Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino 2012

Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello 2012, patience as a legacy

There is an alliance in this Brunello that moves me: the depth of Sangiovese and a family history written into the walls of Montalcino. The 2012 vintage presents itself without detour, with aromas of cherry and raspberry, a touch of spice and rounded tannins. I recommend it for its warm presence, but also for the restraint of its expression.

An ancient palace, the Sangiovese of Montalcino

The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona estate is located in Montalcino, in Tuscany, at the heart of the DOCG appellation Brunello di Montalcino. Its name brings together two lineages: the Ciacci, then the Piccolomini d’Aragona, who entered the palace's history through marriage. The building had been commissioned in 1672 by Fabius de’ Vecchis, a bishop driven by the desire to leave a lasting work. The centuries saw the owners and the purpose of the place change, until the estate was taken over by the Bianchini family at the end of the 20th century.

This transmission comes with a commitment to respecting the heritage without confining oneself to dogma. The wine rests on a single grape variety, Sangiovese, worked with precision. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature, it spends more than 24 months in large Slavonian oak casks, with capacities of 20 to 75 hectoliters. Eight months of bottle aging then precede its release. This time in wood and in bottle accompanies the wine rather than masking its character: a way of giving Sangiovese the central place.

To the eye, the 2012 Brunello shows a ruby robe touched with garnet hues. The nose, deep and intense, combines red berries, notably raspberry and cherry, with accents of vanilla and clove. On the palate, the sensation is warm and supple. The balance comes from smooth, rounded tannins, which give relief without hardening the whole. The finish lingers pleasantly, with a persistence that invites you to take your time. The 2012 vintage is described in Montalcino as marked by favorable climatic conditions, to which the wine owes its structure and elegance. Here, these qualities are expressed in an ample style, but without excess, with a restrained depth.

At the table, for a meal that takes its time

I would serve this Brunello with a braised or roasted meat dish, whose richness would match its substance and tannins, or with aged cheeses. The idea is not to cover its aromas of cherry and spice, but to give them a place at the table. It is a bottle to open during a meal you don't rush, when you want the conversation to last as long as the finish. If you enjoy structured reds where the fruit stays legible, this 2012 Ciacci Piccolomini offers a lovely way to rediscover Montalcino in its classic expression.