The 1985 Riserva was produced with our proprietary clone of Sangiovese Grosso called BBS 11 (Brunello Biondi Santi 11 ), which was identified and selected by Biondi-Santi at Tenuta Greppo in the Seventies. For this Riserva we exclusively used grapes from the oldest vines with over 25 years of age.

A truly exceptional vintage. Very favorable seasons development with May rainy and warm, June dry and warm; July dry and warm; August warm with a few showers. September dry and warm. A dry harvest season.

This bottle, released in 1991, celebrates the 100-hundred-year anniversary of the production of the historic Brunello di Montalcino 1891 Riserva with a special commemorative label.

The 1985 Riserva was aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 3 years. The wine benefited from a long refinement in the bottle in the quiet and darkness of “La Storica”, the bottle library at Tenuta Greppo where all the historic vintages of Biondi-Santi Riserva are scrupulously kept.

The brilliant ruby red color displayed by the Riserva 1985 reveals nothing of this wine’s true age and as we approach the glass, the myriad of sensations arising presage the quality and longevity of the 1985 vintage, which was considered a milestone of the eighties by Franco Biondi Santi. On the nose there is a core of sour cherries, surrounded by scents of candied orange rind, rose petals, dried Mediterranean herbs, cigar box, tea leaves, balsamic hints and much, much more. On the palate the remarkable freshness and the soft silkiness of the tannins evolve hand in hand towards an ethereal, flinty finish which seems to never die off. A journey through time and true testament to the Biondi-Santi idea of Riserva.