The wines of Biondi Santi, with Federico Radi

A wine retailer provided samples of Biondi Santi's Rosso di Montalcino 2020, Brunello di Montalcino 2017, and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015. We tasted the wines during an online event with Federico Radi, Viticulture and Winemaking Director at Biondi Santi since 2017.

• 2020 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Rosso di Montalcino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

  Wine 1: Tasting sample mailed by a wine retailer for a video tasting with Federico Radi, Viticulture and Winemaking Director at Biondi Santi. 13.5% ABV. Medium ruby colour. Limited aromatics. Light floral notes, red fruit, red cherry, pomegranate, spices, light earth, and a hint of charred wood/smoke, with good acidity, fine, round tannin, and very good length. Elegant, and almost delicate. Tight and dry, as to be expected, but drinking very well in context of its youth. A beautiful Rosso di Montalcino. 90(+)

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• 2017 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Wine 2: Tasting sample mailed by a wine retailer for a video tasting with Federico Radi, Viticulture and Winemaking Director at Biondi Santi. No Riserva was produced in 2017, everything went into the regular Brunello di Montalcino. 13.5% ABV. Medium ruby colour. Floral notes, red fruit, black cherry, plum, earth, spices, some tobacco, sandalwood, and balsamic notes, with good acidity, ripe, round tannin, and very good length. Some dryness from the tannin. Riper than the Rosso di Montalcino 2020, but still fresh. Competently made. The ripeness suggests that this might not be the longest lived vintage of Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino, but I might be mistaken. Time will tell. 91(?)

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• 2015 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Wine 3: Tasting sample mailed by a wine retailer for a video tasting with Federico Radi, Viticulture and Winemaking Director at Biondi Santi. 14.5% ABV. Medium to dark garnet colour. The most floral of the three wines. The floral notes are joined by dark fruit, light chocolate, light earth, complex spice notes, light tobacco, some sandalwood, and balsamic notes, with good acidity, dry, grippy, slightly rustic tannin, and very good length. The wine is a little austere at this point, but it keeps developing as it is breathes in the glass, and it really grew on me. I can see it pairing well with food already. That said, the wine is still way too young for enjoying it on its own. It should be interesting (and rewarding) to watch this age and mellow. 93(+)(?)

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Needless to say, these are amazing wines that will develop over many years. I would happily buy the Rosso di Montalcino 2020 for early satisfaction if it was below EUR 30/bottle but not at EUR 85, and would love to put a case of the Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015 in my cellar for drinking in 10, 20 and 30 years at up to EUR 120/bottle but not at EUR 600. I guess that sums it up.