Wine Advisor
Biondi Santi, Rosso di Montalcino 2017
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Description
A wine of fruit and vibrancy, the Biondi-Santi Rosso paves the way for the Brunello. For Biondi-Santi, the Rosso has always been a special wine, following a specific idea of making a red wine which reflects the signature style of our high-altitude vineyards with a vibrant freshness and a structure, which permits the wine to age, but which is driven by a distinct fruity character and is thoroughly enjoyable at a young age. Traditionally, the Rosso is produced from our youngest vines, and from those vineyard plots which underline the fruitiness. It is fermented in cement vats and has an ageing in oak which is shorter than that of the Brunello, 12 months. This wine was originally known as the Biondi-Santi Brunello “white label”, but became the estate’s Rosso in 1983, when the Rosso di Montalcino DOC was established.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Here's a wine that proudly opens a new chapter for Montalcino's celebrated Rosso. The Biondi-Santi 2017 Rosso di Montalcino opens to immediately recognized Sangiovese character, presented in a soft, delicate and nuanced manner. The wine pours from its distinctive yellow-labeled bottle to a beautifully mild garnet color with dark sepia accents. As it takes on oxygen in the glass, the wine reveals a slow progression of wild berry, rose, tar, spice and tilled earth. There are faint traces of caramel, candied orange and wild mountain herb. The 2017 growing season delivered ample heat and drought, but the new winemaking team at Il Greppo has taken on these challenges with grace and expertise. On the close, this Rosso shows its characteristic acidity and just enough structure to promise good aging potential.
Reviewed by: Eric Guido
There’s a purity and savory refinement to the 2017 Rosso di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo that transcends the expectations of this warm and dry vintage. A perfumed display of wild strawberries, fresh roses, violets and a dusting of minerals lift up from the glass. Its textures are silky, carried across a feminine frame, with bright cherries and inner herbal tones that find vibrancy through a core of brilliant acidity. Nuanced tannins and dried berries linger, leaving a lightly structured yet very pretty impression. This is a great introduction to the Biondi-Santi portfolio and deserves the moniker of “Baby Brunello''. That said, the 2017 could use another year of cellaring to further unlock its inner beauty.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Beautiful, sweet and ripe fruit on the nose with hints of wild flowers. It’s full-bodied with soft, round tannins that caress the palate. Long, flavorful finish. Gorgeous finish. A hint of chocolate nicely complements the fruit here. Delicious now, but can improve with age. Drink or hold.
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.
