“2020 Brunello reveals graciously structured, seductive and immediately harmonious wines.” – Decanter

Pietroso comin’ back with a 2020 before the tariffs. Scores keep going up, and so will the prices!

But not today!

The 2015, 2016, and the 2018 we blew through in the past put Pietroso amongst our most requested Italians. The most recent update by Jeb Dunnuck states that “Their most recent acquisition is from the famed and populous vineyard of Montosoli and first fruit utilized from it was in 2020. These wines are consistently high performing for their pure and vibrant expressions of Sangiovese.”

Montesoli, the vineyard Wine Spectator defined as “the second vineyard most important in Italy” down to $65 from $120 means what? Double the 96 points, double the 95s, and BUY! BUY! BUY!

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous points out that “The estate was bought by Domenico Berni, nicknamed Belfo, in the 1970s (he was the fattore or main farmhand of Villa a Tolli, Poggio Salvi and others) with the objective to make wine for home use. He started out with 0.5 hectares but as everyone told him his wine was too good to be limited to family consumption, he began selling some with the 1978 vintage.”

This nod to traditionalism really benefited from the giving nature of the hot 2020 vintage, and the result is an irresistible Brunello that you’ll come back and ask for more of, albeit the allocations are small.

Just L@@K at those scores and move quickly on this one.

96 Points – Wine Enthusiast “The nose is delicate and inviting, with aromas of flowers, fresh berries and a bit of milk chocolate. Sweet cherries and citrus blossoms bloom on the palate, while a sprinkle of salt provides balance and electric acid buzzes around tannins which are firm, but polished and flexible.”

96 Points – Winescritic.com “Deep and with great stylistic precision, it shows notes of red plums, black plums, blackberries, sour cherries, black cherries and green mandarins. Lots of energy in the background with nuances of green tea leaves, ginger, pink pepper and glasswort. Full body, velvety tannins of impressive quality and an engaging and dynamic finish with great personality. Better from 2026.”

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino pours a deep ruby/magenta color. It reveals notes of licorice, Amarena cherries, toasted sage, and forest earth. Full-bodied, with great purity and ripe tannins, it has wonderful concentration and extract, with a long finish and delicate saltines to accent and frame the wine. It has wonderful length and starts to show lots of polished leather on the finish. Drink over the coming 15 years. Drink 2025-2040.”

95 Points – James Suckling “Very pretty cherry and orange-peel aromas with fresh flowers, following through to a medium body with lovely depth of fruit and fine tannins that run long and true. Crisp at the end. New estate to watch. Drink in three or four years, but something already very enticing about it. Try after 2027.”