About the winery:
It is a rare phenomenon that a wine can trace its origins to a single man. Brunello di Montalcino, however, owes its existence to Ferruccio Biondi-Santi and its fame to his family. Now on the seventh generation of winemakers, the Biondi-Santi family continues to produce wines renowned for their elegance and extraordinary longevity. Located in the heart of Montalcino, the Tenuta Greppo estate spreads over 25 hectares of vines on soils rich in heavy stones and marl – perfect for the cultivation of Sangiovese Grosso. Defenders of a rich enological heritage, the family continues to employ traditional vinicultural methods started well over a century ago to highlight the wine’s unique characteristics, or tipicita.
Vineyard Profile:
Grape Source: 100% estate vineyards
Vine Age: 10-25 years
Vintage Report: A year characterized by the absence of rain. During the spring, the region experienced a late frost followed by a few downpours. The weather remained mild until the end of May which saw a significant rise in temperatures, above the seasonal average. The summer was very hot and dry.
Vinification
Aging: The 2017 Brunello has been vinified in concrete tanks by using indigenous yeasts, selected in our vineyards.
Technical Information
Varietal Composition: 100% Sangiovese Grosso
Alcohol: 13.5%
Optimum Drinking: 30-50 years
Tasting Notes:
Considering the weather conditions of the year, it is not surprising if 2018 has given a fragrant and energetic Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino, so well refined and balanced to be defined as pixelated. As soon as you smell the wine you may feel the low presence of alcohol together with a variety of invigorating notes as dried herbs, violet, orange zest, forest berry, Morello cherry and crushed mint. The palate is delicious and succulent, dangerously easy to drink now, but also able to age beautifully, thanks to its bright acidity. A vibrant, juicy wine, which literally dances across the palate, with velvety and polished tannins. A saline mesmerizing touch adds complexity to the finish, remembering us what a wine with “sense of place” means.
Serving Suggestions: Serve at 60/64˚ F. Uncork the wine 1 hour before serving
Ratings & Reviews
96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
" The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino will be released on March 1, 2024. The color is medium red/garnet, and the nose opens to fresh aromas of orange citrus peel, dusty earth, cranberry, spices, and juniper. Medium-bodied and more linear, it lifts through the palate with fine tannins and a refreshing, mouthwatering finish. It has a great saline feel and is a savory and fresh wine. This is a Brunello I’d love to drink over the next 10 years for its accessibility and refined texture, although I imagine it will also have some real potential for cellaring. Drink 2024-2040." - Audrey Frick (February 2024)
95 Points - James Suckling:
" So floral on the nose with lavender and lilac coming through clearly. Cherries and peaches with an orange undertone. Medium-bodied with firm and silky tannins that are lightly chewy. Salty undertone to the fruit and hints of cedar and black truffle. Acid-driven. Excellent energy. March 2024 release. Drink after 2025, but already delicious." (April 2024)
95 Points - Vinous:
"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous, floral and finessed, wafting up with a classic Sangiovese profile blending dried rose and black cherries, complicated by dusty earth, worn leather and hints of cedar spice. This shows a beautiful ripeness of fruit, pure and lifted yet potent, with masses of red, wild berries and inner florals that cascade across a core of zesty acidity. This finishes long and staining with regal tannins and a tart cranberry tinge that lingers on and on. Simply magnificent, the 2018 takes the perfumed character of the vintage and marries perfectly to a core of vividly intense fruit. This is entirely atypical of the vintage and the result of extreme selection that reduced production quantities by 20%." Drink 2026-2036. - Eric Guido (February 2024)
95 Points - Decanter:
" The 2018 was just the second harvest under new ownership for Biondi Santi. CEO Giampiero Bertolini says that picking started late by the estate’s standards. They waited until 25 September, by which time the strong north wind had an opportunity to dry out the vineyards. The results in the bottle are impressive: cool fragrances of juniper, coriander, pepper and liquorice root leave room for a more subtle violet expression. The palate is decidedly red fruited with pomegranate and sour cherry nuanced by herb flowers, with an underlying stony-mineral crunch. Not lacking in concentration – yet by no means robust – this is graciously weighted. Nor does it have the scratchy bite of a young Biondi Santi Brunello. Instead, tannins are fine-boned and suede-like. Racy acidity is in the driver’s seat bringing focus, linearity and a vibrancy that pops on the finish." Drink 2026-2039. - Michaela Morris (November 2023)
93 Points - Wine Spectator:
" This pretty, elegant red offers a firm structure to support its rose, cherry, strawberry, mineral and menthol flavors. The tannins gain the upper hand for now, yet the fruit component lingers. This finishes long. Best from 2026 through 2042." - Bruce Sanderson (April 2024)
![Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018 (Tuscany, Italy) 750mL - [JD 96] [JS 95] [VM 95] [DM 95] [WS 93]](http://artisan.wine/cdn/shop/files/Biondi-Santi2017_{width}x.png?v=1713296926)