Cult Brunello Secret | 99-96pts | Yet $746 LESS Than Soldera | Few Bottles Left.
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Il Marroneto · Montalcino, Tuscany · Est. 1974
“Simply Spellbinding.”
More 98-, 99- and 100-point ratings from Vinous, Wine Advocate,
Decanter, Wine Enthusiast & Kerin O’Keefe than their next three closest Montalcino competitors combined.
Founded 1974 · North Slope of Montalcino · 6 Hectares · Three Generations
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The Smart Money
Montalcino’s cult producers.
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| Soldera Case Basse |
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~ $876 |
| Biondi-Santi Riserva |
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~ $751 |
| Poggio di Sotto Riserva |
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~ $500 |
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Il Marroneto Brunello
Artisan Wine · JS 97 · VM 96 · WA 96 · DM 96
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$129.97 |
Same 97-point ratings. Same traditional Slavonian oak aging. Same northern Montalcino pedigree. At $129.97, Il Marroneto’s Brunello sits at less than 15¢ on the dollar compared to Soldera — and outscores much of the competition.
| ⋅ | Il Marroneto was founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Mori. Along with his contemporaries, Diego Molinari of Cerbaiona and Gianfranco Soldera, Mori helped establish Montalcino’s potential for world-class wine. |
| ⋅ | Giuseppe’s son, Alessandro, has been one of Montalcino’s staunchest defenders of tradition, employing wild yeast fermentations and long aging in large, neutral wood. |
| ⋅ | The estate’s Madonna delle Grazie cuvée — sourced from a north-facing parcel of 40+-year-old vines — has become one of Italy’s most collectible wines. |
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“Il Marroneto remains at the top of their game and at the head of the pack. It is hard to argue that anyone’s stratospherically priced Riserva can match what Il Marroneto has accomplished with Madonna delle Grazie since 2010.” — Rare Wine Co. |
Founded in 1974 by Siena lawyer Giuseppe Mori, the estate takes its name from the central building of the cellar — a structure dating back to 1250. The nuns of the nearby Madonna delle Grazie convent once used the Marroneto to dry chestnuts for weary pilgrims walking the Via Francigena to Rome. Today, three generations of Moris tend just 6 hectares on the cool north slope of Montalcino, producing two of the appellation’s most coveted and under-the-radar wines.
Alessandro Mori’s approach is uncompromisingly traditional: no chemical treatments, no tilling since 1988, natural ferments, no fining, no filtration. Extended maceration, long aging in large neutral Slavonian oak casks — and then patience, letting each vintage speak for itself.
The north slope of Montalcino — the sector that produces the most elegant Brunellos in the appellation.
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350m
Altitude
Situated on the cool north-facing slope just outside the walls of Montalcino at 350 metres. The wide diurnal temperature shift here is the source of Il Marroneto’s signature vibrancy, acidity and aromatic precision. |
1975
Original Plantings
The Madonna delle Grazie parcel was first planted in 1975 — vines now nearly 50 years old, yielding tiny crops of intensely concentrated fruit. No tilling since 1988. No chemical treatments ever. |
40+ mo
Oak Aging
Both wines aged in large-format neutral Slavonian oak casks for 40+ months. Madonna delle Grazie 2020 spent 46 months. No new oak. No shortcuts. The result: transparency of terroir and extraordinary longevity. |
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2020 Il Marroneto
Montalcino, Tuscany · 100% Sangiovese · North Slope · 42+ months oak
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG |
Elsewhere: $150.00$129.97 |
| ⬤ Only 19 Bottles Remaining at Artisan | Drink 2026–2048 |
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Why You Can’t Just Walk In and Buy This
Il Marroneto produces just ~27,000 bottles of this Brunello each year — roughly 2,250 cases for the entire world. The allocation that reaches America is a fraction of that. The rest goes to the cellars of The French Laundry, Per Se, and SingleThread — restaurants where a single bottle commands $400+. We received 19 bottles. That’s our entire allocation.
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97
James Suckling
A restrained wine that’s complex and deep, with aromas of cherry stones, butter, fresh violets, orange peel and prunes. Firm tannins with grainy texture, sweet finish, super-energetic acidity. Perfect balance and incredible aging potential. A super classic.
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96
Vinous · Eric Guido
An understated beauty, slowly emerging with rose petals, fresh mint, crushed rocks and vividly ripe black cherries. Hovering across the palate, lifted and finessed yet spry. Liquid floral concentration. Classically dry tannins. A more concentrated and intense yet wonderfully balanced rendition.
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96
Wine Advocate · Monica Larner
A wine of special depth and elegance. More floral than fruity. Softness and silky texture that feels glossy to the palate. Drink 2026–2048.
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96
Decanter · Michaela Morris
Subtle and sweet to start, flitting with strawberry and cherry blossom before earthier tones. Pure red cherry and raspberry embedded with nutmeg and incense. Chalky tannins. Drinking Window: 2027–2039.
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2020 Il Marroneto
Montalcino, Tuscany · Single Parcel · Vines planted 1975 · 46 months oak
“Madonna delle Grazie” Brunello DOCG |
Elsewhere: $475.00$449.97 |
| ⬤ Only 2 Bottles Remaining · This Is the Last Call |
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The Rarest Wine on This Email
Madonna delle Grazie is produced in just 7,500–8,500 bottles globally in a typical vintage — under 700 cases. Of those, only a handful reach the US market. The French Laundry, Per Se, and SingleThread compete for every case that arrives. We were allocated 2 bottles. If you’ve read this far, act now.
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Named for a small 13th-century church on the estate, Madonna delle Grazie is Il Marroneto’s single-parcel crown jewel — produced only in top vintages from the oldest vines on the property. Since 2010 it has accumulated more perfect and near-perfect scores than any comparable single-vineyard Brunello in the appellation. The 2016 received 100 points from Kerin O’Keefe. The 2020, with JS 99 and VM 98, continues that exceptional run.
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99
James Suckling · #39 Top 100 Italian 2025
An exquisite mix of elegant aromas: Parma violets, orange peel, Earl Grey tea, dried cherries, smoky woodland and earthy minerality. Full-bodied, velvety tannins, sweet and full of aging potential. Super-long, austere finish. It will last for decades.
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98
Vinous · Eric Guido
Cascading from the glass with crushed cherries, rose petals, blood oranges and cloves. Silken feel, ripe red and blue fruits. Iron-borne minerals, fine tannins mounting toward the close. Impossibly long. A showboat yet complex and harmonious. Easily one of the absolute top wines of the vintage.
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98
Wine Advocate · Monica Larner
A classical expression of Sangiovese from Alessandro Mori and his son Iacopo. Elegant and finessed, with floral highlights of rose and violet leaning into a subtle menthol note. Caramelized sugar and candied orange. Needs more time in bottle to spread its wings.
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97
Decanter · Michaela Morris
Soars from the glass with heady violet, rose and lilac, then pepper, potting soil and roasted chestnuts. More density and volume than the estate Brunello. Will need even longer in the cellar. Extraordinary.
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Montalcino’s greatest hidden gem. 21 bottles. Last call.
“Simply spellbinding.” — Vinous Media
Brunello 2020 — JS 97, VM 96, WA 96, DM 96, KO 96 · 19 bottles
Madonna 2020 — JS 99, VM 98, WA 98, DM 97 · 2 bottles only
| Il Marroneto Brunello 2020 — $129.97 |
| Madonna delle Grazie 2020 — $449.97 → |
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