2016 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

The 2016 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the flagship wine from the estate that effectively defined Brunello itself. Produced only in the most exceptional vintages, this Riserva stands as a benchmark for purity, elegance and age‑worthy Sangiovese. The 2016 vintage in Montalcino is widely regarded as one of the greatest of the modern era, combining perfect ripeness with exceptional freshness. What makes this Riserva unique is its uncompromisingly traditional style: 100% Sangiovese Grosso (known locally as Brunello), sourced from some of the oldest vines at the historic Il Greppo estate and aged for extended periods in large Slavonian oak casks. Biondi Santi’s Riserva was the first wine ever officially labeled “Brunello di Montalcino” in the late 19th century, and it remains one of Italy’s most collectible and long‑lived red wines.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Riserva shows a luminous, deep ruby color with garnet highlights beginning to form at the rim, a sign of its slow, graceful evolution. The nose is finely etched and intensely aromatic rather than heavy: wild red cherry, sour cherry and redcurrant unfold alongside dried rose petals, violets, sweet tobacco, balsamic herbs, and hints of leather and cedar. Subtle notes of citrus peel, spice box and earthy underbrush add complexity with air. On the palate, this is a study in precision and vertical structure. The wine is medium‑bodied yet remarkably concentrated, driven by vibrant acidity and finely grained, chalky tannins that frame the fruit without overwhelming it. Flavors echo the nose with pure red cherry, pomegranate and cranberry layered with savory nuances of dried herbs, tea leaf, licorice and a mineral, almost saline backbone. The finish is extraordinarily long and persistent, tightening and unfurling in waves rather than simply fading. While already showing remarkable balance, the 2016 Riserva is built for the long haul and has an aging potential of several decades—30 years or more in a proper cellar, evolving toward notes of truffle, dried flowers, tobacco and polished leather over time.

Production
The grapes for Biondi Santi’s Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016 come from the estate’s oldest Sangiovese Grosso vines at Tenuta Il Greppo, planted on high‑altitude slopes with well‑draining, stony limestone and galestro (marl) soils. This cooler, breezy position in the southeastern part of Montalcino helps preserve acidity, perfume and finesse even in warmer years. Yields are kept extremely low, and harvest is carried out by hand with rigorous selection in the vineyard and again at the winery to ensure only perfectly healthy, optimally ripe bunches make it into the Riserva. Fermentation takes place in traditional concrete or stainless vats with native yeasts, followed by long maceration on the skins to gently extract tannin and aromatic complexity. The wine is then aged for an extended period—typically around three years or more—in large, neutral Slavonian oak casks, which allow slow oxygen exchange without imparting overt oak flavor. After cask aging, it spends additional time in bottle at the estate before release, ensuring that the wine is harmonious yet still at the beginning of its long evolution.

Food & Serving
This classic Brunello Riserva is a natural partner for refined, robust dishes from Tuscan and broader Italian cuisine. It pairs beautifully with bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine T‑bone), roast leg of lamb with rosemary, braised beef or veal shank, wild boar ragù over pappardelle, and game birds such as pheasant. Aged pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano, and truffle‑inflected dishes also highlight its savory complexity. For ideal enjoyment, serve at 17–18°C (around 62–64°F). In its youth, the 2016 Riserva benefits from generous aeration—decant for 2–4 hours to allow the aromas and structure to open fully. Older bottles (after 15–20 years in the cellar) may require a more delicate, shorter decanting just to separate the wine from any sediment.

Producer
Biondi Santi is one of Italy’s most storied and influential wineries, credited with creating Brunello di Montalcino as we know it today. Located at the historic Tenuta Il Greppo estate near Montalcino, the family began isolating and cultivating a superior local clone of Sangiovese—later known as Sangiovese Grosso or Brunello—in the 19th century. In 1888, Ferruccio Biondi Santi released the first commercial Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, establishing a style defined by longevity, aromatic finesse and structural precision rather than sheer power. Over generations, Biondi Santi has become a reference point for traditional Brunello, influencing both local producers and global collectors, and their Riservas from great vintages are counted among the most sought‑after and age‑worthy wines in the world.

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