The OG of Brunello is back! 👑 That’s right Altesino is responsible for the first single vineyard on a label in the history of Brunello. And not just any cru..THE CRU…Montosoli. AND the scores out did last year too! 98 Points, Trio of 97’s etc, etc, etc… $160 SRP and $95 bucks here.

Oh, and this…critics openly admitting that they are stashing away 2021 Brunello’s in their own cellars!?I Thought they were supposed to be impartial??? That’s HUGE! 🤯

Even Vinous (which wine industry wise, is one of the go to’s for Italian reviews), commented in their ‘The Exquisite 2021 Brunellos’ published late November last year, ”The 2021 vintage is one to be excited about. These wines will surely earn a place in my own cellar.” “It’s a modern classic that will inspire Sangiovese lovers to dig deeper into Montalcino.”

If you know Altesino, you’re probably already checking out. If you aren’t familiar, they’re one of the most respected names in Montalcino. Founded relatively recently by Italian standards in 1970, they immediately made a name for themselves as innovators; producing the region’s first single vineyard designated wine, Montosoli, in 1975.

How sacred is this bottling? Decanter reports Valdicava (a highly respected neighbor on the SAME hill), asked Altesino’s owner for her blessing before launching his own Montosoli!! 🙏

And 2021? Jeb Dunnuck called it “…an exceptional vintage and a sheer pleasure to taste across the region.” Then he called out Montosoli by name, with Altesino right there on his list of estates that “exemplify the strengths of the vintage”

Vinous went there too: “There is something magical about the 2021 Brunellos.”

Last year… The 2020 vintage of this wine received Tre Bicchieri in Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia 🇮🇹 It’s too soon to tell if 2021 received it again as they are releasing the winners later this month on the 24th and 25th.

Oh, and last year the Consorzio unveiled a brand new geo-viticultural map of Montalcino. Ummm what is that saying?? Better late than never… Yeah, like fifty years later after Altesino bottled Montosoli solo!! It’s a beautiful map…I wish the print wasn’t so tiny.

Owner Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini and her daughter, CEO Alessandra Angelini, run the show. Ladies First, in every sense!

And the wine when we tasted it just last week…it was a party on our palates! Agent Rotie was quick to grab the bottle and quietly snuck out like the sneaky spy he is..buggar! I wanted it!

Inky Amarena cherry and damson plums come roaring out with sweet red fruit, juicy boysenberry, savory bay leaf, wild herbs and a whiff of porcini over wet slate, the oak tucked in so neat you’d never know it was there!! Then the palate showcases more dark and black fruit, tannins knit super tightly and silky, super fresh finish, Long and what we all called GORGEOUS! A drop-dead elegant Brunello… somebody put the pappardelle on!! 🍝

So, yeah. A cellar-worthy, single-cru Brunello you can reliably mature for a couple of decades for, wait, WHAT under $100 …The cru that started it ALL!

Everyone is making room for this wine in their cellars!

98 Points - James Suckling ”Dense aromas of red cherries, bark, mushrooms and plums follow through to a medium body with tangy acidity and juicy flavors. It’s very long and quite chunky, with velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Savory and tangy at the end. Drinkable now, but better in three or four years, Try after 2028.”

97 Points - Decanter ”The original Montosoli bottling, first made in 1975, this is a gorgeous interpretation of the 2021 vintage and a testament to this revered site. Discreetly seductive, it slowly unleashes violet, vanilla, tarragon, sweet spice and damp forest floor. The palate is amply loaded with red and black currants without being heavy. Sangiovese’s brilliant acidity is on full display. Finessed tannins are well stacked, seamlessly placed and confidently firm. Floral and herb accents rebound on the finish. Taut but not austere, this promises to deliver slowly. Drinking Window 2028-2043.”

97 Points - Wine Spectator ”Balsamic flavors of eucalyptus, tomato leaf and mint mingle with cherry, strawberry and rose in this taut, detailed red. On the elegant side, with midpalate presence and vivid acidity. A layer of chalky tannins lines the finish. Best from 2029 through 2048. 1,000 cases made, 350 cases imported.”

97 Points - Wine Advocate ”Proprietor Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini has important holdings in this special cru, and if you’re after Montosoli, this is one of the best expressions around. Fruit comes from a five-hectare plot with friable galestro soils at a sweet spot perched at 350 meters above sea level. The Altesino 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli flaunts an especially sharp profile with enhanced minerality and focus. There is wild cherry and dried currant, but ultimately more impactful are the elegant aromas of crushed stone. These give the wine brightness and vertical lift. The mouthfeel is medium- to full-bodied in texture with fine, powdery tannins that are well integrated. It is matured in Slavonian oak casks. You can cellar this wine longer, but you can also enjoy it in the medium term to take advantage of that pretty fruit freshness. Production is 12,000 bottles.”