ARGIANO, BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, SOLENGO & NON CONFUNDITUR
TUSCANY, ITALY
Of all the historic and revered producers in Tuscany, there may be none more historic and more revered than Argiano.
And I don't just mean a history that reaches back centuries, although there is certainly that — the property began producing wine in 1580, nearly two centuries before the United States was born, and the Argiano legend is filled with stories of noble families and Nobel Prize winners, all drawn to the wines made on this extraordinary terroir. "Mi tersi con il vin d'Argiano, il quale è buono tanto," Giosuè Carducci, the poet and Nobel laureate, once quipped (“I bathed myself with the wine of Argiano, which is so delicious.") But Argiano has also been at the forefront of every major development in Montalcino over the past 50 years, most notably co-authoring the Super Tuscan category that transformed the region, making it a hotbed for collectors from around the globe.
And, of course, throughout all that time, it has continued to make wine — glorious, memorable wine, produced largely, and proudly, through the methods of old.
Like the superlative trio we’re thrilled to bring to you this morning: their 96-point 2018 Solengo Rosso; their 94-point 2017 Brunello; and their 93-point — sub-$20! — 2019 Non Confunditur.
Located in Montalcino, on a plateau about 300 meters above sea level, the estate is blessed with a number of advantages, from its excellent elevation and soil to its well-equipped cellar, which includes steel vats (in which all wines are vinified and fermented), French oak barriques and tonneaux (where the first year of aging takes place), and cement vats (for a kind of finishing aging that lasts 12 months). Argiano has also been blessed with the passed-down wisdom of Giacomo Tachis, one of the giants of Tuscan winemaking and one whose influence continues to be felt throughout the industry. Some observers credit Tachis with being the first to see that the terroir of southern Brunello with its nutrient-rich limestone soils would be hospitable to non-native grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit Verdot, and that these French varieties could be married to the estate's Sangiovese to produce wines of exquisite complexity and depth.
His hunch was right … brilliantly right.
One of the results of this pioneering experiment has been to add a number of gorgeous new wines to the world, including two of the ones we bring you today: the Solengo and the Non Confunditur IGT.
The Solengo Rosso, which Argiano has been producing since 1995, has come to define, for many, what a Super Tuscan is. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Sangiovese, it is a wine with an almost swaggering presence, bursting forth with power and boldness, and rewarding the drinker with both depth and length. James Suckling raved about the 2018, praising its density, layered tannins, and agility.
In the same vein, the Non Confunditur IGT (a Latin term that connotes “unique” or “unmistakable”), is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese, and while it drinks like a Super Tuscan, it sure as heck doesn't cost it — we're able to offer it for less than $17 a bottle, an astounding deal for such a rich and deeply pleasurable wine.
Last but by no means least, we have their Brunello. And if you love your Brunellos made in the classic manner, you will swoon over this one. Its nose is broad and complex, with notes of red fruit, and aromatic herbs and spices. On the palate, it is as savory as it is robust, with silky tannins and a long and sustained finish. Suckling nailed it in his review, calling it "flavorful and gorgeous, yet lively and focused."
We're able to make all three of these Tuscan gems available to our Concierge Family, and with special pricing, for one week only, so don't delay — this is a terrific opportunity to stock your cellar for now and for later!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2022. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
