Ciacci Piccolomini Riserva Santa Caterina d'Oro 2019

Ciacci Piccolomini Riserva Santa Caterina d'Oro 2019

I recommend this Riserva if you're looking for a Brunello di Montalcino that places the Sangiovese and the aging at the center. The Santa Caterina d'Oro 2019 is part of a story of parcel selection and patience: the grapes come from the Pianrosso vineyards, then the wine rests for more than three years in large Slavonian oak casks before continuing its rest in bottle. Its announced profile is spicy, marked by the wood, and endowed with a fine ampleness.

Pianrosso, in the heart of Montalcino

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona is located in the hills of Montalcino, in Tuscany, a territory whose name is intimately linked to Brunello. The estate belonged to two historic Italian families; since 1983, a new generation has managed it, preserving the heritage while looking toward the future. This continuity explains the choice of a Riserva where time and the care given to the raw material matter as much as the origin.

The Santa Caterina d'Oro is made exclusively from Sangiovese. The grapes come from Pianrosso, from plots located between 240 and 360 meters of altitude, over a stated area of 11.69 hectares. Only the most carefully selected grapes are retained for this cuvée. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature, followed by aging of more than three years in large Slavonian oak casks and a rest in bottle of more than twelve months. The wine is presented as a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, vintage 2019.

The available tasting notes describe a red aged in wood, rather spicy, with a marked cask influence and an ample structure. They do not, however, specify the shade of its color nor any particular aromas on the nose; I prefer not to invent notes of fruit, spice or undergrowth. At the table as in the glass, you can therefore expect a wine of presence, whose essential reference points are the Sangiovese and the long aging. It is a deliberately sober portrait, faithful to the published information rather than an imagined tasting.

At the table, with flavors of character

I would serve it alongside a plate of cured meats or aged cheeses, two pairings that match its structured profile without distracting attention from the wine. For a more generous meal, red meats and game are also among the suggested pairings. Choose it when you feel like taking your time: a seasonal table, a few guests and a dish with some relief will offer it a natural setting. If you enjoy Tuscan reds where Sangiovese meets extended aging, this Riserva deserves a place in your next tasting.