Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo 1996

Lot presentation

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo 1996

The wine

Since 1888, when the first vintage of DOCG Brunello di Montalcino was crafted, the Biondi-Santi estate, the benchmark for this appellation, has created outstanding wines consistently, exclusively in years that meet their exacting standards. The grapes are harvested on the estate’s 26 hectares. The vines are cultivated with respect for the environment. The hand-picked grapes undergo fermentation using natural yeasts in concrete vats. Then, a traditional maturation in large Slavonian oak barrels spans several months. Finally, bottle ageing refines this great wine before it is released on the market.

On tasting, this wine is extremely powerful, yet beautifully balanced and refined, worthy of the world’s greatest wines. It has tremendous ageing potential and several decades will serve it perfectly. Pair this wine with gourmet dishes such as rack of lamb, prime rib or pork in caramel sauce.

About the Producer Biondi Santi

Renowned for the outstanding ageing potential of its wines, Tenuta Greppo – ‘Greppo’ stands for ‘steep escarpment’, a nod to the vines planted on the hillside – shot to fame at the end of the 19th century. At this time, the owner Clemente Santi witnessed one of his Sangiovese, a variety he had long studied and grown, be awarded a prize at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867. Two years on, his Brunello was awarded a gold medal at a local competition in Montepulciano.
Today, time flows as does wine, and the commendations haven’t dried up either. The 26-hectare estate captures the very essence of Sangiovese and masters the art of long ageing, in the purest local tradition. The wine matures between 12 (for the Rosso) and 36 months (for the Riserva) in Slavonian oak foudres (barrels ranging from 10 to 140 hectolitres). Further bottle ageing then refines the tannins of this unique grape variety. The wines exude remarkable elegance and finesse.

Detailed characteristics