Born to make Brunello

Gianni Brunnelli

VARIETALS:                100% Sangiovese Grosso

PRICE:                         $83.00 / bottle

FORMAT:                      6 x 750ml  

AVAILABLE:                  12 six packs

DRINKABILITY:            2014 to 2027

94 POINTS - Wine Advocate (April 2012, Issue #200) 

"The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is striking. Sweet red cherries, flowers, tobacco, cedar and worn-in leather are some of the many aromas and flavors that take shape in the glass. The 2007 impresses for its textural depth and volume, both of which have been achieved while retaining considerable Sangiovese character. Ripe, silky tannins lurk beneath the fruit, but there is so much concentration they are hard to notice. The estate gave the Brunello 30 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027."  

93 POINTS - James Suckling (January 25, 2012)

"A very fine and balanced red, with plum, raspberry and cream character. Full and round and velvety. So delicious and satisfying now. Why wait?" 

 The Story

Podernovone vineyard at Gianni Brunelli

Gianni Brunelli was from an old Montalcino family. He dedicated his life to upholding the local traditions of great food, wine and hospitality. He became famous for all of the above at his legendary restaurant Osteria Le Logge in Sienna "where customers are treated like friends and friends like gods".  In 1988 he re-established his family's grape growing tradition at Le Chiuse de Sotto, a 2 ha vineyard below the hill town of Montalcino.

Sadly Gianni Brunelli passed away passed away in 2008, but his wife Laura carries on. She is a great character in her own right, big-hearted, and full of generosity and warmth. It is not surprising that Gianni Brunelli's wines are as supple, outgoing and hedonistic as Brunello's can be. Aged in big vats of Slovenian oak, they are elegant wines that have none of the severity that Brunello was once known for. Stylistically they have more in common with classic Burgundy or Barolo, which is to say that they are wines of plush texture and a core of ripe fruit. The 2007 is very youthful, and should be given the chance to develop, the way Brunello can, over the next 10 years or more.