Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - Cru Pianrosso - 2021

Stunning 98/100 Points Cru Brunello from the five-star vintage 2021

On the nose, the wine is intense and complex, with ripe red fruit, berries, cherries, and various spicy notes, dried rose, licorice, peppery spices, a hint of tobacco and cedar, and a savory earthy nuance. On the palate, the wine is warm, harmonious, and full-bodied, with pronounced tannins and a fine balance between refined acidity, tannin, and a juicy, savory tension, with a wonderfully long, spicy-fruity finish and refined tannins.

The grapes come from Castelnuovo dell'Abate in the southern part of the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, single vineyard "Pianrosso." The vineyard covers a total of 11.69 hectares, located at an altitude of between 240 and 360 meters.
The soil composition is medium-heavy/medium-grain with marl from the Eocene. The name Pianrosso refers to "red field," linked to the iron-rich soils.

The vineyard is planted at a density of around 5,000 vines per hectare. The Sangiovese Grosso vines were planted in the late 1990s and early 2000.

In September, the grapes were hand-harvested in several rounds after careful selection. The 2021 vintage is considered a vintage with bright fruit and classic structure—very fitting for the "power with elegance" of Pianrosso.

Fermentation and maturation take place for 20 days, partly in large steel vats and partly in concrete tanks. The must is regularly circulated to ensure intense maceration of the skins. Further maturation takes place for 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels of 20 to 62 hectoliters. The wine is then further refined by aging in the bottle for at least eight months.

The Cru Pianrosso is only produced in exceptional/best vintages and has long aging potential.

The best wine and food pairings for this Cru Brunello:

- perfect match with stewed and roasted meat and game (hare, pheasant, wild boar);
- matured cheeses;
- wild ragù (pappardelle), ossobuco, bistecca alla fiorentina
- leg of lamb with rosemary, mushrooms and sage
- pecorino stagionato, aged Parmesan, or a nice hard cheese

About Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona
The winery, founded in 1985, is located in the southern part of the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, in Castelnuovo dell'Abate. The company has a total of 55 hectares of vineyards. The owners are Paolo and Lucia Bianchini.

98/100 points James Suckling

Enticing aromas of red cherries, dried strawberries and hints of plums, cedar, sandalwood and balsamic. Medium-bodied with a tight and rich center palate and a chewy and powerful finish. This needs time to come together and soften slightly. Best after 2029.

95/100 Points Robert Parker

Dark and richly textured, this expression opens with ripe fruit nuances, sweet plum and baking spice. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is unapologetic about ripeness and the more concentrated side of Sangiovese, a style reinforced by the warm growing conditions of the vintage and the naturally powerful Pianrosso site. There is so much richness and phenolic texture here that it recalls warm years such as 2017 or 2019.