2015 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

The 2015 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is one of the most iconic expressions of Sangiovese from Tuscany, crafted only in truly exceptional vintages. This Riserva represents the pinnacle of the historic Tenuta Greppo estate, marrying classic austerity with the ripe, generous character of the 2015 growing season. Produced in very limited quantities, it is a collector’s wine built for long-term cellaring and moments of real significance. What sets this wine apart is its unique combination of tension, aromatic complexity and age-worthy structure, a style that Biondi Santi virtually defined for Brunello. The Riserva is made exclusively from the estate’s oldest Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello) vines, many of which are considered genetic reference points for the entire appellation. Historically, Biondi Santi is credited with creating the original Brunello di Montalcino in the late 19th century, and their Riserve remain benchmarks against which others are judged.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2015 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a luminous, deep ruby core with delicate garnet reflections at the rim, suggesting both concentration and classic evolution. The color is brilliant and transparent rather than opaque, characteristic of traditional Sangiovese from higher-altitude sites. The nose is refined, layered and slow to unfold, revealing notes of wild cherry, redcurrant and blood orange peel, followed by dried rose, violet, tobacco leaf and fine herbal nuances. With air, more tertiary tones emerge: leather, underbrush, cedar, sweet spice and a faint ferrous-mineral note that speaks of the Greppo terroir. On the palate, the wine is taut yet elegant, with a medium to full body carried by vibrant acidity and finely chiseled, chalky tannins. Flavors echo the nose—puréed red berries, sour cherry, pomegranate and savory citrus—with subtle hints of tea leaf, anise and balsamic. The finish is long, linear and very precise, lingering on notes of red fruit, spice and stony minerality. While already showing impressive balance and aromatic detail, this Riserva is built for the long haul. It will reward patience, evolving gracefully over two to three decades or more from the vintage, gaining additional complexity, truffle notes and silkier texture with time in the cellar.

Production
The grapes for the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva come from Biondi Santi’s Tenuta Greppo estate, one of Montalcino’s most storied and higher-elevation sites. The vineyards are planted on well-drained, stony soils rich in galestro (friable marl) and limestone-clay, which naturally limit yields and contribute to the wine’s notable acidity and mineral backbone. Only the oldest Sangiovese Grosso vines, selected massal clones from the original Biondi Santi heritage, are used for the Riserva. Harvest is carried out entirely by hand with strict selection in the vineyard and again at the winery. Vinification follows a rigorously traditional approach: a long, temperature-controlled fermentation and maceration in concrete or stainless steel to extract fine tannins rather than sheer power, followed by extended aging in large, neutral Slavonian oak botti. The Riserva then spends further time in bottle before release, ensuring that structure, aromatics and texture are harmoniously integrated.

Food & Serving
This 2015 Riserva is a natural partner for refined yet deeply flavored dishes. Classic Tuscan pairings include bistecca alla fiorentina, slow-braised beef or veal shank, wild boar ragù, roasted lamb, and game birds such as pheasant or duck. It also shines alongside aged cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Toscano and other firm, nutty varieties. For best expression, serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F). Decanting is strongly recommended: allow at least 2–3 hours in a broad-based decanter for the wine to unfold its full aromatic spectrum, especially in its youth. In a more mature drinking window, a shorter decant of 60–90 minutes will suffice, mainly to separate any natural sediment and awaken the wine.

Producer
Biondi Santi is one of Italy’s most legendary estates and the historic reference point for Brunello di Montalcino. In the late 19th century, Ferruccio Biondi Santi was among the first to isolate a superior Sangiovese biotype—later known as Sangiovese Grosso or Brunello—and to vinify it as a long-lived, single-varietal red wine, essentially creating the style that would become Brunello di Montalcino. From the family’s Tenuta Greppo, Biondi Santi has set the benchmark for age-worthy, classically styled Brunello for more than a century, with their Riserve particularly revered by collectors and critics worldwide. Many bottles from the mid-20th century remain remarkably alive, cementing the estate’s reputation for crafting wines of extraordinary longevity and elegance, and affirming its central role in the history and prestige of the Montalcino region.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.