2012 Silvio Nardi Rosso di Montalcino

Tenute Silvio Nardi was established in 1950 when Silvio Nardi purchased property in Montalcino. Since Nardi was from Umbria, the region to the southeast of Tuscany, Nardi’s move to Montalcino to make wine was considered novel. Nardi’s interest in Montalcino’s winemaking potential was instrumental in developing the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG in 1980. The venture has expanded over the decades, and today Silvio’s daughter Emilia Nardi runs the 200-acre estate. Silvio Nardi is one of the largest estates in Montalcino and remains one of the most admired Brunello producers. Gambero Rosso frequently gives the estate’s wines ratings of 2 to 3 glasses.

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.”