Brunello Di Montalcino Rosso Du Montalcino Gianni Brunelli Italie, 2022

Gianni Brunelli’s 2022 Rosso di Montalcino is a vibrant, authentic expression of Sangiovese from one of Montalcino’s most respected artisan producers. This is the estate’s younger, more approachable sibling to Brunello di Montalcino, crafted for earlier drinking while still reflecting the same meticulous vineyard care and traditional winemaking. It offers a beautiful introduction to the Brunelli style: pure, elegant, and deeply rooted in Tuscan terroir.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Rosso di Montalcino shows a luminous medium ruby colour with garnet hints at the rim. The nose is immediately inviting, with bright red cherries, wild strawberries and redcurrants layered with notes of dried herbs, violets, a touch of blood orange zest and subtle spice from large old oak casks. There’s a delicate earthy undertone and a whisper of tobacco that adds complexity without heaviness. On the palate, this is classical, finely etched Sangiovese: juicy red and sour cherry, pomegranate and cranberry framed by lively acidity and refined, chalky tannins. Hints of rose petal, thyme, fennel seed and a touch of savoury leather emerge with air, giving the wine a distinctly Tuscan character. Medium-bodied and wonderfully balanced, it finishes long, fresh and mouthwatering, with a clean mineral edge. While designed to be enjoyed in its youth, this Rosso has the structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–7 years, gaining complexity and softer texture with a bit of bottle age.

Production
The fruit for Gianni Brunelli’s Rosso di Montalcino comes from the estate’s vineyards in two distinct areas: the historic Le Chiuse di Sotto site just north of Montalcino, and the higher-altitude Podernovone vineyards to the south. Here, classic Tuscan soils of galestro (friable marl), clay and limestone, combined with significant diurnal temperature shifts, produce Sangiovese of finesse, aromatic lift and pronounced minerality. The grapes are harvested by hand, parcel by parcel, with rigorous selection to ensure only perfectly ripe and healthy clusters make it to the cellar. Fermentation takes place with native or carefully selected yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, allowing a clean, precise expression of the fruit. The wine then matures in large traditional Slavonian oak casks (and sometimes older tonneaux), which lend gentle structure and micro-oxygenation without masking the grape’s purity or the character of Montalcino’s terroir.

Food & Serving
This Rosso di Montalcino is a versatile partner at the table and shines with classic Tuscan dishes. Think fresh pappardelle with ragù di cinghiale (wild boar ragù), pasta al pomodoro, grilled lamb chops, roasted chicken with herbs, Florentine steak, or aged Pecorino Toscano. It also complements charcuterie, mushroom-based dishes and tomato-driven Mediterranean cuisine. Serve at 16–18°C; a brief 30–45 minute decant is recommended in its youth to allow the aromas to open and the tannins to soften, though it can also be enjoyed straight from the bottle with a bit of time in the glass.

Producer
Gianni Brunelli founded his eponymous estate with a clear vision: to craft wines that honour the traditions and terroir of Montalcino with honesty and precision. After his passing, his wife, Laura, has continued and refined this philosophy, elevating the winery to one of the region’s most admired small producers. With vineyards in both Le Chiuse di Sotto near the town of Montalcino and Podernovone to the south, the estate benefits from a diversity of exposures and soils that bring depth and complexity to its Sangiovese. Practising thoughtful, low-intervention viticulture and classically inspired cellar work, Gianni Brunelli consistently earns critical acclaim for wines that are pure, elegant and unmistakably Montalcino, making the estate a reference point for lovers of traditional Tuscan reds.