Brunello di Montalcino
Expect Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany, including bottles from Val Suga.
Brunello di Montalcino questions
What is Brunello di Montalcino?
Brunello di Montalcino is a prestigious Tuscan red wine made entirely from Sangiovese, locally called Brunello, grown around Montalcino. Appellation rules require extended aging before release. The wines are dry, structured, and long-lived, often showing cherry, plum, dried flowers, herbs, leather, and earth supported by firm tannin and acidity.
What does Brunello di Montalcino taste like?
Expect a wine fuller and more structured than basic Chianti, with sour cherry, red plum, dried rose, tobacco, leather, herbs, and earth. Its tannin and acidity can be pronounced in youth. Age softens the structure and brings savory complexity. It is a wine for slow drinking alongside substantial, savory food.
How long can Brunello di Montalcino age?
Good Brunello di Montalcino can age for 10 to 20 years or longer, depending on vintage, producer, and storage. Its high acidity, tannin, and required aging give it a strong foundation for development. Young bottles often benefit from decanting. For a mature bottle, open carefully and decant only enough to separate sediment.
What food goes with Brunello di Montalcino?
It pairs with roasted lamb, beef, wild game, mushroom dishes, truffle pasta, and aged pecorino. Its structure needs food with real depth and fat, while its acidity keeps rich dishes from feeling heavy. Serve around 60 to 65°F in a large glass. Avoid delicate seafood or lightly dressed salads.