CERBAIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

 

TUSCANY, ITALY 2019


 

Why Buy: To come across a 98-point Brunello for less than $60 feels like a minor miracle, but the amazing thing is, we've come to expect nothing less from Cerbaia in the years since third-generation winemaker Elena Pellegrini took command and turned her tiny patch of Montalcino into a dependable and thrilling source of value-laden, world-class wines.

 

What They're Saying: James Suckling positively swooned over the 2019 vintage, awarding 98 points and hailing its aromatics ("so floral and fresh with rose stem, sandalwood, and orange blossom"), its "creamy fine tannins," "silky texture," and "beautiful finish."

 

The Vintage: 2019 was widely extolled as a banner year for Brunello, with Kerin O'Keefe, the erstwhile Italian Editor for Wine Enthusiast, writing: it "definitely lived up to its lofty reputation as an excellent vintage across Montalcino." (Put a sticky on this, folks: we’ve got more Brunello teed up for you in the months to come.)

 

The Story: In 2014, Pellegrini took over her family’s small, 12-hectare estate (5 of them dedicated to growing grapes), becoming one of the rare few women in Italy who both own their own winery and make wine. Only those who knew her spirit and determination, and her unerring palate, could have seen the transformation that was on the horizon. Located just two kilometers from the medieval center of Montalcino, the vineyard sits on some of the most optimal wine real estate in the world: stony, well-drained soils, diurnal variations in temperature, and nearly year-round sun. From this terroir, Pellegrini has fashioned wines of extraordinary elegance and balance that pay honor both to their grape and the land, and that deliver that earthy complexity and mystery that could only come from Montalcino.

 

Our Tasting Notes: A Brunello for Brunello lovers, and, quite possibly, the finest expression of the grape we have ever sampled from this estate. All the classic Brunello traits are here, but what moves us is the freshness and energy in this bottling, the clarity of definition, and the softness and finesse that compels us to keep coming back for more, more, more. We would be remiss if we did not mention that the wine was aged in Slavonian oak; its contributions here are many, and also immeasurable. Marvelous.

 

What to Pair It With: Mushroom-and-onion tart; roast goose and duck; grilled ribeye; fettucini Bolognese; ripe, aged cheeses.

 

Fun Fact: At the 1867 World's Fair, Clemente Santi, the acknowledged pioneer of Brunello, beat out a passel of French winemakers with a bottle of Brunello. One of the primary sources of grapes for that award-winning wine? The estate that now goes by the name of Cerbaia.

 

Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your order today!

 



 

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2024. 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 ONLY valid in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MO, NJ, NV, TX, VA (does not include store 209, Manassas, VA) & WA. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, January 18th, 2024.