Offered JUL 20th, 2017

The Biondi-Santi family has been cultivating grapes and making wine at Il Greppo estate since the mid-19th century. Founder Ferruccio Biondi-Santi was the first to isolate a clone of Sangiovese and began vinifying it on its own, without white grapes, as was then the custom – thus began the wine we know today as Brunello di Montalcino.

His son Tancredi typified Brunello, setting the guidelines for the production discipline and introducing the Biondi-Santi wine to the international market, where it received noteworthy recognition and achieved legendary status. Franco, Tancredi’s son and a trained enologist, worked closely with his father for decades, learning to master the subtle art of winemaking. Following traditional methods and cellar practices, he steadfastly produced an incomparable collection of vintages.

The 47 hectare Il Greppo estate stretches across the hillside to the southeast of Montalcino, and enjoys an ideal microclimate and soil for the production of aromatic red wines, which are perfect for long aging. The soil is lean, very rich in heavy stone and marl; the microclimate has a tendency to be dry when the grapes ripen, which fully enhances the aromas and the structure of the wine.

For most of the last several decades, Il Greppo was managed by Ferruccio’s grandson Franco, until his recent passing at the age of ninety-one. Known as the “Gentleman of Montalcino,” Franco produced many vintages of classic, traditional wine – lean and aromatic; best known for their incredible ability to age and improve for several decades in the cellar. 

Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2010
24 bottles available
$149 per bottle

96 points Vinous: “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Annata is a real knock-out. Rose petals, mint, sweet spices and flowers are some of the first notes that open up in the glass. Almost indescribably beautiful, the 2010 is a classic, austere Biondi Santi Brunello built to age. Although the 2010 is going to require considerable patience, its pedigree is quite apparent today. The 2010 constantly changes in the glass, revealing different shades of its multi-faceted personality, while the long, saline-infused finish is a thing of real beauty.”