Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino is ruby red in colour. The nose presents a complex bouquet of cherries, black cherries and blood oranges that follows over to notes of violets, vanilla, and light balsamic aromas. The palate is fresh, savoury with silky, elegant tannins. The long, persistent finish is defined by notes of citrus fruit, delicate spicy aromas and hints of vanilla.    

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING

93 POINTS ENTHUSIAST  

93 POINTS VINOUS

(Marchesi) Antinori is, without a doubt, one of Italy’s most famous wine producers established over six centuries ago and spans an impressive twenty-six generations. Following the unwavering stewardship of Piero Antinori for many decades, the baton was recently passed onto his three daughters. Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia (pictured) who now oversee this Tuscan dynasty. Balancing courageous and innovative decisions while maintaining a fundamental respect for time-honoured techniques is never easy, yet this pioneer of Italian wine is thriving and continues to be driven by its three guiding principles; tradition, passion, and intuition. The Antinori family ventured into Montalcino in 1995 with the acquisition of Tenuta Pian delle Vigne, an estate aptly named after the 19th century train station located on site. The property totals 184 hectares, of which 65 hectares are dedicated to vines near the village of Tavernelle.

Now with over 20 vintages of experience and through their philosophy of traditional ageing in large casks, Antinori create rich, powerful, and elegant wines, that more than deserve their place at the top table.

MONTALCINO HISTORY: Though Montalcino almost certainly had Etruscan roots, the first historical mention of the place dates back to 814, in a decree emanated by Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious that awarded the lands sub Monte Licini (‘under Mount Licini’) to the abbot of Sant’Antimo. The current settlement was founded in the tenth century. By the 14th, under the dominion of Siena, it had become a thriving walled town famous for its leather curing workshops. In 1555, it welcomed six hundred Sienese families who had fled from their city after its capture by Florence and the Medicis, and managed to hold out as “The Sienese Republic of Montalcino” for another four years. Subsequently, until well after the Second World War, the town was a small dot on the map of Tuscany, part of a feudal agricultural district whose inhabitants were often desperately poor. Viticulture had arrived on the scene midway through the 19th century, but it was for many years a marginal part of the local economy, the realm of a small group of local landowners and wine enthusiasts.

Pairing Suggestions: his wine pairs well with meat dishes and is an excellent accompaniment to hearty meals.

Maturation: This wine has been aged for three years in oak barrels.