Brunello di Montalcino
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Brunello di Montalcino is Tuscany's most famous DOCG (along with Chianti) and the region's boldest expression of Sangiovese. Brunello di Montalcino is located 30 miles south of Siena with the hilltop town of Montalcino as its epicentre. Its 2,000ha of vines are naturally delimited by the Orcia, Asso and Ombrone valleys. Brunello is the local name for the Sangiovese Grosso clone from which Brunello di Montalcino should be made in purezza (100%).
The Brunello di Montalcino DOCG has a whale-like shape. At its head, at 661 metres above sea level on ancient stony/galestro soils facing east and south-east, lies the town of Montalcino where the DOC was founded. As you follow the spine south towards the tail the vineyards lose altitude - those around Colle Sant'Angelo are at 250 metres - while the soils become richer with iron and clay. Further east in the shadow of the 1734m high Mont'Amiata lies the village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate where the vineyards are strewn with a rich mix of galestro, granitic, volcanic, clay and schist soil types.
While Brunello di Montalcino's climate is mildly Mediterranean thanks its proximity to the sea only 20 miles away, the elevation of the vineyards provides an important diurnal temperature variation (hot days, cool nights). This benefits the grapes by maintaining acidity levels and extending their ripening time. The howling `tramontana' wind can also play an important role in drying and concentrating the fruit.
Historically the zone is one of Tuscany's youngest. First praised in 1550 by Leandro Alberti for the quality of its wines, it was Tenuta Il Greppo who bottled the inaugural Brunello di Montalcino in 1888. By 1929 the region had 925 ha of vines and 1,243 ha of mixed crops, while in 1932 it was decreed that only those wines made and bottled within the commune could be labelled as Brunello di Montalcino. Since then, the number of producers has risen from 11 in 1960 to 230 in 2006, while over the same period the vineyards have expanded from 1,000 to 12,000ha. The region earned its DOC in 1966 and was upgraded to DOCG in 1980.
Brunello di Montalcino cannot be released for sale until five years after the harvest, or 6 years for Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. During this time the wines should be aged for at least 2 years in oak followed by at least 4 months in bottle (6 months for Riservas). Maximum yields are 55 hl/ha.
Rosso di Montalcino is declassified Brunello di Montalcino, released for sale 18 mths after the harvest
Recommended producers: Costanti, Fuligni, Lisini, San Giuseppe, Soldera, Cerbaiona
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| VINTAGE | WINE | BOTTLE SIZE | PRICES | LIST SETTINGS |
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Brunello di Montalcino, La Serena, Tuscany
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino 15% off for Wine Club Members *
Limited Stock
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Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 30.60 | |
| 12 x £ 27.50 | ||||
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Special case price
£
330.00
Buy 12 and save £ 37.20 (10%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will keep,
Cork Closure,
14.5% alc.
La Serena’s sumptuous 2003 Brunello di Montalcino flows onto the palate in an expansive, full-bodied expression of super-ripe dark cherries, leather, spices, vanillin and sweet toasted oak. It possesses gorgeous inner perfume and notable length on the palate, with notes of sweetness from the ... MORE The Wine Advocate Score: 91/100 * 15% off single bottle price for Wine Club Members. Savings will be applied at checkout. You must be logged in to your wine club account to qualify. | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino, La Serena, Tuscany
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino |
Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 38.35 | |
| 12 x £ 34.50 | ||||
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Special case price
£
414.00
Buy 12 and save £ 46.20 (10%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will keep,
Cork Closure,
14.5% alc.
Darker, brighter, crunchier than the velveteen 2003, Andrea's 2004 Brunello wine from this much lauded vintage treats us to a distinctly black fruited, forest floor affair that not only impresses on the nose but also delivers on the palate. Yes the 30% French barriques endow the wine with an extra ... MORE | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino, Lisini
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino Limited Stock
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Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 42.00 | |
| 12 x £ 37.80 | ||||
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Special case price
£
453.60
Buy 12 and save £ 50.40 (9.5%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will keep,
Cork Closure,
13.5% alc.
In light of the hot vintage conditions, it's of little surprise that Lisini's Brunello should be so ripe & inviting even at such a young age. Filippo Paoletti has cleverly managed to capture the warmth of the growing season without compromising the fine balance of the wine; an impressive ... MORE | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino, Lisini
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino |
Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 51.10 | |
| 6 x £ 45.95 | ||||
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Special case price
£
275.70
Buy 6 and save £ 30.90 (10%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will improve,
Cork Closure,
14% alc.
Benchmark, traditional, & good value Brunello from the ever consistent Lisini, built on the back of a famous vintage: full of forest floor notes & brambly spicy, chicory notes. Still a 'bambino' this wine will age for another 10 years at least; best drunk from 2012. One ... MORE Drink 2012-2019 . The Wine Advocate Score: 93/100 Wine Spectator Score: 94/100 | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino, Selezione Gemini, La Serena, Tuscany
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino |
Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 68.45 | |
| 12 x £ 61.52 | ||||
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Special case price
£
738.24
Buy 12 and save £ 83.16 (10%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will improve,
Cork Closure,
14.5% alc.
Such was the quality of the 2004 vintage that Andrea was gifted the opportunity of selecting the finest fruit from the 9 hectare estate to make a flagship wine: 'Gemini'. At this point I must confess to being wary of so-called 'flagship' wines, often disappointed by cynical nip and tuck wines in ... MORE | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino, Az. Agr. San Giuseppe, Tuscany
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino New
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Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 68.75 | |
| 12 x £ 63.29 | ||||
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Special case price
£
759.48
Buy 12 and save £ 65.52 (7.5%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will improve,
Organic (Certified),
Biodynamic (Certified),
Cork Closure,
13% alc.
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Brunello di Montalcino, Az. Agr. Cerbaiona
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino Limited Stock
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Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 75.50 | |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will improve,
Cork Closure,
14% alc.
Perhaps thanks to its 390 metre elevation and east-facing galestro slopes, Cerbaiona seemed to shrug off the worst of the heat in 03. For the nose retains the family trait of cool, black olive and crushed mineral notes. The full-bodied palate seems to give so generously:warm strawberry flavours ... MORE Drink 2008-2018 . | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino |
Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 168.60 | |
| 6 x £ 151.70 | ||||
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Special case price
£
910.20
Buy 6 and save £ 101.40 (10%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
For laying down,
Cork Closure,
13% alc.
Tasted blind and you'd be forgiven for perhaps placing this wine three hundred miles to the north-west in Piedmont (or even further west near Chambolle), among one of Barolo's finest vineyards; such is this beautiful wine's rose-tinted, whispy raspberry kirsch and tea-leaf perfume which delights ... MORE | ||||
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Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Soldera
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino |
Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 184.50 | |
| 12 x £ 166.05 | ||||
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Special case price
£
1992.60
Buy 12 and save £ 221.40 (10%) |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
For laying down,
Cork Closure,
14% alc.
"Gianfranco Soldera's Brunelli are a class apart: the nose sings with the purest of raspberry essence and delicate tea-leaf restraint, reminiscent of Burgundy at its most refined. Twenty-five year old vines, the use of only free-run juice, fermentation and up to 6 years invecchiamento in large ... MORE BBR Score: 19/20 | ||||
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Brunello Riserva Soldera
Italy » Tuscany » Brunello di Montalcino Limited Stock
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Bottle
(75cl) |
£ 234.00 | |
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Full Bodied,
Dry,
Red,
Sangiovese,
Ready, but will improve,
Cork Closure,
13.5% alc.
The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Case Basse, which spent over four years in cask, is medium garnet in color but brilliant and vivid in hue. The intense and elegant aromas of wild cherries, red currants, cinnamon, and blood oranges are followed by a palate of superior continuity, energy, and ... MORE The Wine Advocate Score: 93/100 | ||||






