The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Tuscany

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Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Italy's first DOCG and the most serious expression of Sangiovese: 100% varietal, two years minimum in wood, released in its fifth year (sixth for riserva). Expect sour cherry, dried plum, leather, balsamic herbs, and dusty tobacco, with firm, fine-grained tannin and bright acid that lets good bottles run 20 years or more. Northern slopes give lift and perfume, southern and western sites (Sant'Angelo, Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Tavernelle) give darker, richer wines. Serve with a decant and something roasted.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Argiano
Brunello di Montalcino
Widely stocked (Kobrand), a modern, polished style with ripe cherry and cedar; the 2018 was Wine Spectator's wine of the year, so expect it everywhere.
$55 to $70Wine-Searcher
Il Poggione
Brunello di Montalcino
Classic southern-Montalcino house (Sant'Angelo in Colle), consistent and traditional, with dark cherry, leather and long tannin; imported by Vias.
$60 to $75Wine-Searcher
Biondi-Santi
Brunello di Montalcino Annata
The estate that invented the category; pale, high-acid, tightly wound, and meant for decades in the cellar.
$200 to $260Wine-Searcher