2017 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino ‘Montosoli’ Tuscany

This small vineyard produced one of Italy's first "cru" wines. Located at the top of Altesino's vineyards is the prestigious Montosoli vineyard where ancient limestone soils with the 360 degree exposure combine to yield a Brunello of exceptional style and elegance.

Tasting Notes

One of the most sought after wines from Montalcino, Montosoli is consistently a blockbuster red. Its intense ruby red color tends towards elegant garnet with age. On the nose, it shows a complex personality with a delicious blend of black cherry, raspberry, violet, licorice, vanilla and black pepper. Extremely enticing, opulent and elegant on the palate, with a warm, long-lasting finish, Montosoli is a wine for special occasions.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


James Suckling - "Super clean black fruit and minerals on the nose and palate. Floral and herbal nuances, too. Medium-to full-bodied with very fine tannins and a long finish. This is super-clean, long and balanced. Despite the difficult vintage, Montosoli shows its class. One of the wines of the vintage. Best from 2024."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "This is one of the icon wines of Montalcino and one of the bottles that best captures the character of this prized vineyard cru. Altesino farms 4.5 hectares in Montosoli at 350 meters in elevation with galestro soils. The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is darkly concentrated and rich. It shows an almost creamy consistency that was not easy to achieve in this hot vintage that tends to underline tannic power and alcohol. Instead, this wine offers a steady stream of dark fruit flavors that transition to spice, leather and sweet tobacco. Production is limited to 15,000 bottles."


Wine Spectator - "This concentrated red is saturated by black currant, blackberry and blueberry flavors, with notes of iron, tar, tobacco and wild herbs chiming in as it evolves toward the long finish. So fresh and fruity, it's hard to believe this is a 2017 if not for the stiff tannins. Shows superb balance and complexity. Best from 2025."


Vinous - "The aromatics alone are worth the price of entry on the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli. A dazzling display is revealed as this opens like a basket of freshly picked flowers with ripe strawberries, cloves and a hint of plum sauce that adds gravitas. Its elegance is nicely matched by a balanced inner sweetness, as mineral-tinged red berries are contrasted by hints of sour citrus and savory spice. Fine tannins mount, yet are almost imperceptible until the finish, where notes of blood orange mingle with licorice and inner rose. In a word, spellbinding. While some cellaring will be needed, I expect the 2017 Montosoli to enjoy a broad, open and highly pleasurable drinking window. 94+"


Decanter - "Altesino’s Montosoli ratchets it up a few notches from the estate bottling. Due to recent replanting, vines average 10 years of age, and the grapes were harvested the third week of September in 2017. It is bright, energetic and intriguing in its aromas of scented violet and balsamic herbs. Layers of powdery tannins build up but there is stuffing to match. Pomegranate notes emerge on the long, lingering finish."


Wine Enthusiast - "Subtly scented, this has delicate aromas suggesting forest floor, ripe berry, eucalyptus and coffee bean. The full-bodied palate shows dried cherry, prune, licorice and the same coffee bean as the nose. Firm, tightly knit tannins provide support before a drying close."