Rosso di Montalcino

About this wine

This Rosso di Montalcino from Agostina Pieri is a pure Sangiovese that shows an intense ruby red color in the glass with just a hint of garnet at the rim. The nose offers vivid aromas of ripe red cherries, raspberry and blackberry, lifted by notes of violet, currant and a gentle touch of vanilla and sweet spice from time in French oak. On the palate it is medium to full in body, with juicy red fruit at the core, savory hints of herbs and a subtle mineral edge that reflects its vineyards around Piancornello in the southern part of Montalcino. Tannins are velvety yet firm enough to give structure, while the bright natural acidity typical of Sangiovese keeps the wine fresh and mouthwatering through a long fruity finish. The wine is classified as Rosso di Montalcino DOC and is made entirely from estate fruit, fermented in stainless steel and then aged about twelve months in French oak tonneaux before a short rest in tank and bottle, a regime that polishes the texture without masking the fruit. Agostina Pieri has earned particular recognition for this bottling, including the rare Tre Bicchieri award from Gambero Rosso for a Rosso di Montalcino, which underscores the unusually high level of care given to this appellation at the estate.

About the grape

This Rosso di Montalcino is made entirely from Sangiovese, specifically the local Sangiovese Grosso clone that has been cultivated around Montalcino since the nineteenth century as the backbone of Brunello. At Agostina Pieri the grape comes from south facing vineyards on galestro and lime rich clay soils, with low vigor older clones that are hand harvested and carefully sorted to keep only the best bunches for the wine. Part of the fruit is grown in parcels dedicated to Rosso and part is declassified Brunello fruit, so the same high quality vine material used for the estate’s top wine also contributes here. After a couple of weeks fermenting in stainless steel, the Sangiovese matures in large used French and Slavonian oak vessels which helps to preserve the grape’s character while softening its naturally firm tannins.

Quick facts

• 🏆 This Rosso di Montalcino is one of the very few Rossos to earn the legendary Tre Bicchieri award in Italy a prize usually reserved for more famous Brunello wines
• 🌟 The estate treats Rosso di Montalcino as a star in its own right not as leftover Brunello so special vineyard parcels are planted and farmed just for this wine
• 🌄 The vineyards for this Sangiovese sit on a sunny slope that looks toward the wild Maremma coast so each bottle is a little postcard from southern Montalcino
• 👨‍👩‍👦 The winery is run tightly by the Monaci family who do almost all the vineyard work themselves so every bunch of grapes for this Rosso is family checked
• 🍷 The first vintages in the mid 1990s totaled only a few thousand bottles and even today this Rosso is made in relatively small quantities so it quietly behaves like a collectible cult wine

Palate profile

Producer

Agostina Pieri, established in 1991 by Francesco Monaci and his mother Agostina, is a family-run winery located in Piancornello di S. Angelo Scalo, in the southern area of Montalcino, Italy. The estate spans approximately 20 hectares, with 11 dedicated to vineyards and 8 to olive groves. The winery produces Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, and Sant’Antimo DOC wines. Notably, their 1995 Rosso di Montalcino was the first of its kind to receive Gambero Rosso’s prestigious Tre Bicchieri award, highlighting the winery's commitment to quality.