Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (1971)

About this wine

The 1971 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Tenuta Greppo from Biondi-Santi's Tenuta Greppo estate presents a vibrant ruby color with garnet reflections, indicating its remarkable preservation over the decades. On the nose, it offers a complex bouquet of dried violets, wilted roses, and iris, complemented by subtle notes of goudron and flintstone. The palate is harmonious and balanced, featuring a warm, velvety texture with excellent persistence. This vintage was the first overseen by Franco Biondi-Santi, marking a significant chapter in the estate's history. The wine's enduring freshness and structure are testaments to the exceptional quality of the 1971 harvest and the meticulous winemaking practices at Tenuta Greppo.

About the grape

Sangiovese, the sole grape in the 1971 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Tenuta Greppo, is a red Italian variety whose name means "blood of Jupiter." In the mid-19th century, Ferruccio Biondi-Santi isolated a clone of Sangiovese, now known as Sangiovese Grosso, and began producing wines exclusively from this grape, leading to the creation of Brunello di Montalcino. The 1971 vintage was the first Riserva produced by Franco Biondi-Santi, who took over the estate in 1970. This wine was made from the estate's oldest Sangiovese vines, over 25 years old, and aged for three years in Slavonian oak barrels.

Quick facts

• 🍷 The 1971 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Tenuta Greppo was the first Riserva produced by Franco Biondi-Santi after he took over the estate in 1970.
• 🍇 This wine was crafted exclusively from Sangiovese grapes harvested from the estate's oldest vineyards, some over 25 years old.
• 🏰 The 1971 vintage underwent a meticulous aging process, spending 3 years in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by extensive bottle aging in the estate's historic cellar, 'La Storica'.
• 🕰️ In 1987 and again in 2001, the 1971 Riserva bottles were re-corked and topped up with wine from the same vintage to ensure their longevity.
• ☀️ The 1971 vintage is renowned for its exceptional quality, characterized by a rainy spring followed by a hot summer, culminating in ideal conditions for the harvest.

Palate profile

Producer

Biondi-Santi, established in 1865 by Ferruccio Biondi Santi in Montalcino, Italy, is renowned for creating Brunello di Montalcino, a prestigious red wine made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes. The winery's Il Greppo estate, located just southeast of Montalcino, spans 32 hectares of vineyards rich in galestro rock and marl soils, ideal for cultivating Sangiovese Grosso. Biondi-Santi has maintained traditional winemaking methods, including aging wines in large Slavonian oak casks, some over a century old, contributing to their exceptional longevity. In 2016, the French luxury group EPI acquired a majority stake in the winery, aiming to preserve its heritage while enhancing its global presence.