Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli DOCG 2015
(Tuscany, Italy) - [JS 97] [WA 96+] [WE 96] [VM 96] [WS 95]

About this Wine:
Altesino’s modern history begins with Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, who purchased the estate in 2001 and at the same time purchased the Caparzo estate in the north of Montalcino. Altesino became the first Montalcino estate to introduce the concept of cru wines, made with a special selection of grapes from a single vineyard, in this case Motosoli, one of their seven vineyard sites, with its first vintage in 1975. The winery has two full-time winemakers, Simone Giunti and Alessandro Ciacci, both firmly committed to maintaining Altesino’s hard-earned reputation as a Montalcino institution and a global leader in innovative winemaking.

Technical Information

GRAPE: Sangiovese 100%
FERMENTATION: Traditional
AGEING: 5 years (a minimum of 3 years in oak barrels)
REFINEMENT: 6 months in bottle
ALCOHOL IN VOLUME: 13,00/14,00%
AGEING CAPACITY: 20/30 years or more
FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1975
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 18°C
FOOD COMBINATION: Red meat, roasts and noble game.

97 Points - James Suckling:
"A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures of vivacious red fruit. A beautiful, nimble Brunello 2015. Drink from 2024." (8 Sep, 2019)

96+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Altesino's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli shows those celebrated characteristics of this special vineyard cru that are always portrayed with pronounced mineral intensity, with highlights of crushed granite and pencil shaving. Indeed, Altesino's five-hectare Montosoli vineyard sees a greater concentration of clay schist Galestro rock, and the vineyard altitude (at 350 meters above sea level) adds to the wine's perceived freshness. In this case, those mineral notes are applied with small brush strokes, as the core of the wine is occupied by wild fruit and forest berry. Medicinal herb and rosemary essence appear quietly at the back. This is a very compact and bright wine with young tannins and solid structure. It has all the attributes you look for in a candidate that can withstand long cellar aging. I'd suggest waiting five years or more before popping this cork. Some 19,000 bottles were filled in July 2019, and the wine was released in January 2020." - Monica Larner (Jan 2020)

96 Points & Cellar Selection - Wine Enthusiast:
"Underbrush, mature berry and exotic spice aromas mingle with a whiff of leather. Firmly structured and linear, the palate features ripe Marasca cherry, cranberry, licorice and tobacco while tightly wound, fine-grained tannins provide the backbone. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Give it time to fully develop. Drink 2023–2035." - Kerin O’Keefe (5/1/2020)

96 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli has a dark, hauntingly beautiful bouquet, displaying ripe blackberry and cherry with spicy, dark florals, as well as a hint of animal musk, which manages to ground the experience in the earth. On the palate, velvety textures, offset by tart red and black fruits, with juicy acidity maintain balance, as sweet cherries and rosemary give way to a core of minerality and hints of fine tannin. It finishes long and elegant, showing dark inner florals, ripe blackberry and lingering sweet spices. It’s interesting to taste this next to the classic Brunello from 2015, as I find them to be equally enjoyable, but for completely different reasons. " - Eric Guido (Apr 2020)

95 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Rich and round, featuring cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral aromas and flavors. Graceful and intense, showing terrific balance, with a long, fruit-, tobacco- and mineral-tinged aftertaste. Exhibits fine purity and freshness. Best from 2023 through 2040. 1,600 cases made, 400 cases imported." - BS (Jun 30, 2020)