Biondi Santi
About Biondi Santi
Widely acknowledged as the most noble name in Tuscany, Biondi Santi is historically linked to the inception, development and flourishing of the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The first estate to be recorded as crafting what oenophiles around the globe know and love as Brunello (there is some academic disagreement), there is no doubt whatsoever with regards to its trailblazing status in the region.
Dubbed in 1932 “the inventor of Brunello”, Ferruccio Biondi Santi was in fact the third generation of his family to craft age-worthy wines in the area. His great uncle Giorgio Santi was said to have been the first to vinify a pure Sangiovese wine in the late 1800s, and the legacy of this extraordinary family has led experts such as Antonio Galloni (Vinous) to declare this “the estate that put Brunello di Montalcino on the map”.
Historical significance aside, it is the uniquely perfect situation of the Biondi Santi vineyards which see it placed firmly at the pinnacle of Brunello producers. Perched at an elevated position amongst the rolling hills of Montalcino, its vines enjoy a unique micro-climate alongside a remarkably broad diurnal range. These temperature differences decelerate ripening during the harvest period, in turn allow the grapes to develop complex, nuanced aromas which reflect the very greatest characteristics of Brunello di Montalcino.
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Tuscany | 3 | 98 (WE) | HK$4,030.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (98)Aromas of rose petal, dark spice, woodland berries and camphor form the nose on this fragrant, elegant wine. Loaded with finesse, the linear, savory palate features red cherry, orange zest, star anise and black tea alongside tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. It's still youthfully austere, with fantastic aging potential. |
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Tuscany | 9 | 96 (JD) | HK$4,270.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino is surprising in its freshness, considering the warmth of the vintage, and speaks to the cooler, northern-facing exposition of the estate. It is refined with ripe red cherry, raspberry, anise, and incense and is fresh with cherry fruit, warming spices, macchia, and herbes de Provence. It is ripe though it maintains a medium frame, with well-managed tannins and balanced acidity. It is a lovely and charming wine and is rather approachable now. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 96 (JD) | HK$4,275.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino will be released on March 1, 2024. The color is medium red/garnet, and the nose opens to fresh aromas of orange citrus peel, dusty earth, cranberry, spices, and juniper. Medium-bodied and more linear, it lifts through the palate with fine tannins and a refreshing, mouthwatering finish. It has a great saline feel and is a savory and fresh wine. This is a Brunello I’d love to drink over the next 10 years for its accessibility and refined texture, although I imagine it will also have some real potential for cellaring. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 98+ (WA) | HK$8,260.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98+)The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is initially a reticent wine and one that does not immediately subscribe to the overstated abundance and exuberance of the vintage. Give it time. I wrote this review after several tastings over several days so I could ensure a more accurate account of the wine's elegant reveal. Contemplative and exceedingly nuanced in personality, with wild berry, underbrush, ferrous earth and candied orange peel, this has everything to look forward to in terms of its future evolution in the bottle. It displays a pretty ruby color that borders on garnet and polished copper. A silky, mid-weight palate is accented by beautifully managed and silky tannins (this aspect of the mouthfeel is extraordinary), bright freshness and long-lasting fruit momentum. The alcohol is a bit more powerful in this release (at 14.5%), but the effect is supple and smooth nonetheless. I tasted bottle number 256. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 99 (WA) | HK$10,380.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (99)Wow, here is a vintage I've been anxiously waiting to try. The 2016 growing season was one of the best in recent memory in Montalcino, and if we look back in time, this vintage marks the year Biondi-Santi was sold to a French group. The prestigious 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva proves a mighty collector's bottle that will undoubtedly gain in complexity and depth with careful bottle age. The wine offers wild nuances of forest berry and tart cherry, and there are herbal side notes as well as floral tones of dried violet and lilac. The tannins are soft, powdery and feel like they melt away on the palate. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - | HK$9,665.00 | |||||
