Tuscany's revered Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy's most famous, most important wines. "No wine in Italy matches Brunello when it comes to class and ageability" says Wine Spectator.
Under DOCG rules, Brunello di Montalcino must be made with 100% Sangiovese and aged for a minimum of 2 years in barrel, plus a minimum of 4 months in bottle. Even then, it still needs time in the cellar … lots of time … to let the tannins soften and the complex flavours meld into one sublime, melt-in-the-mouth experience.
This iconic wine is, of course, also notoriously expensive … $3,000 per bottle is not unheard of for the most renowned examples! But once tasted, the appeal is obvious. If you’re a connoisseur of fine Italian wine it’s a MUST in your collection!
Situated right next door to Biondi-Santi – a Brunello icon whose signature red sells for $2,000+ a bottle – the Luciani winery has been owned and operated by the Luciani family since the late 1800s. The estate itself dates back to the 1200s! Today, it’s run by Francesco, the seventh generation, with the help of his parents, Mario and Fabia. The quality is exceptional (indeed, as Mario and Fabia are proud of declaring, their Brunello once even outscored their famous next-door neighbour). Aged 36 months in Italian botti and French barriques, the 2020 is seductively smooth, complex and captivating, with lavish fruit intensity and smoky, floral layers that intertwine in the glass. One sip and you’ll fall in love!
The critics certainly have. Antonio Galloni gives it 91 points, James Suckling awards it 93 points, and Jeb Dunnuck gives it an impressive 94 points!
It’s definitely a bottle to pour for a special occasion. Whenever you’re ready, decant and enjoy it alongside a Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a wild mushroom risotto, or a rich baked pasta dish. Or tuck a few bottles away and leave them to mellow further––it has decades of pleasure ahead of it.
Add a complex 95pt Italian flagship red at 27% OFF!
Here’s another lavish Italian icon, a sultry, silky Aglianico. Star of Campania as well as Basilicata next door, Aglianico is often referred to as the Barolo of the south.
It certainly ages as well, as this superb, tiny-production, 10-year-old 95pt red "brimming with dark fruit intensity and lighter tones of spice, tar, resin and volcanic smoke" (Wine Advocate) shows. It comes from the third generation certified organic Coltrone family estate in Torrecuso, and it’s another Italian connoisseur must-try.