Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesThis is a terrific wine and one of the new releases from Montalcino that I happily include on a short list of top recommendations. The Argiano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows a very lively bouquet that is already singing despite the young age of this new release. The wine opens to a dark ruby color with garnet highlights. The bouquet shows a large span of wild berry, earth, licorice spice and medicinal herb aromas. This vintage also reveals a pretty floral character with dried rose potpourri and lavender buds. After fermentation, the wine is aged slowly for 30 months in large oak botte (including 10-, 30- and 50-hectoliter capacity), thus restricting oxygen and gently slowing its evolution. However, the 2015 vintage is naturally expressive and exuberant, and that's the main takeaway here. Some 100,000 bottles were filled in May 2019, and the wine hits the market in February 2020.Rating:95+
Focused cherry and plum flavors mark this rich red, with a hint of orange peel. Flashes of earth, leather and iron lend complexity, while the firm structure adds grip. Exhibits fine balance and length. Given the fruit, this should be approachable soon. Best from 2022 through 2037.
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows dusty black cherry, complemented by sweet spices and herbs, as hints of dried orange, leather and dusty earth that forward. On the palate, I find velvety textures, ushering in ripe red and black fruits; yet there’s a wonderful balance here, as the wine is lifted by brisk acids, and a mix of savory, spice and minerals notes. The finish is long and structured, buzzing with mouthwatering acid and spice, as dried cherry lingers amidst a coating of youthful tannin. The 2015 Argiano is just a baby, slowly shaking off the wood it was aged in, and it is perfectly balanced. Drinking window: 2022 - 2030.
Aromas of dark-skinned fruit, tobacco, forest floor and camphor waft out of the glass. The tightly wound, linear palate evokes mature Morello cherry, licorice and an earthy hint of game while dried thyme and a rusty iron note provide backup. Drink 2022–2028. LUX Wines.
As of 2013, the historic Argiano estate has been led by winemaker/oenologist Bernardino Sani along with Francesco Monari, vineyard manager since 2006. All 50ha of vines are farmed organically, biodiversity is encouraged, and the company is now plastic-free. Pronounced forest aromas of mushroom, cedar and earth lead the way here. It's medium-weight with an abundance of sour red cherry on the palate. Wood tannins are a bit surly and need to integrate. Drinking Window 2021 - 2029
After this estate was acquired by Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano, the philosophy changed whereby quality and personality became the dominant priorities. In order to achieve these goals, Sebastiano Rosa was appointed as General Manager of the Estate. Having spent six years at the University of California at Davis, a two year tenure at Chateau Lafite Rothschild and three years at Sassacaia, he brings a strong mix of experience. In addition, Dr. Giacomo Tachis, probably the most well known winemaker in Italy today, became the oenologist. His legacy includes Sassacaia, Tignanello and Solaia, to name a few. Argiano's vineyards are located in the Montalicino area where a perfect microclimate assures a super ecological system. Varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese are planted. These grapes have not traditionally been part of the Montalcino area.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
