BIONDI-SANTI, BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

TUSCANY, ITALY

Prestigious. Celebrated. Collectible. Iconic. Very little more needs to be said about Biondi-Santi, a name that is synonymous with Brunello itself. It was in 1888 that Biondi-Santi isolated a clone of Sangiovese, marking the first-ever bottling of what we know today as Brunello di Montalcino. Mentioned alongside titans of industry such as Petrus and Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Wine Spectator proclaimed Biondi-Santi as producing one of the 12 best wines of the 20th century. As the lone Italian wine on the list, James Suckling asked, “where would Italy be without the grand old wines of Biondi-Santi?” Simply put, the reds of the renowned estate are of the highest order and are some of the most highly sought-after wines in the world. So today is a rare opportunity as we were able to secure a microscopic allocation of two of their newest releases, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Annata as well as the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva.

Officially recognized by the Interministerial Commission in 1932 as inventing modern-day Brunello, Biondi-Santi’s contribution to Italian wine has been pivotal in not only establishing the existence of Brunello, but in defining the rules and regulations of the entire denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) system in Italy. As part of the first Italian wine region to attain DOCG status, the historical property continues to stand out among the world’s greatest producers. With just 25 hectares of vineyards, the famous Greppo Estate is undoubtedly some of the most acclaimed land within Montalcino. Located southeast of the town, the vineyards stretch across hills, enjoying the ideal microclimate and soils for the production of profoundly elegant and age worthy reds. With soils rich in marl and heavy stone, the vineyard is planted with the proprietary Sangiovese clone developed at the estate, BBS11. Their Brunello di Montalcino Annata is produced from vines ranging in age from 10 to 25 years old, whereas the Riserva comes from the oldest vines on the property, some as old as 80 years, and is made only in the best vintages.

Consistently producing Brunellos that are “pure, velvety and perfumed” these reds are like “no other wines in the appellation,” (Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator). Often compared to Burgundy in terms of aromas, flavors and texture, the reds of Biondi-Santi are some of the most cellar-worthy wines in the world. With limited amounts available, this is an extraordinary chance to add these profound wines to your collection.