion, is given a "local" name. For example, Sangiovese grown in Chianti is also grown in the town of Montalcino. There, however, the genetically similar Sangiovese (Sangiovese Grosso) is known locally as Brunello and thus Brunello di Montalcino is the given name of these hearty, robust wines. Similarly, Sangiovese is the grape of the Vino Nobile de Montepulciano and Morelino di Scansano regions of Tuscany.
Sangiovese can vary in its flavor profile depending on where it is grown. In Chianti, the wine typically displays savory, cherry flavors with a rustic, earthy quality. In Brunello di Montalcino, the wines tend to be a bit more rich and complex with notes of leather, dark cherry and fresh tobacco leaf. Because of the grape's acidity, it typically pairs well with tomato based cuisine. More structured Sangioveses are well suited for rich meats and hard cheeses.
Country
The Fine Wines Of Italy: Italy is the world's largest producer of wine. Throughout Italy's long history, fine Italian wine and food have been integral to its culture. As a result, Italy has numerous indigenous varietals that are grown specifically to compliment foods from its particular regions. The most well known Italian wine regions are Piedmont, Tuscany and Veneto. In Piedmont, the age worthy noble red varietal Nebbiolo is king, while in Tuscany, Sangiovese is the prominent red varietal. In the Veneto, Corvina and Molinara are the primary planted red varietals. Italy has many indigenous and widely planted white varietals such as Venmentino, Falanghina, Tocai Fruliano, Arneis and Cortese, but Pinot Grigio is by far the most well known. Other notable Italian wines come from Sardinia, Umbria, Campania, and Sicily. Fine Italian wines are made by many great producers, however, we are quite fond of the following wines of Italy: Antinori, Bruno Giacosa, Paolo Scavino, Gaja, Castello Banfi, La Spinetta, Luigi Pira, Alesino, Siro Pacenti, Ciacci Piccolomini, Giacomo Borgogno & Figil, Tenuta San Guido and many other Italian wines.
Region
TUSCANY
Tuscany is home to some of the most popular Italian red wines. Located along the Tyrrehenian coast, the Mediterranean influence and hilly terrain allow Tuscany to offer a wide variety of wine styles. The most popular red grape in Tuscany is Sangiovese. Most of the Sangiovese wines take on the name of the subregion from where the grapes are grown, provided the winemaker conforms to the D.O.C.G. winemaking laws of that subregion. For example, Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano and Morelino di Scansano are all Tuscan subregions and all Sangiovese based wines.
Some winemakers elect not to confirm to the subregion's winemaking laws; those wines cannot utilize the region's name on the bottle. These nonconforming wines have come to be known as "Super Tuscans" and often resemble Bordeaux blends with some combination of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and/or Merlot. Many of the elite Super Tuscans come from the Bolgheri area of Tuscany. With Bolgheri receiving its own D.O.C. designation, Bolgheri on a label is starting to take the prestige and luster away from the unofficial Super Tuscan designation.
Though reds may be best known in Tuscany, the region has exceptional white wines that are bright and crisp and retain the minerality from the Mediterranean as well. While Chardonnay can be found in Tuscany, it is more common to find indiginous white grapes like Vernaccia and Vermentino as well as a delicious but lesser know grape, Ansonica.
