Biondi Santi - Il Greppo

Rosso di Montalcino comes from slightly younger Brunello vines and is aged for 12 months in large oak barrels. It undoubtedly bears the hallmark of the top Biondi Santi winery: a delicate, sweet open fragrance of red berries, flowers and cloves. Rosso, like all the other wines of the winery, is of a classic and firm style, with a bombastic structure and a brilliant, long finish. Loyal to the house, it has a long ageing and maturation potential and can compete today and even the day after with some of the Brunello of the appellation. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid ruby. Same tightness as it always had and minerally too. Compact, focused and pure with succulent acidity and gorgeous coating tannins." Jancis Robinson

"This wine is beautifully endowed with bright fruit flavors of cherry and cassis that lift effortlessly from the bouquet. The warm growing season has helped shape soft and lasting fruit flavors. The wine is fresh and snappy crisp in terms of mouthfeel." Robert Parker

"Il Greppo's 2015 Rosso di Montalcino is absolutely gorgeous. Sweet tobacco, dried red cherry, cedar, rosemary, mint and anise give the Rosso lovely aromatic complexity, but it is the wine's body and resonance that stand out most. A wine of real stature and depth, Biondi-Santi's 2015 Rosso is all class, not to mention a real overachiever in my tastings and a rare Rosso that delivers the goods big time." Vinous

Opulent nose of red fruits, elegant expression. On the palate it is full with a beautiful finish, harmonious with hints of pepper, tobacco and an extremely complex expression. Long lasting and made for a long life. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium light red; barrely-raspberry-ripening, tobacco, very appealing; round base, fine, juicy, balanced, fresh, liquid, pleasing well." Merum (JLF)

"Bright red. Fresh, complex aromas of sweet red berries, pomegranate, sour red cherry, orange peel, violet and brown spices. Bright and juicy, with building density and multilayered flavors of sour red cherries and raspberry, complicated by a hint of peach. Finishes long and clean with strong mineral and floral nuances. This is an extremely fruity and remarkably ready to drink Brunello for this property, known for tough as nails wines when young that normally require lots of patience. Still, despite its obvious upfront charm, this has real structure and depth and will age well.Easily one of the top three Brunellos of the vintage." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"Sparkling Ruby Grenade. Very open and accessible nose, with notes of pomegranate, rose petals and fine cherry. Juicy and clear in the attack and course, shows fine notes of pomegranate and sour cherry, opens with pithy, fine-meshed tannin, very long reverberation." Falstaff

"Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco." James Suckling

"Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight."(Cellar Selection) Wine Enthusiast

"Mid ruby with orange tinges. Brooding, complex nose and very tight and compact palate. Succulent but very closed and with masses of fine tannins. It is a beautifully balanced whole, but right now a little austere and locked, yet more open than the 2011. The most elegant wine of this vintage." Jancis Robinson

Lavish Brunello Riserva with a bouquet of sweet black cherries, frankincense, liquorice and tobacco. The 2011 vintage brings incredible depth, immense fullness and a great personality. SUPERIORE.DE

"This hot and dry year has created a Riserva that, by Biondi-Sandi standards, is an unusually early source of drinking pleasure. Subdued, but very noble aromas of pickled red berries, also a touch of coffee beans, leaves and dried herbs. In the palate densely woven, with fine-grained tannin and beautiful enamel." Vinum

"Brilliant, rich ruby with a slight garnet edge. Compact, multi-layered nose with notes of raspberries, pickled cherries, some saffron. Fine-meshed tannin on the palate, unfolds with great elegance, fine cherry fruit, echoes for a very long time, salty." Falstaff

"Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep yet locked nose hinting at ripeness. Gorgeous, chewy, minerally cherry fruit with lots of powdery tannins. Very long, fine and tannic for the moment, but a little more approachable than the normal BS 2011 Brunello, from what I remember." Jancis Robinson

"Aromas of plums and light caramel and hazelnuts. Full body, a solid core of fruit and chewy tannins. A little dusty now. Need a couple of years to soften." James Suckling

"The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva makes a bold and more articulate statement (compared to the 2012 Annata wine released at the same time). That extra year of aging has contributed to more powerful aromas of dark fruit, balsam herb and spice. There is extra fiber and texture here overall. This Riserva shows a higher degree of density and a tighter embroidery with dark fruit, spice and tobacco. Both 2011 and 2012 are warm vintages, and the wines produced do not boast the same level of bright acidity that you normally get from this estate. But, if there's one thing the wines of Biondi-Santi have demonstrated over the years, it is that they get better with time. Set this bottle aside in your cellar." Robert Parker

"Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment." Ian d’Agata (vinous.com)

"Beautifully balanced, this opens with alluring scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and whiffs of chopped herb. Seamlessly combining ripe fruit and the firm's trademark finesse, the bright elegantly structured palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and a hint of black tea framed in polished tannins and fresh acidity. It's already tempting but the best is yet to come."(Cellar Selection) Wine Enthusiast

"Highly refined, deep and complex, beguiling scent of pickled small red berries with vegetal, herbaceous and slightly undergrowth notes, slightly wilted foliage, notes of blueberries, a hint of mushrooms, finest leather and clear, earthy minerality. Dense, tight and finely juicy in the mouth, rather cool, very tight, still rather closed fruit with old-woody and earthy aromas, finely dusty tannin, persistent on the palate, intensive, tart, somewhat salty minerality, excellent depth, a hint of bitter chocolate, very elegant style, still undeveloped, but already has something beguiling, very long, tight, multi-layered and incredibly fine finish with an engaging, tart juiciness. Of subtle grandeur." Marcus Hofschuster (wein-plus.eu)

"lush, radiant ruby with garnet rim. Complex, intense nose, after fennel seeds and tea, then a lot of ripe cherry, blackberry, very clear, cloves in the background. Opened on the palate with a lot of juicy, rich cherry fruit, then unfolds with present, firm tannin, sweet melt in the core, builds up for a long time, salty, long final. An experience!" Falstaff

"A mix of sweet cherry, raspberry, floral, tobacco, tea and balsamic flavors mingle in this complex and layered red. The acidity and tannins are present and well-integrated as this remains elegant and harmonious on the lingering finish. There's a racy aspect, with a tobacco and mineral aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"I have always preferred balanced wines and wines with a special character. Wines that have a good balance between body, smell, tannins and acidity. Old and also very old wines that have matured without losing their characteristic features. Wines that reflect the tradition of the wine-growing area and the local diversity". Franco Biondi Santi

Only 38 vintages of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva have been available since 1888 - 24 of them were produced under the direction of Franco Biondi Santi. 2012 Riserva is the last vintage supervised and dedicated to Franco himself. A milestone in the history of Biondi Santi. SUPERIORE.DE

"Warm, but not too hot summer, some precipitation at the end of August, September then cooling off; harvest on 10 September. Bright, powerful ruby-garnet, brightening edge. In the nose notes of fresh cherries, lots of pomegranate, in the background some saffron. Dense, powerful tannin characterizes the course, opens in many layers, salty and deep, has everything for a long life!" Falstaff

"Luminous garnet red. Perfumed nose of orange peel, cinnamon, sour red cherries, strawberries, talcum powder, and old fine leather, plus sneaky hints of slightly air-dried berries (not surprising, given how hot 2012 was, even taking into consideration that Biondi-Santi is one of the first estates to pick each year). Then juicy and dense with a silky mouthfeel to the flavors of red berries, blood orange and spices. Finishes long and silky now, but this specific Brunello Riserva was especially austere in its youth and so the estate decided to release it one year later than usual for sale. The wine carries an extra label "Dedicato a Franco Biondi Santi” (dedicated to Franco Biondi Santi) who passed away in 2013; CEO Giampiero Bertolino explained to me that everyone at the estate believed this wine was a real snapshot of Franco and the Brunellos he most enjoyed drinking, and so it was decided to dedicate it to him. Actually, there’s an air-dried quality to this wine that is absolutely enchanting, if in my opinion not altogether typical of Franco’s work. No matter, it’s one of the top three Brunello Riservas of the 2012 vintage." Vinous

"You will notice the dedication printed below the label of the wine label. It reads: "Dedicato a Franco Biondi Santi." Indeed, the Biondi-Santi 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the last vintage made by the towering father figure of Brunello whom most everyone referred to as the "gentleman of Montalcino." Il Dottore, as he was also respectfully addressed, died at age 91 in April 2013, and he was very active in the winery as this magnificent wine took shape. This Riserva is a true work of beauty. It is released one year later than usual. The wine reflects the natural heft and power of the 2012 vintage, and it also shows that distinctive open-knit and accessible personality that characterizes this warm and sunny growing season. Il Dottore's magic touch is revealed in the level of fine detail and precision that transcends vintage, grape and territory. That extreme focus is an achievement of this estate alone located in the celebrated Il Greppo property. This Brunello pours from the bottle with a magnificent garnet color, and it evolves in the glass with dark fruit, candied orange peel, spice, licorice, anise seed, cola and balsam herb. The aromas are magical and ethereal, albeit slightly ripe and soft as expected of this vintage." Robert Parker

"2012 is considered a warm vintage, more dry than hot and with an advanced harvest on 10 September: quite early for a Sangiovese from higher vineyards in Montalcino. The age of the vines has helped to give the wine outstanding complexity. It shows the typical freshness of Biondi Santi with red currant, pomegranate and orris root aromas, becoming more austere on the palate with rhubarb radice flavour, firm acidity and firm yet ripe tannins. The extraction is great and the tight-knit integration between fruit and structural elements gives it the depth to age for decades." Decanter

"This is the final Riserva to benefit from the late Franco Biondi Santi's masterful hand. It boasts enticing scents of rose, underbrush, red berry, new leather and crushed mint. The chiseled palate features succulent Morello cherry, pomegranate, orange zest, star anise and a hint of tobacco, all framed in taut, polished tannins. Firm acidity lends youthful tension and keeps it impeccably balanced." Wine Enthusiast

Greppo Riserva from the absolute top year 1997 - newly corked, as Biondi Santi does every 20 years also on customer order - smells of flowers, liquorice, red berries and spices. Elegance and perfection on the palate, long, smooth, juicy to the infinite final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Optimal vintage, rain in spring, June and July dry and warm, in August always refreshing rain showers; harvest at the beginning of September. Rich, sparkling ruby-garnet. In the nose it shows a nice ripe cherry fruit, some plum, with blackberry, the warmth of the vintage is also evident in the riper aromas. On the palate firm and full-bodied, tight tannin, lots of ripe fruit, for Biondi Santi surprisingly broad." Falstaff

"Little has changed at Biondi Santi in terms of their general approach to winemaking over the years. The Riserva is made from the estate's oldest vines which are at least 25 years old, and ageing is in large Slavonian oak casks. The 1997 vintage was dry and warm throughout the summer. In August, three intermittent rain showers refreshed the grapes, while September continued under dry conditions leading up to harvest. The wine is in a beautiful drinking period now, and has moved beyond its signature youthful austerity. The nose is expressive and open, with sweet tobacco, Asian spiced plum and fine polished leather. On the palate the structure is still imposing, the tannins clinging on firmly. It offers an intriguing sweet and sour quality, with notes of citrus peel, iron and mineral lingering on the finish. It is ready to enjoy now, but will surely keep for another 25 years." Decanter

"A ripe expression, showing broad shoulders, this is still monolithic and dense at 15 years. Cherry, plum and stony aromas and flavors are supported by fresh acidity and dusty tannins. The tight finish contains a mineral element. Opens up with time in the glass, but could use another 5 to 10 years of aging." Wine Spectator

"The Biondi-Santi 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva was never previously reviewed; therefore, I am very excited to add an official record of this stunning wine to our database. This vintage delivers structure and age-worthy intensity that should carry it forward successfully for more years ahead. However, if you decide to pop the cork now, rest assured that this excellent Brunello has now entered its prime drinking window. The bouquet is polished and fine, with wild fruit aromas that segue to balsam herb and licorice. The finish is long and extremely polished. This is a real beauty." Robert Parker