“These are wines of the very highest level, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.” – Vinous

Another “must see on Wine Spies name” off the list today!

Siro Pacenti is synonymous with cult Brunello. If you’re not familiar with them or wondered about why they earned Wine of the Year somewhere in the past when it’s near impossible to find them out there, it’s your lucky day as we have a 98-pointer Siro Pacenti under $50. Unheard of, and while it lasts, of course. Best to stuff some in your locker, then come back to read up.

This by Antonio Galloni’s Vinous is all one needs to grasp the urgency: “Giancarlo Pacenti is by far the leading exponent of the modern school of Brunello di Montalcino. No other producer has succeeded in crafting wines of this much textural beauty and refinement.”

James Suckling echoes that sentiment with a little more background, “Located on the northern slopes of Montalcino, Siro Pacenti is a leader in the appellation. Founded in 1970, the winery is known for creating racy, powerful wines. In 1988, when management passed to Giancarlo Pacenti, Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino were bottled for the first time. The Brunellos are now raised from family-owned vineyards in both the north and south of Montalcino, giving them a beautiful balance of richness and freshness. They remain a benchmark for Montalcino and all of Italy.”

Mind you, though, if you prefer your Brunelli to be on the lighter side, this is not for you. If you like the intersection where Brunello meets a modern, ripe, beefy Super Tuscan, it’s your jam. The bottle age has really helped the fiery tannins and spicy accents to mellow down into the massive cushion of juicy cherry fruit that’s dripping with a basket of wild berry pie filling. The complexity and the finish are thru the roof and the pedigree remains evident from the minute you pop it to the very last drop.

Not much else to say but take one more long and hard look at that insane price point - we’ll never see a Siro Pacenti there again.

98 Points – Raffaele Vecchione “Elegant and decidedly noble in the primary profile, showing notes of black prunes, blackberries, sweet caramel, sandalwood, juniper berries, and pink pepper. Complex and structured, showing a secondary profile rich in wild blueberries and fondant chocolate. Full bodied, perfectly matured tannins, and a finale that needs time to come out but shows the stuff of champions right from the start. Simply amazing. Impossible to resist. Better from 2025.”

95 Points – James Suckling “Complex and layered with truffles, white pepper, cardamom, dried cherries, blueberries, bay leaves, fresh mushrooms and potpourri. Sophisticated and weightless, with a medium to full body and very finely knit tannins that are more textural. All so beautifully integrated. Drink from 2024.”