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2017 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

October 27, 2024 - $71

Estimate

RATINGS

95James Suckling

Complex and fragrant nose of neroli, currants, sour cherries, sandalwood, cassis and wild herbs. Roasted walnuts, too. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Full of energy and power.

95Jeb Dunnuck

Aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, and violets emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers more ripe concentration, with black raspberry, tea leaf, cedar, and rosemary. It is elegant yet expressive of the warm vintage, with fine, ripe tannins and ripe fresh fruit through the mid-palate and a great balance between roundness and elegance.

93The Wine Advocate

...dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum... Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

93Wine Spectator

This red starts out round, turning more precise and taut as it builds to the finish. Shows cherry, wild herb, soy and loam flavors that ply the supple texture, before the tannins exert their influence and the finish tightens up (a good sign for the future).

90Vinous / IWC

...dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger.

17+ Jancis Robinson

Intense and deep fruit with a saline note and hints of dried fruit. Supple and not really reflecting a hot year. The fruit is very ripe and lush but not heavy or sweet and with supple acidity that is amplified on the finish and with ripe tannins underneath.

PRODUCER

Altesino

Altesino is in Montosoli, Tuscany. It is in the Brunello di Montalcino appellation, and its signature wines are its Brunellos. The estate is located in a 14th century palazzo with 100 acres of vineyards. Founded in 1972, the winery is today is owned by Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini. Besides Brunellos, the estate also makes several Super Tuscans. Vineyards are planted primarily to Sangiovese di Montalcino, with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Viognier, Trebbiano and Malvasia.

REGION

Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino

Brunello di Montalcino is regarded as one of Italy’s best appellations. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975. Brunellos in general are bigger, darker, more tannic and more powerful wines than Chiantis or most other Sangioveses. By law they must be aged for four years, and two of those years must be in wooden barrels.