External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2022
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2004
2003
2001
2000
1999
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2017 and 2022 (based on 38 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 86 pts. and median of 85 pts. in 3 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Thorgal on 3/15/2016 & rated 90 points: I've now drank several vintages of this wine and I can only say this is a well-made, fresh, full-bodied wine. I think it helps to drink it a little on the cool side, say 16 C degrees . It has good balance and acidity. The cherry and tabacco nose come back in the flavours. Soft tannins, but I still think you can keep this wine for 10 years in which it will evolve nicely. Its not very complex, although I notice there there is more going on, but subtlely. In my book very much an enjoyable wine. (1817 views) | | | Tasted by THECORKDORK on 6/9/2015 & rated 85 points: Enjoyable but not worth the money. I imagine it will age well though... Perhap I'll give it another shot down the road. (1865 views) | | | Tasted by peterhimes on 3/21/2015 & rated 83 points: Sangiovese Cabernet Merlot blend, dominant Sangiovese evident from acid bite and red fruit. Approachable, food friendly but I wouldn't call it "super" anything. Medium finish. (1833 views) |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano, Carmignano and the Undiscovered Tuscany (Oct 2014) (5/1/2014)
(Altesino Alte D'altesi) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2009 Brunello di Montalcino: The Day of Reckoning (May 2014)
(Altesino Alte D'altesi) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Altesino Producer website
U.S. Importer (addt'l info)
Source: VinConnect http://vinconnect.com
The Altesino winery overlooks the breathtaking UNESCO-heritage landscape of south-central Tuscany in the Montalcino region not far from Siena. Its beautiful estate is crowned with the 15th century Palazzo Altesi, which is the centerpiece of its winery operations. Additional modern winemaking structures are integrated into the hillside alongside it.
Altesino’s flagship wine is its single-vineyard Brunello di Montalcino “Montosoli,” made from 100% Sangiovese grapes cultivated in its most prestigious vineyard. An ambassador for Italian wine around the world and one of Montalcino’s most sought-after wines, the “Montosoli” Brunello repeatedly earns glowing reviews from the world’s top wine publications. Robert Parker called Altesino’s Montosoli “one of the most distinct and profound wines, with delicate floral and mineral nuances that are elegantly interwoven within a thicker textural consistency.” As Altesino’s flagship wine it best exemplifies the unrivaled elegance, richness and drinkability of the estate’s style.
Altesino embodies tradition and history, and at the same time perceptive innovation. Where international renown for Brunello di Montalcino has nudged many winemakers towards conservatism, Altesino has always blazed new wine trails. Founded in 1972 by Milanese entrepreneur Giulio Consonno, in 1975 the winery was the first in Brunello to introduce the concept of single-vineyard crus with its famous Montosoli bottling. The winery was also the first to experiment with French barrique in 1979, yielding wines with more fruit and complexity – a critical turning point in Brunello’s history. And, in 1985, Altesino pioneered the concept of futures in Brunello, or the selling of wines before they are bottles or released.
When Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini bought the winery in 2002, her decision to keep the only winemaker that Altesino has ever known, Claudio Basla, was central to their ongoing success delivering consistently high quality wines in the Altesino style. To supplement the team she hired Guido Orzolesi, who works as Marketing Director alongside Claudio and Enologist Paolo Caciorgna.
In addition to the Montosoli and the regular Brunello and Brunello Riserva made from Sangiovese, the team also grows several other varieties and produces Rosso di Montalcino, Super Tuscans Palazzo Altesi and Alte d’Altesi, Rosso and Bianco I.G.T., Vin Santo d’Altesi, and a selection of grappa, brandy, and extra virgin olive oil.
Should you visit Tuscany, tours of Altesino’s vineyards and cellar — bringing you through the vine rows before you visit the winemaking and maturation cellars — can be arranged here.SuperTuscan BlendSuperTuscan Blend refers to wines which feature a significant Sangiovese component combined with grapes not traditionally associated with Italy like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. This separates it from "Sangiovese blend" which is used for wines which are predominantly Sangiovese and combined with traditional Italian varieties. There is often confusion as many wines most famous associated with the term "Super Tuscan" like Sassicaia, Masseto and Ornellaia have no Sangiovese and are properly linked to 'Red Bordeaux Blend.'
In fact, Super Tuscan was a term coined to refer specifically to wines such as Sassicaia and Tignanello. These were wines that "fell out" of the official DOCG classification of Italian wines because they either contained grapes not permitted (international varietals such as cabernet sauvignon or merlot,) were aged differently (I.e. in barrique) or were 100% sangiovese - which was not permitted at the time for Chianti (E.g. Fontodi Flaccianello.) Forced to be classified as simply "Vina di Tavola" these wines nontheless quickly found favour in international markets and comanded prices above the highest quality DOCG Chianti Classico & Brunello di Montalcino wines at the time. The wine industry and press began to refer to these wines as SuperTuscans because of their popularity and quality, but also because of the prices they commanded. Subsequently, the Italian authorities, under the Goria Law 1992, redrew the classifications, and included the category IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) to classify the SuperTuscans.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorTuscany Tuscany (ItalianMade.com) | TuscanytToscana IGTHere is the Wikipedia entry for Toscana wine. |
|
