Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2020

Biondi-Santi 2020, the Brunello true to Montalcino

In this Brunello di Montalcino 2020, I find a story that begins with a founding choice: letting Sangiovese speak on its own, on the hills of Montalcino. Aged in Slavonian oak, this wine carries on the vision of a family that, for nearly 160 years, has linked its name to the birth of Brunello.

In Montalcino, the legacy of Sangiovese

The history of Biondi-Santi is partly intertwined with that of the appellation. Around 1865, Clemente Santi produced a red wine made exclusively from Sangiovese. His grandson Ferruccio then planted a vineyard in Montalcino made up solely of this grape variety. In 1932, a report from the Italian Ministry of Agriculture officially recognized him as the creator of the first Brunello. Today, the family's seventh generation continues this approach, with grapes sourced from its own vineyards and a focus on expressing the place.

For the 2020 vintage, the harvest is manual and the bunches are sorted. Vinification uses stainless steel, wood and concrete vats, in order to preserve the expression of the grape and the terroir. The wine is then aged in Slavonian oak casks: the sheet for this vintage mentions 24 casks, while the general presentation of Brunello Biondi-Santi indicates aging of 24 to 30 months in medium and large casks. On the tasting side, the available information places its profile halfway between fruit and spice, between youthfulness and oak-aging notes, with a body that is likewise intermediate. However, they do not precisely describe its color, aromas or flavors, so I prefer not to promise you tasting notes that are not documented. Sangiovese and the aging provide the surest reference points here.

At the table, with robust flavors

I would serve this Brunello with game, red meat or a fine charcuterie, pairings suggested for this wine and suited to its structured style without being described as massive. Aged cheeses can also have their place at the table. You can picture it at a meal where people take the time to talk about the wine as much as the dishes, without trying to turn every glass into a ceremony. Its historical lineage and its aging in Slavonian oak give plenty to talk about, while its roots in Sangiovese remain at the center. If you want to taste a living chapter of Montalcino's wine history, Biondi-Santi's 2020 deserves a place at your table.