Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi)
Riserva Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Sangiovese from Toscano and the other from the Southern Rhone (which was later to be revealed as a 2010 Chateau Rayas). This poured a deeper garnet color with a nearly opaque core. On the nose, it smelled Italian. Tart cherries, black tea, dried herbs, dusty earth and some dried spices too. On the palate, the wine was bone dry and medium+ across the board. This came across very traditional in terms of winemaking which I found very attractive yet, this was holding something back. Almost like it was opened ten years too soon. I thought about a young Pergole Torte…then it was revealed to be a 2012 Biondi-Santi Riserva. Wow…no wonder! A lovely wine with a bright (and long) future ahead of it but I would hold these for later if I had some in my cellar. Best after 2030.
Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Sangiovese from Toscano and the other from the Southern Rhone (which was later to be revealed as a 2010 Chateau Rayas). This poured a deeper garnet color with a nearly opaque core. On the nose, it smelled Italian. Tart cherries, black tea, dried herbs, dusty earth and some dried spices too. On the palate, the wine was bone dry and medium+ across the board. This came across very traditional in terms of winemaking which I found very attractive yet, this was holding something back. Almost like it was opened ten years too soon. I thought about a young Pergole Torte…then it was revealed to be a 2012 Biondi-Santi Riserva. Wow…no wonder! A lovely wine with a bright (and long) future ahead of it but I would hold these for later if I had some in my cellar. Best after 2030.
Jun 19th, 2023
age showing. A bit thin but still pretty.
age showing. A bit thin but still pretty.
May 10th, 2023pretty lucid cherry see through and delicate. Hints of salinity and garrigue. Pure and simple. Very nice. Apparently only the third ever vintage of brunello! If so, an amazing glimpse of history. Jef ROPP
pretty lucid cherry see through and delicate. Hints of salinity and garrigue. Pure and simple. Very nice. Apparently only the third ever vintage of brunello! If so, an amazing glimpse of history. Jef ROPP
May 10th, 2023
Completely insane Brunello. Needed 20 mins to warm up. Mushroom and Camphor-infused sour cherry, beautifully dry and with mineral notes along with cigar box and red flowers. Probably past it’s apogee but f**k is this good.
Completely insane Brunello. Needed 20 mins to warm up. Mushroom and Camphor-infused sour cherry, beautifully dry and with mineral notes along with cigar box and red flowers. Probably past it’s apogee but f**k is this good.
Dec 27th, 2022Intense and masculine. Tobacco and dark fruit. Really grippy and savory with tangy notes. Powerful
Intense and masculine. Tobacco and dark fruit. Really grippy and savory with tangy notes. Powerful
Sep 15th, 2022
The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva blossoms in the glass in a display of understated power mixed with purity. This unfolds more like a whisper than a shout, wafting up with a delicate bouquet of fresh violets, lavender and a dusting of shaved cedar and clove. With time, it deepens further, pulling you down to earth with aromas of wild strawberry and underbrush. The textures are like pure silk gently draped across the palate, but what they leave behind is a more engaging and classic mix of salty mineral tones and tart red berries, all lifted by juicy acidity. This then takes another turn, now toward the savory spectrum, as wild herbal and inner earth tones mix with a fine layer of sweet tannin to create a youthfully austere yet not overtly structured expression, leaving a nuance of tobacco to linger long. The 2013 presents an intriguing interpretation of the Biondi Santi Riserva, one that shrugs off the grippy, gruff, almost rustic tannins of the past in exchange for a more youthfully harmonious expression. Will it age? Maybe not for 50 years, but considering that this beauty was open and tasted over the course of three days, I'm convinced that it will be thrilling for the next few decades to come. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2021)
The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva blossoms in the glass in a display of understated power mixed with purity. This unfolds more like a whisper than a shout, wafting up with a delicate bouquet of fresh violets, lavender and a dusting of shaved cedar and clove. With time, it deepens further, pulling you down to earth with aromas of wild strawberry and underbrush. The textures are like pure silk gently draped across the palate, but what they leave behind is a more engaging and classic mix of salty mineral tones and tart red berries, all lifted by juicy acidity. This then takes another turn, now toward the savory spectrum, as wild herbal and inner earth tones mix with a fine layer of sweet tannin to create a youthfully austere yet not overtly structured expression, leaving a nuance of tobacco to linger long. The 2013 presents an intriguing interpretation of the Biondi Santi Riserva, one that shrugs off the grippy, gruff, almost rustic tannins of the past in exchange for a more youthfully harmonious expression. Will it age? Maybe not for 50 years, but considering that this beauty was open and tasted over the course of three days, I'm convinced that it will be thrilling for the next few decades to come. (Eric Guido, Vinous, December 2021)
Dec 10th, 2021
While it also showed extremely youthful the ‘07 was on another level and IMO had shed more tannin than the ‘06. It was my last sip of the night and it was plush and beautiful and rounding out incredibly. Potential high 90’s wine in 10 years. Thank you @Matthew Beckman
While it also showed extremely youthful the ‘07 was on another level and IMO had shed more tannin than the ‘06. It was my last sip of the night and it was plush and beautiful and rounding out incredibly. Potential high 90’s wine in 10 years. Thank you @Matthew Beckman
Apr 17th, 2019This was reticent and quite closed, but it clearly has the class and power to go 20+ years and improve exponentially. Bottle from @Matthew Beckman who graciously contributed both an ‘06 and an ‘07 from this Brunello giant.
This was reticent and quite closed, but it clearly has the class and power to go 20+ years and improve exponentially. Bottle from @Matthew Beckman who graciously contributed both an ‘06 and an ‘07 from this Brunello giant.
Apr 17th, 2019
Concentrated and expressive, with some Italian rusticity to its sweet red fruit and savory herbal complexity. Drink or hold
Concentrated and expressive, with some Italian rusticity to its sweet red fruit and savory herbal complexity. Drink or hold
Oct 19th, 2018