Biondi-Santi - Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 (750ml)
Price: $575.00
Producer | Biondi-Santi |
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Subregion | Montalcino |
Varietal | Sangiovese Grosso |
Vintage | 2004 |
Sku | 2958 |
Biondi-Santi Description
The prestige of Brunello del Greppo dates back to the 19th Century with the story of Clemente Santi who began making wine using 100% Sangiovese. He passed on his wine knowledge to his nephew Ferruccio Biondi Santi, who, after the phyloxera in the second half of the 1800s, isolated a clone of Sangiovese that gave birth to wines of extraordinary longevity. In 1888, Ferruccio produced the first bottle of Brunello di Montalcino from this clone.
The entire estate includes 47 hectares of land, but only 25 hectares are dedicated to plantings of Sangiovese Grosso. The oldest vines, totaling 5 hectares, date from 1930-1970. Only the best grapes are destined to the production of Biondi Santi Brunello - those from vineyards at least ten years old are for the Annata, and those at least twenty-five years old for the Riserva. Marl soils with heavy stones have been always preferred by the family with southern, southeastern, eastern, northeastern and northern exposure. The yield per hectare is kept low at 3-5 tons per hectare. Current production rarely exceeds 80,000 bottles, including about 10,000 bottles of Riserva made only during exceptional harvests.
Franco Biondi Santi, oenologist, learned the subtle art of vinification from his father, and has continued to run the Greppo Estate, with its unequalled collection of Reserve bottles. He has increased the production of Brunello del Greppo from the 4 hectares cultivated until his father’s death, to the current 25.
The future continuity of Greppo is represented by Franco’s two children: Jacopo, with his vivid imagination in relation to wines (firmly convinced of the typical character of Brunello del Greppo), and Alessandra (involved in promoting the estate).
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
Full of sweet macerated cherry and spice flavors, with concentration and intensity. Balanced, leaving a supple, mouthcoating impression on the finish.
Wine Enthusiast: 93 Points
The excellent 2004 vintage shines through in this traditional expression of Brunello. Biond-Santi's wines speak highly of the territory they come from. The acidity and tight berry flavors recall the hillside vineyards at Il Greppo and the aromatic complexity shows the best of Montalcino. The wine is fine, elegant, sophisticated and built to last. *cellar selection*
Wine Advocate: 90 Points
Biondi-Santi's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is an intriguing wine. Silky, refined tannins frame a core of perfumed dark red fruits as this compact, linear Brunello opens up in the glass. This medium-bodied Brunello is in need of serious bottle age, but the potential seems for the wine to develop nicely over the coming years. The estate's 2004 is not a blockbuster, but rather a delicate, ethereal style of Brunello. It is also one of the finer wines made from this part of Montalcino in 2004. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
Biondi-Santi represents one of the most staunchly traditional approaches in Montalcino, and with good reason, as it is here that the original Brunello clone of Sangiovese was discovered. The estate favors long maceration times and extended aging in large, neutral casks. -- Antonio Galloni
Vinous
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is impeccable and classy. Ripe red fruits, flowers and minerals are some of the nuances that emerge from this fresh, vibrant wine. The fruit remains incredibly youthful and pure all the way through to the finish. This is a surprisingly supple, fruit-driven style of Riserva from Biondi-Santi, and with time in the glass the reluctant bouquet finally emerges. Some of the explosiveness of the best vintages (such as 2001) is missing, but the wine nevertheless impresses for its finesse and impeccable overall balance. The 2004 Riserva looks to have a long life ahead of it, but it so harmonious that opening a bottle in its youth, while not optimal, is far from infanticide.