OUR WINES

Brunello stands out from other Sangiovese-based Tuscan reds, perhaps most of all because it is made from the single Brunello clone of Sangiovese, while Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are blends. Montalcino, closer to the sea, is generally warmer and drier so ripening is earlier, and vintages more consistent. After purchasing the property in 1970, Giulio Consonno and his collaborators began several years of experimentation. They were convinced that the strict aging requirements for Brunello di Montalcino were preventing them from making the best wine they could. The found that the strong, tannic wines obtained from their grapes do not show their best potential when subjected to 3 1/2 years of aging in botti. Instead, putting these same wines into small, French oak cooperage for shorter periods of time brings out the fruit, softens the tannins and results in perfectly balanced wines.

To quote the Wine Spectator article "The Cream of the Crop" (July 31, 2007), "Altesino is one of the most consistent Brunello producers going. Its white label "normale" is almost always an outstanding bottle and drinks very well young. However, Altesino's single-vineyard Brunello, Montosoli, is the legend-maker for the estate. Located on the north side of Montalcino, the slightly more than 11-acre Montosoli is one of the most beautiful hillside vineyards in Italy, with near-perfect exposure to the sun ensuring optimum fruit ripeness. Made only in top vintages, it is a racy, powerfully structured red that needs years of bottle age to fulfill its potential. Altesino's Brunello Riserva can also be top-notch."