Biondi-Santi
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva
Produced for the first time in 1888, the Biondi-Santi Riserva was the first Brunello di Montalcino in history, and even today it is an extraordinary event when a new vintage of Riserva is announced at Tenuta Greppo, the Biondi-Santi main estate. Renowned for its extraordinary longevity, this rare wine has been released only 43 times from 1888 till today and each production is extremely limited. Riserva is traditionally produced with grapes coming from only the oldest vineyards, of more than 25 years of age.
The grapes for Biondi-Santi Riserva are sourced exclusively from the estate’s oldest vineyards, situated in the heart of Tuscany’s Montalcino region. These vineyards, planted with Sangiovese Grosso—the noble clone of Sangiovese—are carefully tended to and cultivated with a focus on sustainability and traditional practices. The soils are rich in clay and limestone, providing ideal conditions for slow, balanced ripening. The estate's high-altitude sites benefit from significant diurnal temperature variation, allowing the grapes to achieve optimal acidity and aromatic complexity. This unique terroir, combined with the age of the vines, imparts exceptional depth, structure, and longevity to the Riserva, making it a true reflection of Montalcino’s rich winemaking heritage.
- Region
- Tuscany
- Appellation
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva
- Varietal Composition
- Sangiovese
- Aging
- 3 years in Slavonian oak barrels.
- Alcohol
- 14%
The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a truly majestic wine. The bouquet is packed with intense fruity notes of black berries, pomegranate, and plums, intertwined with scents of Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and sage, rising from a carpet of forest floor. On the palate, the wine seduces with exuberant charm and caressing sweetness. The youthful tannins reveal its immense structure and contribute to creating a distinctive sensation of freshness which leads us towards a long-lingering, savory finish.
Decanter
96 Points
2018
"Below-average temperatures and abundant rain characterised this vintage, which saw northerly winds dry out the grapes just before harvest began on 16 September. Viticulture and winemaking director Federico Radi (who joined Biondi-Santi in 2017) is exuberant about the 'balletic' nature of this vintage: 'Everything is so delicate here: delicacy and elegance with amazing finesse of the tannins.' A graceful structure supports an array of sweet autumnal notes: rain-soaked earth, wet stones, sous-bois, sour cherry and liquorice."
— Tina Gellie, 2025