2018 Brunello di Montalcino

The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Quatrantennale is beautiful, with layers of medicinal herbs, kirsch, and pressed roses. Medium-bodied, with lovely concentration throughout, it offers ripe raspberry and black raspberry notes as well as a lovely mineral texture with fine tannins and a woven feel. It is elegant and expressive and has a lot to love. It is drinking beautifully now and will drink well over the next ten or more years. 2018 marked the 40th anniversary of Pietroso. The estate was founded in 1978 by Domenico Berni, who began with one hectare and produced his first Brunello for his own passion and enjoyment. His grandson, Gianni Pignattai, took the reins in 1992 and is joined in the family business by his wife Cecilia, son Andrea, and daughter Gloria. Today they have six hectares of vineyards in five different areas of the region, with one hectare of olive groves. The historical name of their area, just outside the town of Montalcino, is Petroso, meaning “stony,” which is also the name of one of their vineyards. Their most recent acquisition is from the famed and populous vineyard of Montosoli, which they purchased in 2015 and replanted in 2017. The intention is that these grapes will go into a vineyard-designated wine in the future, although the first fruit utilized from Montosoli was in 2020. The wines are fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral barrels averaging 30 hectolitres in size. They have only produced Riserva bottlings in 2010, 2015, and 2016, and will have a release in 2019. The following wines were tasted at the winery and are consistently high performing for their pure and vibrant expressions of Sangiovese.