I Premi

Blackberries, black walnuts and black cherries, as well as loads of chewy tannins. Some smoked wood, wood tannins and even black truffles. It’s full-bodied and powerful with loads going on. It just keeps growing on the palate. So much wet earth and black olive at the finish with porcini mushrooms, too. Needs time to soften. Crazy finish. Try after 2025. JS

Rated n.1 on JS TOP 100 Wines of Italy 2020
Rated n.3 on JS TOP 100 Wines of The World 2020

If checking in early, make sure to give the towering 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Pertimali plenty
of time to stretch its legs. It’s incredibly shy and backward upon first pulling the cork, coming to life nearly an hour later and never taking a step back from there on out. A beguiling display of spiced orange peels, sour cherry and mint pull you closer to the glass, where notes of cardamom, cinnamon, clove and sage reside. It’s dangerously soft and supple at first sip with fleshy red fruits and sweet spices blanketing the palate; yet beneath this soothing mix, a complex web of minerals and fine tannin slowly saturate. That said, there’s a lively bolt of acidity which maintains freshness in spite of the 2016’s heroic structure. Inner florals resonate along with a hint of white pepper, as it tapers off with classic austerity. This is a gorgeous vintage for Pertimali. EG

Red berry, violet and menthol aromas fill the glass alongside a whiff of underbrush in this full-bodied red. The tightly wound palate offers Marasca cherry, licorice, tobacco and a hint of game set against a backbone of assertive, fine-grained tannins. Flashes of bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink 2024–2036.   97 points “Buy Now”. KO

Rich and complex, this exudes ripe cherry, plum, floral, leather, iron and earth aromas and flavors. The refined tannins are beautifully integrated, and this feels almost approachable, yet there’s still a light grip on the finish, so decant now or age a few more years. Best from 2024 through 2043. BS

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva struts its old-school stylings with a beguiling display of musky cherry and strawberry offset by damp earth tones, hints of cedar and mint. It’s unbelievably soft and silky in texture, ushering in ripe red berry fruits laced in saline-minerals and savory spice, with building inner florals toward the close. Formidable structure awaits on the finish, yet the 2015 Riserva manages to maintain freshness, coming across as both structured for the long haul but also with enough primary appeal to warrant checking in on today. It’s gorgeous. Tasted over the course of two days with consistent results. EG

Blood and Diamond mark the aromas of this powerful red, with ripe flavours of plum, black cherry and fruitcake. Very long, fresh and balanced, with the dense, dusty tannins, softnenig and integrating with a few hours aeration. Best from 2022 through 2038. BS

There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023. JS

A gentle colour but a powerful structure, featuring notes of red flowers, blackcurrant, hibiscus and ripe strawberries. The subtle cola notes melt with hints of cheese, showing the great character of this young Brunello. Medium to full-bodied, with soft silky tannins and an intense finish. Elegant and refined, light on the palate and approachable. Best after 2021. RV

Aromas of woodland berry, pine forest, truffle and dried herb emerge from the glass in this fragrant red. Full in weight but refined, the accessible palate offers dried cherry, black tea, star anise and a dollop of vanilla alongside polished tannins before a minty finish. Reflecting the hot vintage, it’s already approachable but still offers good midterm aging potential. Drink 2021–2027. The Sorting Table. KO

Rich and complex, this exudes ripe cherry, plum, floral, leather, iron and earth aromas and flavors. The refined tannins are beautifully integrated, and this feels almost approachable, yet there’s still a light grip on the finish, so decant now or age a few more years. Best from 2024 through 2043. BS

Some earthy and savory aromas dominate the dried red cherries initially, then dried wild herbs and quite intense notes of spicy dried red cherries emerge. The palate has a very taut, structured feel with handsomely proportioned tannins carrying gently leathery dried red cherries. Long finish. Drink or hold. JS

Sasseti’s 2014 Brunello di Montalcino shows an earthy, almost-animal display of ripe strawberries offset by savory herbs, leather and coffee grinds. On the palate, smooth textures lead into ripe strawberry and cherry fruits, as saline-minerals and tannins slowly saturate beneath an air of pretty florals. It finishes long, sizzling on the senses with a mix of mineral-laden acids and spice, balanced by youthful tannins with lingering red berry and floral tones. I must admit, in a vintage that seemed to be difficult for the entire region, Pertimali really nailed it. This may not be a wine for the ages, but with a few years in the cellar, it should be drinking beautifully. 2020 – 2032. EG

This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste. JS

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of beautiful and noteworthy elegance. It shows a fine and delicate quality of fruit, with wild berry and dark cherry at the front. That fruit intensity builds slowly as the wine warms in the glass, but it always stays confined and graceful throughout. Similar elements characterize the mouthfeel that is lean, compact and silky. ML

Red Firm and dense, this red sports cherry, leather, cigar box and sweet spice flavors. A juiciness midpalate adds depth. Finishes with tannins and a combination of earth, mineral and tobacco notes. Best from 2022 through 2038. BS

An extremely dense and complex red with dried berry, cherry, floral and spice. Full body, powerful with a wealth of fruit and chewy tannins. This really is intense and beautiful. Goes on for minutes. Big wine. Drink in 2021. JS

Showing a dark color and appearance, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beautiful wine. The 2012 vintages deliver some great surprises, like the ones you get here. The wine is dark and powerful with full throttle aromas of black cherry and blackberry. Spice, leather and balsam herb appear at the back. It sports firm tannins and a robust structure that will carry it forward over its aging years. ML

Complex aromas of dried figs, dark fruits and hints of walnuts and dried meat. Full body, dense and polished palate. Velvety and poised tannins and a flavorful finish. Yet always refined and beautiful. You want to drink it now and can, but it has a beautiful future. JS Rated n.7 on JS TOP 100 Italian wines of 2017.

Bright and loaded with earthy finesse, this offers alluring scents of wild berry, pressed violet, new leather, aromatic herb and a balsamic note. The ultra-refined palate doles out juicy red cherry, cranberry and star anise set against fresh acidity and firm, polished tannins. Drink 2019-2030. Kok

Extremely perfumed with rose petal, blueberry, fresh mushroom and plum character. Full body, super silky tannins and a dried, slightly raisiny finish, but  his is delicious and luscious. Fruit cake center palate. Immediate impact here. Drink or hold. JS

Here a soulful red with earthy aromas wet soil, underbrush, ripe, violet, berry, leather and a funky whiff of game. The palate presents juicy wild cherry, crushed black raspberry, white pepper, cinnamon and grilled herb alongside firm, refined tannins and bright acidity. A tobacco note closes the finish. It’s already accessible but also shows staying power. Drink 2018–20230. KoK

This is a magnificent wine. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a plump and generous wine that peels off with thick aromatic layers. It offers dark cherry and blackberry with spice, leather and tobacco. There is a lot of meat on these bones. The approach is soft, enduring and immediate. I loved
the 2010 Brunello Annata from this producer and the Riserva lives up to my expectations (although I did like the Annata a bit more). The mouthfeel is velvety, smooth and long. Pretty mineral notes make for a dry and elegant finish. ML

A rich, round red, sporting plum, cherry, rose hip tea and tobacco flavors. Fresh, featuring a salty, minerally element that builds to a long finish. Offers fine balance, expression and complexity. Best from 2018 through 2032. 600 cases made. BS

A silky and pretty wine with sliced berry, light chocolate powder and hazelnut. Medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins. Lovely cedar, sandalwood and tobacco flavors at the finish. A beauty. Drink now. JS

A pretty, silky red with plum and berry character. Chocolate. Medium to full body, delicious finish. Lots of sweet-cherry center palate. JS

The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine, but it does not reach the gorgeous levels achieved by this estate in the previous 2010 vintage. The bouquet here shows lots of cola and balsam aromas with dried ginger and rosemary oil in front of dark fruit, cherry and plum. Those balsam aromas are indeed the wine’s signature feature. This Brunello is smooth and silky in terms of mouthfeel. Drink: 2017 – 2029. ML

Floral and refined, this opens with alluring scents of violet, iris, perfumed berry, earth and a whiff of pressed powder. The savory, elegant palate offers up juicy wild cherry, raspberry, truffle, anise and white pepper framed in a network of silky tannins. It's already extremely accessible and will offer fine drinking pleasure for the near and mid-term. KoK

Lots of earth and richness to this Rosso with plums, mushrooms, violets and dark fruit. Full body with soft, velvety tannins and a long finish. This is masterful rosso. From one of the top producers of Brunello. Drink now. JSS

Crazy aromas of dried lemon, sea salt and cherry and delicate rose petal. Full body, ripe fruit with amazing acid tannin structure. It works from the inside out with your palate showing an amazing center palate and bright acidity and tannin structure. Goes on for minute. Redefines Brunello. Drink now but better in five years. The greatest wine ever from here. (12/2014) JS

I am absolutely enthusiastics about Sassetti Livio Pertimali’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Breathe deep into the glass and this wine awards you a beautiful sensorial experience that brings you immediately to varietal tones of pressed cherry, dried blackberry, spice and tobacco. The most compelling notes however are those polished mineral tones pf crushed granite and pencil shaving that add sharpness and focus. This is not a timid Brunello and you can taste the sheer power and the quality of the fruit on hand. The mouthfeel is polished and smooth with fine and exact textural richness. Bravo! Lorenzo and Sabina Sassetti created one of the Italian wines that impressed me most in 2010. I tasted this wine early in my tasting and it contributed generously to my opinion of this iconic vintage. It became a standard by which I judge the other wines of the region. I highly recommend this beautiful Brunello. ML

This features depth and complexity, from the cherry and menthol notes to the earth and mineral elements. Tightly wound, with a core of sweet fruit offsetting the burly tannins, this lingers on the finish, showing fine equilibrium and the potential to develop. Best from 2019 through 2035. 3,400 cases made. –BS Rated n.27 on Wine Spectator TOP 100 wines of 2015

Very pretty, with fine tannins and fresh fruit, medium body with sliced-peach and berry flavours. Fresh, bright finish. Drink or hold. JS

Rich, with black cherry and blackberry flavors tinged by tobacco and spice accents. Intense and elegant, with fine balance and a long, refined finish. Offers beautifully integrated tannins for the vintage. Drink now through 2030. BS

Aromatic, suave and silky, boasting aromas and flavors of flowers, cherry, strawberry and leather, all boosted by bright acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. Refined and long, with a lingering finish of mineral and spice. Best from 2016 through 2035. BS

The Sassettis, whose original vineyards were in Sant’Angelo in Colle, in the Southern part of the zone, purchased the Pertimali estate on the slopes north of Montalcino in 1964. Since then, the wines have been elegant and perfumed. Lorenzo Sassetti, Livio’s son, manages 40 acres of vines planted in limestone and schist. The Sangiovese was fermented in stainless-steel tanks, then aged in large oak casks for 36 months.

A wine with a lovely richness and roundness with ripe berries and chocolate, hints of nuts. Full body, with silky tannins and a fresh finish. Sassetti always make generous and round textured Brunellos. Drink or hold. JS

A wine with loads of ripeness with dried strawberry, sliced plums and a peach undertone. Full body, with silky tannins and an intense finish. Super silky and fine. Greatest wine ever from here? I think so. Drink or hold. JS

Aromatic, with aromas and flavors of cedar, sandalwood, tobacco and leather surrounding a core of cherry and strawberry fruit. Firmly structured, with a long, refined finish. Best from 2015 through 2030. BS

A rich, silky red, full of sweet, ripe plum and prune aromas and flavours, but also iron and leather accents. The tannins emerge on the finish, reminding you that this will develop over the next 10 to 15 years. This has fine intensity. Best from 2014 through 2024. BS

Dried fruit on the nose, with an intensity and decadence. Full and chewy, with tannins and ripe fruit. A little raisiny in the end, but impressive. This still needs at least three to four year of bottle age. JS

Sour berries, tar, tobacco and new leather. An intensely ripe fruit palate with dry, fleshy tannins and firm acidity. One for keeping. Drink 2014-2020.

Extremely ripe and intense with dried fruits: strawberries and prunes. Full bodied, with dense and intense dried cherries and spices. So much going on it’s crazy. Drink now or hold. JS, Aug.2012

Extremely ripe and intense with dried fruits: strawberries and prunes. Full bodied, with dense and intense dried cherries and spices. So much going on it’s crazy. Drink now or hold. JS, Aug.2012

This rich red is packed with sweet cherry, plum, tar and licorice aromas and flavors. The tannins are dense, and this is balanced overall, with a lingering finish of sweet fruit and spice. Best from 2015 through 2032. BS

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is seriously dark, rich and intense. Black cherries, underbrush, new leather and licorice all come together in a sensual, powerful expression of Sangiovese. There is surprising depth to the round fruit. Though delicious today, this is one of the few 2005 Brunellos that needs bottle age for some of the tannins to soften. It is a fabulous 2005. There will be no Riserva in 2005 as Sassetti used all of the best fruit for the regular bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. AG, April 2010

A rich and decadent Brunello with tobacco, berry and coffee character that turns to meat. Full and soft. Best after 2010. BS, October 2010

Lovely nose of ripe berry, earth and leather. Crushed cherry flavours with liquorice note. Long, linear and focused. 2011-2015. May 2010

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva blossoms on the palate in a richly-textured, layered expression of Sangiovese that is a marvel to behold. The fruit remains extremely primary, and this is a Riserva that will require quite a bit of patience. The finesse of the tannins and the luxurious expansiveness of the fruit hint at what is to come. The future can only be bright for a wine of this exceptional pedigree. Might the 2004 be a modern-day version of the 1982? Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. This is a fabulous set of new releases from Sassetti that readers will absolutely not want to miss. AG, April 2010

A very raisiny Brunello that verges on Amarone in style and character. Full-bodied, round and porty, with dried fruits and round tannins. Best from 2010 through 2016. JS, October 2010

Gorgeous nose, lovely ripe cherry-berry flavours with spice. Great balance and structure. Hallmark Brunello. 2015-2025. May 2010

Candied plum notes, with hints of flowers and mushroom, follow through to a full-bodied palate, with very soft, juicy tannins and lightly grilled meat, berry and fresh shiitake mushroom flavors. A decadent style. Best from 2010 through 2015. 1,800 cases made. JS

“Pertimali’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino offers up floral red fruits, spices, leather and earthiness in a surprisingly medium-bodied style for this property. The wine possesses lovely length and refined, understated finish. The estate’s Brunello is quite open and accessible at this stage, and also more forward in its aromas and flavors than many other wines in this vintage, which suggests it is best enjoyed on the young side. AG

Blueberry and raspberry, with hints of vanilla and spices, lead to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Needs time. Best after 2009. 2,400 cases made. JS

Full, fresh red. Subtly complex aromas of currant, plum, mocha, nutty oak and woodsy underbrush. Suave and fine-grained, with surprising freshness to the dark berry flavors in light of the rather low-toned nose. Not a hugely fleshy wine but boasts an understated density and very good life in the mouth-and gained sweetness with extended aeration. Finishes with broad, palate-dusting tannins and excellent length, structure and grip.

Pertimali’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is once again among the small number of wines being made in Montalcino that offers real character. This intense, powerful Brunello exhibits the essence of flowers, tar, smoke, dark cherries and wild herbs as it opens to reveal superb depth and concentration. The tannins of the vintage are present, but the wine’s sheer richness provides more than enough balance. A surprisingly fresh, long finish rounds out the wine. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. This venerable estate, one of Montalcino’s finest, continues to make wines of notable personality.

Pertimali’s 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is vibrant and fresh, with compelling suggestions of violets, dark cherries, spices and minerals that emerge from the glass. It is a wine that possesses both massive amounts of fruit as well as imposing supporting structure. This refined, elegant, deeply-nuanced wine will need a few years to come together and I imagine it will still offer much pleasure at age 20. AG

Floral and berry character, with hints of cherry. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and lots of sweet, ripe cherry flavors. Best after 2009. 1,250 cases made. –JS

Deep red-ruby. Multifaceted nose offers currant, coffee, flowers, tobacco, licorice and animal fur, along with an elegant mineral quality. Sweet, lush, and broad, but with firm acids giving the wine an impossibly light touch. Conveys an almost saline sense of extract. Wonderfully broad, dry and long on the finish, with suave tannins and captivating nuances of leather, tobacco, earth and minerals.

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a deeply colored, big, powerful effort. It shows masses of vibrant sweetdark fruit, smoke, tar and earth flavors with notable concentration one length on the palate. Still quite primary today, it offers outstanding potential, but a few years of patience are required. Anticipated maturity: 2008–2018.