Amid the eastern hills of Montalcino near Siena in central Tuscany, stands the elegant 14th century-built Palazzo Altesi, home to the Altesino winery.  Though the weight of history of Brunello has encouraged conservatism among some Montalcino estates, Altesino has always been a leader, unafraid of innovation. The estate pioneered the technique of aging its IGT wines in small French oak barrels, limiting the time spent in oak to enhance the wine’s personality.  Altesino became the first Montalcino estate to introduce the concept of cru wines, made with a special selection of grapes from a single vineyard. Its Montosoli Brunello, named after the prestigious vineyard, was the first of these wines and is still considered among the region’s finest. (Altesino was also the first to offer Brunello futures, wine purchased before its release, with its 1985 vintage.)
 
The resulting wine was a marked improvement over those produced by traditional methods. No longer overwhelmed by wood, they were able to display the unique characteristics of the fruit, with softened tannins and perfect balance.  As Altesino’s winemaker Claudio Basla puts it, “Every producer chooses a style, and I want to make an elegant wine but one that isn’t just an expensive gift,” he says.

Made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso, a superior clone of the varietal, and hand-harvested from the Altesino, Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Macina, and Pianezzine vineyards, the Brunello di Montalcino 2013 is an example of finesse and elegance inherent to Montalcino's best vineyard sites. In the glass it is ruby-red with a garnet rim, the bouquet displays ample aromas of violet, wild berries, tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla.  On the palate it is rich, full-bodied, and velvety.  The wine will age nicely for the next 12 – 15 years.   Finesse and a fruitier, richer style are the trademarks of Altesino’s wines and have earned the estate a position among the very top producers of Brunello and is another example of a top producer from a top region developing a style that successfully straddles old and new world.
 

Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2013
Retail Price: $51.99
Sale Price: $47.97
(This is by far the lowest price you’ll find locally!)
 
95 points Wine Spectator – “An intense perfume of juniper, bay laurel, sage, rose and berries marks this silky red. The structure is there, yet superb balance and refined tannins help this retain elegance through the long finish. Almost ethereal in its presence. “
 
94 points James Suckling – “A wealth of ripe fruit with spice, orange peel and cherry. Full body, fine tannins and a bright and vivid finish. Drink in 2021.”
 
94 Wine Advocate – “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is absolutely unique in terms of its aromatic display. To me, the nose is particularly beautiful because I have a preference for balsamic notes of cola, mint or medicinal herb (that may not be to everyone's liking). You get those in spades here. These aromas are often more prominent in cooler vintages like 2013 in the Brunello appellation. In this case, they resemble intense eucalyptus. There is subtle fruit at the back, with wild berry and plum. The mouthfeel here is absolutely silky, fresh and streamlined. It is stitched finely together like lace.”
 
93 points Vinous - “Really lovely Brunello bursting at the seams with fresh bright fruit, and already utterly irresistible now. I had trouble not gulping my glass down all at once.”
 
 
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