2011 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona has been in existence for more than a century, yet it is considered one of the rising stars of modern Italian winemaking. With 425 acres of vineyards in and around Castelnuovo dell’Abate, which is in southwest Montalcino, Tuscany, Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is run by Paolo Bianchini. Gambero Rosso, Italy’s leading wine journal, has written that the estate “continues to be one of the most representative of the entire area, successfully combining a distinctive winery style with the constant improvement of its wines.” Robert M. Parker Jr. has noted that “no estate has managed to bridge the gap between classic and contemporary styles as gracefully as Ciacci…” The estate makes Brunello, and a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, and a Syrah.

Rosso di Montalcino is a DOC than encompasses the exact same area as the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, the difference being that Rosso de Montalcinos require only one year of aging. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Montalcino, both the DOC and the DOCG, are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, appellation status Montalcinos are entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975.

This red grape is largely grown in central Italy. As the sole component or in a blend, it gives us Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino and Super Tuscans, among other favorites wines. The name is derived from the Latin for “blood of Jove.”