2013 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG Tuscany 750 ml

The world is abuzz about the latest Brunello di Montalcino vintage, and as you can probably tell from our offers, we’re as interested as anyone. But when everyone’s transfixed on one blockbuster vintage—that’s when we sharpen our senses, and keep on the lookout for the other bargains bubbling up.

Case in point: Wine Spectator’s top-rated Brunello of the incredible 97-point 2013 vintage is a 98-point Casanova di Neri bottling that will set you back $311. Coming in just one point away is today’s Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, which lists for $130—already a steal, considering the competition. But we’ve nabbed it for an incredible $99. That’s $212 less per bottle—and a difference of one point.

There is no other term for that, our friends, than best-in-class Brunello quality for a third of the price. 

We’re not saying you shouldn’t track down and add to your cellar the $300+ Brunello that took the crown. But Altesino’s one of the most lauded producers in Tuscany, and if you sock away three bottles of their “rich, savory, and sophisticated” 2013 97-pointer for the price of one of those other bottles—well, we can guarantee you’ll thank yourself later.

Deep ruby-purple with a touch of bricking to the rim, the Riserva opens with a volley of ripe Morello and black cherry fruit, leather, sandalwood, black licorice, olive, and dried sage aromas. Packed full of firm, gritty tannins, the palate delivers all the density and power promised aromatically, with flavors of black fruit, tilled earth, leather, and savory spices arriving in long, complex waves. It’s beautiful now, with decades of potential ahead. This is a tiny-production wine with only 200 cases imported to the States, so don’t wait. 

Altesino is one of the marquee producers of Brunello, and although it’s located in a 14th century palazzo, it’s a young winegrowing estate by Tuscan standards. It was founded in 1970, and Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini acquired it in 2002. Since then, she and her winemaking team of Simone Giunti and Alessandro Ciacci have staked out a permanent position at the apex of the region, with their modern and innovative take on the estate whose single-site 1975 Montosoli bottling was the first “cru” Brunello.  

Altesino’s first Riserva bottling came just two years later. Hailing from 20-32-year-old vines on four vineyard parcels, the 2013 was vinified in stainless steel before spending four years in Slavonian oak. After another six months in barrel, the 2013 was released—after the fanfare over the ‘13 Brunello had calmed, and well before the 2015s set the world on fire. 

That’s why this wine might go under the radar for many—but not for us. We can’t wait for you to delight in this find the way we are. It’s a top-class, super-savvy cellar pickup from one of Brunello’s best!