2013 Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino, 3-bottle Lot

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.

Brunello di Montalcino is regarded as one of Italy’s best appellations. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Brunello di Montalcino 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, Brunello di Montalcino is 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. Brunellos in general are bigger, darker, more tannic and more powerful wines than Chiantis or most other Sangioveses. By law they must be aged for four years, and two of those years must be in wooden barrels.