Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesEarthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood rise up from the deep with Burgundian poise; fruitier orange zest and preserved lemons glimmer in their wake, while riper incense and tar lurk in this dense forest of aromas. Physics itself gives way as the line between reduction and oxidation is blurred. There’s such richness to the center palate, but the fruit there is vivacious and elegant, swaddled in robust but generous tannins that breach the outermost reaches of the mouth. The finish is hauntingly long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. This is certainly in a quiet, reserved stage of evolution, and will need time to fully mature in bottle.
A concentrated red, with intense flavors of black cherry, plum, violet, stony mineral and wild herbs. Ample flesh covers the dense matrix of tannins, but this retains plenty of structure and should develop well. Offers a lingering, salty aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2040
The Renieri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino takes a slightly different read of the vintage, with drier and more austere fruit flavors. I get some tannic astringency as well on the finish with a point of bitterness. Compared to many of its peers that produced soft and richly opulent wines in the warm 2015 vintage, Renieri's expression is a bit more angular and edgy. You get dark fruit tones with sour cherry and spice on the close. One thing it does share in common is that balsamic aromatic intensity that you encounter so readily in Brunello from the classic 2015 vintage.
In the eastern sector of the Montalcino region, Renieri's vineyards sit between 300-350 metres above sea level in a relatively cool area. The soil is volcanic with deposits from the nearby Monte Amiata. Discreetly perfumed, the nose is earthy and cedary in character. This is medium-weight with upfront, chewy tannins that stop just short of drying. It has a distinctive flintiness on the palate and finishes with bloody nuances. Drinking Window 2021 - 2030
Located in the prestigious Montalcino DOCG Appellation, Renieri is like a precious jewel in Marco Bacci’s treasure chest. Renieri lies southeast of Montalcino, on the southern border of the production zone facing Monte Amiata. The estate extends over 128 hectares of which 30 are dedicated to vineyards. Immediately following the purchase of the property in 1997, the old vineyards were completely replanted with six clones of Sangiovese grafted onto rootstock, following careful analysis of the terrain. Planted at an altitude of nearly 1,320 feet above sea level, the vineyards will surely benefit from the volcanic and calcareous soils. The property is in a splendid position, and the recently renovated main estate villa, made in stone during the 1700s, looks out over the vineyards and the valley where five massive, centuries-old oak trees stand as sentinels marking the center of the whole estate.
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.