Biondi-Santi Rosso di Montalcino, 2018, Tuscany, Italy

Our View:

From one of the most historic and well known wine producers in the world, this Rosso di Montalcino is amongst the finest examples of this style and is a must try for those with a sense of the history of Italian winemaking.

A gorgeous wine, ready to drink and with ability with age, this really is a delightful fruit forward example to savour.

The Wine:

The prestige of The Greppo estate dates back to the 19th Century, with the great wine culture of the family that owned this Estate, whose terroir has an extraordinary vocation for Sangiovese. Clemente began making wine using 100% Sangiovese and passed his wine knowledge to his nephew Ferruccio Biondi Santi, who, in 1888 produced the first bottle of Brunello di Montalcino.

This 150 hectare property has 26 hectares of vineyard split over three sites. The oldest of these plots is Il Greppo, laying at 500 metres above sea level; this is where the winery and house are situated. They also have vines down the hill to the east of Montalcino and to the north, close to Montosoli. Vineyards between 5 and 10 years of age are used for the Rosso.

Tasting Note:

Honest and clean cut, the 2018 Rosso di Montalcino reveals aromas of small red berry fruits as we find them in the forest during summer: raspberries, wild strawberries and red currant, but also sour cherries, so typical of Sangiovese from a cool vintage, which are immediately backed up by pretty scents of violets and hints of aromatic herbs. On the palate it shows all its energy with a lively freshness and a centred, fruity core with fine-grained tannins leading to a fragrant and deliciously savoury finish. An elegant vintage.

The Facts:

What the critics say:

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (Jan 2022) 94 points:

“Elegant, graceful and fine, the Biondi-Santi 2018 Rosso di Montalcino offers a delicate approach to the senses and it spreads over the palate with polished and silky intensity. The acidity is elevated in this vintage. A handful of historic producers in Montalcino are bringing the Rosso category up to the next level, and the venerable house of Biondi-Santi is one of them. This was a somewhat unusual vintage with prolonged cool spells alternating with moments of intense heat. However, this wine shows even ripening and is quite vibrant and tangy in terms of its acidity. In spectacular Sangiovese style, the wine ends with lingering tones of wild cherry, sweet earth, potting soil and perfumed violet”.