Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona "Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro" Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2019
(Tuscany, Italy) - [F 100] [JS 99] [JD 97] [WA 95] [VM 94] [DM 93]

About the Winery: 
Ciacci Piccolomini is one of the most sought-after producers in all of Italy. This ancient estate has 35 hectares of superior holdings in the prized Castelnuovo dell'Abate zone, including the 'Pianrosso' vineyard (meaning 'red field,' a reference to the iron rich soils). Made by the brother-and-sister team Paolo and Lucia Bianchini, this ancient estate was left to the Bianchini family in 1985 by Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona, who had no heirs; Giuseppe (Paolo and Lucia's father) had been the estate manager. 

About this Wine:
Their Brunellos emphasize finesse and balance, with layers of ultra-fine tannins and subtle ripe fruit, yet they age incredibly well. The vineyard consists of medium grain soil with good levels of marl, dating from the Eocene period at an altitude that ranges from 240 to 360 meters.  The “Pianrosso” plot of the vineyard consists of heavy iron deposits. This wine is produced only in the best vintages from a careful selection of grapes from the Pianrosso vineyard and it has always been our most representative wine.

Fermentation and refinement:
Stainless steel and glass concrete vats with temperature controlled through cooling plates and jackets.

Aging:
Extended aging (over 36 months) in Slavonian oak barrels and barriques, followed by over one year months in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes:

The bouquet is intense and complex: fruit-forward, spicy and ethereal, with hints of red berries and various spices. Warm, harmonic with pronounced and soft tannins. A full-bodied wine with a very long aftertaste. A Brunello that can be refined in the bottle for many years.

Food pairings: 
Excellent with roasted and game meat. Enjoyable with mature cheeses or as a meditation wine.

Ratings & Reviews

100 Points - Falstaff:
"Bright ruby red, subtle brightening on the rim. Aromas of ripe cherries, ripe strawberries, dried rose petals, a hint of sealing wax and fine tobacco notes on the finish. Very full-bodied, rich and engaging on the palate, great savouriness and juiciness, with a vibrant, powerful and long finish." (Oct 2025)

99 Points - James Suckling:
"The ripe yet fresh aromas are so alluring and compelling, showing plums, cedar, rose petals and hints of leather. Full-bodied yet framed and tensioned with fantastic length and intensity. Polished tannins are powerful but reserved, showing great presence and character. This is a monumental wine in many senses of the word. One for the cellar." (Dec 2024)

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva pours a medium garnet hue similar to the 2020, but the wine feels a touch more complete and harmonious. The nose is bright and savory, with anise, bergamot, dried Mediterranean herbs, and sweet spice all woven through the fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it has a focused line of acidity, ripe tannins, and a long, mouthwatering finish that stays energetic and fresh without turning austere. It should drink beautifully for 15 years or more. Drink 2026-2044." – Audrey Frick (Feb 2026)

95 Points - Wine Advocate:
"I have not seen this wine in a few years. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro offers a darkly concentrated approach with a bouquet built upon black fruit intensity, spice, earth and cured tobacco. I find the approach quite robust and heavy-handed. This vintage is especially concentrated and best recommended to those looking for this hearty style. The tannins come with a hint of dryness. Production is 18,600 bottles with some larger formats." - Monica Larner (Nov 2024)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"Dark, brooding and potent, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro Riserva is a force to be reckoned with. It launches from the glass with a burst of crushed blackberries, plums and exotic spices, further complicated by dried orange peels and cedar shavings. Velvety and weighty, this floods the palate with rich and enveloping textures. This retains a core of tantalizing and stabilizing acidity, with ripe red and black fruits that drench the senses. The 2019 tapers off with dramatic length and structure, leaving a framework of sweet tannins and resonance of salted licorice and mocha that lingers on." – Eric Guido (Nov 2024)

93 Points – Decanter Magazine:
"This Riserva is dedicated to Giuseppe Bianchini, who took over the property in 1985 and received the Santa Caterina d'Oro award in 2004, the same year he passed away. It comes exclusively from the estate’s Pianrosso vineyard. The 2019 displays extraordinary richness and concentration. It wafts with warm sand, strawberry fruit, leather and dry Mediterranean scrub. Weighty and caramel-tinged, the palate is ladened with spicy dark fruit. Quite sturdy, there are layers of powdery tannins but all that lavish fruit seems to swallow up the structure." – Michaela Morris (Nov 2024)