Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (1993)

About this wine

This Riserva is 100 percent Sangiovese from Montalcino, matured longer than the standard bottling following Brunello rules for extended oak and bottle aging. Aromas open to dried cherry, red plum and cured leather, with notes of tobacco, forest floor and a hint of tar that come from long bottle age. On the palate the wine feels medium to full, with mellowed but present tannins and bright acidity that keeps the finish lively. Texture is polished and slightly leathery, while a mineral and savory note lingers into the aftertaste. Historically Brunello Riserva is aged in oak for multiple years before release and gains tertiary complexity with decades in bottle, which is consistent with the character here.

About the grape

Brunello di Montalcino and Mastrojanni are made from 100 percent Sangiovese, specifically the local Sangiovese Grosso variant historically called Brunello, which was selected in Montalcino for its thick skins and capacity to age. Mastrojanni plants this variety across plots from about 150 to 420 meters above sea level on soils of clay, tuff and sandstone, and the estate has long practiced low yields and strict green harvest and hand selection to concentrate Sangiovese fruit for top bottlings. By the 1990s and for the 1993 Riserva, grapes were primarily fermented in traditional vessels and then matured for extended periods in large wooden casks as required by Brunello DOCG Riserva rules, a regime that emphasizes structured tannin and longevity rather than blending. In later work at the estate they formalized mass selection and clonal material, planting multiple local clones to preserve depth and to reflect single vineyard differences across their Loreto and San Pio holdings.

Quick facts

• 🎯 Bottles from the 1993 Mastrojanni — especially the single‑vineyard Vigna Schiena d’Asino — regularly surface at major auction houses, proving collectors prize this vintage.
• 🏛️ Mastrojanni maintains a dedicated archive and historically sets aside about 400 bottles each vintage, so a 1993 in the cellar often comes with the winery’s own library history.
• 🔁 The 1993 vintage was made during the era of winemaker Maurizio Castelli and just after Andrea Machetti joined the team in 1992, so it captures a moment of changing influence at the cellar.
• ⛰️ Coming from Castelnuovo dell’Abate at the foot of Monte Amiata, Mastrojanni’s 1993 bottles carry the valley’s distinctive mineral and earthy signature that collectors associate with that subzone.
• 🕰️ When offered today, tasting notes for 1993 Mastrojanni often mention aged cherry, licorice and sweet spice — a style shaped by 1990s cellar practices that now reads as pleasantly mature and savory.

Palate profile

Producer

Mastrojanni, established in 1975 by Gabriele Mastrojanni, is located in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, within the Montalcino municipality of Tuscany, Italy. Recognizing the area's potential, Mastrojanni transformed the San Pio and Loreto estates into vineyards, becoming one of the early producers of Brunello di Montalcino in this region. The estate spans approximately 110 hectares, with 41 hectares dedicated to vine cultivation, situated at altitudes ranging from 180 to 420 meters above sea level. In 2008, the Illy Group acquired Mastrojanni, continuing its legacy of producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the area.