An icon from Montalcino
Biondi-Santi is one of Italy's most historic names. The estate is considered the birthplace of Brunello di Montalcino: since its first Brunello vintage in 1888, the house has built a reputation for elegant, long-lived wines based on Sangiovese Grosso. The Brunello di Montalcino 2020 is the estate's flagship wine and is described by Biondi-Santi as a wine that embodies the spirit of Tenuta Greppo and over 150 years of history.
Aroma and taste
On the nose, this Brunello 2020 displays the classic refinement of Biondi-Santi: red cherry, pomegranate, wild rose, subtle spiciness, a light citrusy freshness, and a mineral undertone. On the palate, the wine is elegant rather than heavy, with fine, polished tannins, lively acidity, and a long, precise finish. The style is fresh, linear, and aristocratic: a Brunello that can already be enjoyed beautifully now, but is clearly built to develop further in the cellar.
Vineyards and origin
The Brunello di Montalcino 2020 is made from a careful selection of Sangiovese from Biondi-Santi's own vineyards. The estate owns approximately 33 hectares of vineyards, spread across several historic plots in the Montalcino area. The Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino states that the vineyards are located in five plots in the northeastern part of the appellation, with a particularly old plot at Tenuta Greppo.
Known vineyard details of the estate include Il Greppo, whose oldest plot was planted in 1936, Pievecchia from 1970, Pieri from 1989, and Scarnacuoia from 1999. Il Greppo is located high up, at about 550–564 meters, on terraces with galestro soil; Pievecchia has more clay-rich soils; Pieri has poor soils with galestro and limestone; Scarnacuoia is located west of Montalcino at approximately 450 meters altitude. These plots allow Biondi-Santi to combine tension, freshness, and depth.
Soil type
The strength of Biondi-Santi lies in the combination of altitude, eastern exposure, and varied soils. Galestro provides tension, minerality, and structure; limestone contributes to precision and freshness; clay helps retain moisture and can provide extra balance in warm years. This combination explains why Biondi-Santi often produces a leaner, finer, and longer-lived Brunello style than many more powerful, riper interpretations from warmer parts of Montalcino.
2020 Vintage
The year 2020 began with a mild, dry winter and above-average temperatures. Spring was cooler, with large differences between day and night temperatures and even snow on March 26. June brought rain, allowing the soils to build up sufficient water reserves. July and August were warm and dry, but the nights remained relatively cool, which helped maintain the natural balance and aromatic freshness of the grapes. Refreshing rain fell at the end of August, shortly before the harvest began on September 9, 2020.
Winemaking process
The 2020 Brunello was made from carefully selected Sangiovese from the estate's own vineyards. Biondi-Santi fermented this vintage in a combination of wooden vats, concrete, and stainless steel, exclusively with indigenous yeasts from their own vineyards. The wine then matured for 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. The alcohol content is 13.5%, which perfectly suits the elegant, fresh style of this vintage.
Aging and cellaring potential
The Biondi-Santi Brunello 2020 is already more approachable than some stricter classic vintages, but remains a wine with clear cellaring potential. If serving young, preferably decant for a few hours to allow the floral notes, red cherry, and mineral nuances to fully open up. Those with patience can easily allow this wine to mature further. The strength of Biondi-Santi lies precisely in this combination of drinkability, freshness, and long development in the bottle.
Food pairing
This Brunello calls for refined, savory dishes. Think of bistecca alla Fiorentina, rack of lamb with rosemary, wild boar ragù, pappardelle with truffle, ossobuco, oven-roasted veal, or aged pecorino. Due to its fresh acidity and elegant tannins, it also pairs exceptionally well with mushroom dishes, roasted vegetables, and earthy flavors. Avoid overly sweet sauces or extremely spicy dishes; this wine is best enjoyed alongside pure, classic flavors.
Short summary for Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2020
The Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 is a Brunello for lovers of finesse, history, and cellaring potential. Not an overly powerful wine, but an aristocratic Sangiovese with red fruit, floral elegance, fresh acidity, and refined tannins. An iconic bottle from Tenuta Greppo: already impressive, but with a beautiful future for those who have patience.
