Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Vigna Di Pianrosso Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016

99, 98, 97+, and more – this wine has some dedicated fans out there in the wine critic world. 98 from Wine Spectator! Only THREE Brunellos EVER have scored higher (and none in the last 15 years!). Historic producer, monumental vintage, best of the best fruit and barrel selections...it is as though this wine was always destined for greatness! All at the best price in the country. Let’s go!

On the southeast slope of Montalcino, close to the medieval village of Castelnuovo dell’Abate and the famous Romanesque Abbey of Sant’Antimo, you’ll find the Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona estate. With origins dating back to the 17th century, this singular estate has more recently passed into the hands of the Bianchini family. Giuseppe Bianchini was the longtime caretaker and farmer of the estate under the previous owners, and it was Countess Elda Ciacci who bequeathed the entire property to him in 1985.

The estate extends to over 220 hectares of land, 55 of which are planted to vine (and another 40 in olive trees). Quite the gift, right? These south-facing vineyards are located in the heart of the Val d’Orcia Park – an Unesco World Heritage site that perfectly encapsulates everything your mind envisions when you dream of Tuscany. Rolling hills, vines, and groves surrounded by forests and streams, with red-baked earth...simply heaven and a spectacular place to grow Sangiovese Grosso. The deep, rich soils here are medium grain in texture with frequent deposits of marl and shale that dates back to the Eocene period (54-33 million years ago).

This Brunello di Montalcino Riserva hails from a careful selection of the best grapes from the oldest vines in the estate’s 12-hectare Pianrosso vineyard – all lovingly tended for three years in Slovenian oak barrels stacked deep in the cellar beneath the winery by Guisseppe’s son, Paolo. The aromas of this intensely layered and complex wine showcase ripe and fresh fruit notes of Morello cherries and raspberries, with spicy clove and nutmeg sensations, alongside red roses and violets. The flavors are a finely woven tapestry of red cherries, blood orange, pipe tobacco, balsamic, fennel, and black currant – bound together with a mineral, almost scorched-earth note and a spine of zippy acidity. The finish on this goes on seemingly forever, and though it will certainly benefit from aging...it presents quite the tempting package in the here and now. We’ve had this winery on our radar for a few years now, and even scored a couple of bottles of the 2010 and 2011 vintage way back when. This is the first time we’ve secured enough to send an offer and we are thrilled to do so with the earth-shattering 2016 vintage! Unquestionably one of the highlights of the entire monumental vintage for Brunello di Montalcino and not to be missed!!!