Biondi - Santi : Brunello di Montalcino 2012

A Graceful and Concentrated Vintage from a Historical Brunello

Biondi-Santi is one of the most important and historical wineries in the Turscany region of Italy. The winery was established in 1869 by Clemente Santi. However, it was really in the late 19th century that the estate made viticultural history under the management of Ferruccio Bondi-Santi, who produced the first ever Brunello di Montalcino from a Sangiovese clone known as Sangiovese Grosso. The wines of Bondi-Santi are made from 100% Sangiovese and are considered by many the purest, most representative expression of this noble Tuscan grape variety. The 2012 vintage was characterized by a dry June and July, leading to a hot August with some rain. The harvest took place on September 10. This vintage has been lauded for its slender profile and herbal freshness, slightly more concentrated than the 2013. The Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 from Biondi-Santi is a single-variety Sangiovese wine, made with grapes from 100% estate vineyards and harvested from vines between 10 and 25 years old on average. The fruit was fermented in a combination of concrete vats and Slavonian oak barrels with exclusively indigenous yeast. The maturation took place for a period of 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels, followed by 1 year of aging in the bottle.

In the glass, the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 from Biondi-Santi presents a medium garnet color with ruby reflections. The nose reveals a tantalizing blend of fresh dark fruits (cassis and cherries), herbs, rose petals and hints of spice. The mouthfeel is quite lean, with firm tannins and a deep structure, stretching forth into a long, lingering finish. To be consumed in the next 30-50 years.