2004 Marchesi di Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino

Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi is the brand name of a large group of Tuscan wine estates all owned by the Frescobaldis, a family that traces its history to 13th-century Florentine cloth merchants. The family was heavily involved with the politics and economics of Renaissance Florence. In the 14th century they also became international bankers and winemakers. Today the family owns nearly 5,000 acres of vineyards throughout Tuscany and produces about 9 million bottles of wine annually. Frescobaldi Chianti Rufinas are among the company’s most notable wines, along with Super Tuscans such as Mormoreto.

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.