Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino "Pelagrilli" DOCG 2021
(Tuscany, Italy) - [JD 97] [JS 97] [WS 95] [VM 94] [F 94] [WA 93]

About the Winery:
Siro Pacenti started his eponymous estate in 1970 with the purchase of a five-hectare vineyard in the Canalicchio district just to the north of Montalcino. Named Pelagrilli, this vineyard also gives its name to their flagship wine. Since then the estate has grown to 60 hectares, but less than a third of that is given over to vineyards. The rest is olive groves and cereal fields, as has been the tradition here for literally thousands of years.  Less than 50,000 total bottles are produced in a given year, an absolutely tiny quantity by Montalcino standards, almost all (95%) is exported. 

Siro’s son Giancarlo Pacenti took the reins in 1988 and quickly established the estate as one of the leading names in the region.  Trained in Bordeaux, he fuses the best of modern cellar technology with progressive farming techniques, including biodynamic practices. The aim here is to arrive at the purest possible expression of the land.

Giancarlo insists on new oak for reasons of cleanliness: he emphatically does not want vanilla or clove flavors in his wines. The wood for his barrels is seasoned at least twenty years and barrels are given a very light toast. The Brunelli are bottled after 2 years in barrel to preserve freshness and avoid excessive oak influence (the Rosso spends 1 year in barrel).

About this Wine:
Siro Pacenti Pelagrilli Brunello di Montalcino DOCG is the flagship wine of the winery, named after the original vineyard purchased by Siro in 1970. This Brunello is crafted from Sangiovese grapes sourced from both the Pelagrilli vineyard and the Piancornello vineyard in the southern part of the appellation. The vines used are between 25-40 years old, and the grapes undergo meticulous sorting multiple times to ensure only the best fruit is used. The vineyards are located at elevations of 200 to 380 meters above sea level, with clay and sand soils at Pelagrilli and mineral-rich, pebbly soils at Piancornello. The vines are trained using Guyot and cordon spur systems and are farmed sustainably.

Fermentation involves indigenous yeast and cold maceration, with no filtration applied to the wine. The aging process includes 24 months in 225-liter French oak barriques and concrete vats, followed by 22 months of bottle aging. This careful and detailed approach results in a wine that balances elegance and power, with uncommon depth and complexity. The annual production of Pelagrilli Brunello di Montalcino is approximately 28,000 bottles, and the wine is vegan. The technical data includes a total acidity of 5.98 g/l and a residual sugar content of 35.7 g/l.

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Pelagrilli pours a brighter shade than the 2020 and shows a more vertical, tension-driven profile. The nose reveals red cherries, salted orange, leather, cedar, dried flowers, and that classic touch of incense that feels so Pacenti. Medium to full-bodied, it has ripe tannins, brisk acidity, and a long, mouthwatering finish, and it’s hard not to keep coming back to it. Drink 2026-2040." - Audrey Frick (Feb 2026)

97 Points - James Suckling:
"Gorgeous aromas of blackberries, black cherries, cedar, bark and spices follow through to a medium body with fine, integrated tannins and a succulent finish. Shows drive and intensity at the end. Give this three to four years in the bottle, but it’s already beautiful. Drink after 2028." - Aldo Fiordelli (Dec 2025)

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Broad and dense, this muscular red evokes cherry, raspberry, tar, iron, sanguine and eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Youthful and reserved, with plenty of potential in two to three years. Shows fine balance and length. Best from 2029 through 2049. 1,250 cases made, 700 cases imported." - Bruce Sanderson (Jun 2026)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"Balsamic black cherries blend with nuances of mocha, brown spice and minty herbs as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli dominates the glass. It has the weight of velvet yet remains lifted and serene, with crisp red and black fruits that slowly penetrate, complemented by a twang of citrus. A bitter dark chocolate tinge adds tension through the close, further enhanced by edgy tannins, yet the 2021 leaves the mouth watering for more. Beautifully done. (Drink between 2028-2038)." - Eric Guido (Nov 2025)

94 Points - Falstaff:
"Sparkling, medium-dense ruby-garnet color. Very clear and finely drawn nose of sour cherry, plum and clove. Also very precise and clear on the palate, grippy, very well-integrated tannins, spreads out emphatically." (Mar 2026)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The Siro Pacenti 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli shows concentration with dark fruit flavors framed by powdery tannins that extend through a medium- to full-bodied finish. Following fermentation in stainless steel, the wine matures in French barrique, a choice that adds structure and polish to this bold expression. Sourced from 10 hectares of moisture-retaining clay soils in the northern part of the appellation at 330 meters above sea level, the wine delivers notable power and warmth, closing with an evident 15.5% alcohol. This is a release of 24,000 bottles." - Monica Larner (Jan 2026)