Brunello di Montalcino, Il Marroneto 2021 75cl

Il Marroneto's straight Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most sought-after wines in Tuscany, and the 2021 arrives from a vintage collectors have been waiting for. This is traditional Sangiovese at its most refined.

Alessandro Mori farms Il Marroneto at the cool northern edge of Montalcino, working in a resolutely classical style with long ageing in large Slavonian oak botti. This is the estate's flagship annata, made from across its holdings and shaped for perfume and precision rather than muscle. The 2021 vintage was a balanced, structured year that has earned wide acclaim across Montalcino.

As pure Sangiovese in the Marroneto idiom, expect a lifted, elegant nose of red cherry, dried herbs, tobacco and a floral note of violet and rose. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully poised, with silky yet firm tannins, bright acidity and a long, savoury, mineral finish. It has the transparency and finesse that make this producer such a benchmark, wearing its power lightly.

At around £97 it offers extraordinary quality for the price by top-tier Brunello standards. It can be enjoyed now with decanting, but will gain complexity for well over a decade and hold far longer, making it a wine both to drink and to cellar.

How to Serve

Serve at 16-18°C in a large Burgundy-style glass. Decant one to two hours ahead when young.

Where to Drink It

Bocca di Lupo in Soho, for Italian cooking that suits it. Trivet near London Bridge, for the cellar. Locanda Locatelli in Marylebone, for the occasion.

Food Pairings

Slow-braised beef cheek, or wild boar ragu over pappardelle.