Wine Advisor
Biondi Santi, Brunello di Montalcino 2020
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Description
The Biondi-Santi flagship wine, the Brunello di Montalcino embodies the spirit of Tenuta Greppo and the signature style of our winemakers, forged over 150 years of history with its balanced combination of fresh elegance, depth and aristocratic personality.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Silky and fine in texture, the Biondi-Santi 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is more subdued at this stage, requiring additional time to fully flesh out. With air, it gains definition and aromatic clarity, revealing floral tones of wild rose alongside light spice and a subtle mineral or graphite note on the finish. The floral dimension stands out nicely. The 2020 growing season was defined by a cold winter with snowfall on March 23 followed by timely June rainfall that supported the vegetative cycle, allowing harvest to conclude before late-September rains. Favoring finesse over power, the vintage aligns naturally with Biondi-Santi’s traditionally restrained style, shaped by an estate philosophy that prioritizes balance, transparency and longevity. Fermentation was carried out with indigenous yeasts, and the wine aged for 30 months in large Slavonian oak casks, in keeping with long-standing cellar practice.
About the Producer
The history of the estate dates back to 1840, when Caterina Santi, the daughter of the Santi family, married Jacopo Biondi of the Biondi family, and the two families' premises were merged. The two families merged and began to cultivate the grapes and make the wine that became Château Biondi. The winery was later taken over by Ferruccio Biondi Santi, son of Caterina and Jacopo, who officially changed the name of the estate to Biondi Santi. The Brunello variety is essentially a clone of Sangiovese, but is larger, more tannic and produces a more layered wine. The complexity and elegance of this variety, which is suitable for long-term ageing, makes it a masterpiece of Italian fine wine. The vineyards of Biante Sandi are located at the highest altitude in the hills of Montalcino, with frequent fog on the hillside, which gives them the advantage of not only very good land but also altitude. All Brunello di Montalcino wines are made from grapes sourced from vines that are over 10 years old (25 years old for the Reserve) in the vineyard. After fermentation, the wines are first stored in Slovenian oak barrels for three years and then aged in the bottle for six months before being released for sale.
