2021 Talenti Rosso di Montalcino 750 ml

It used to be that consumers of Rosso di Montalcino were doing wineries a BIG favor, creating cash-flow while producers waited for their Brunellos to mature enough to release to the market. 

Things have changed.

Rosso di Montalcino, which comes from the same geographical boundaries as Brunello di Montalcino, is better than ever right now. Top producers like Talenti have some of the best terroir in the area, they understand which fruit is destined to go into their Rossos instead of their Brunellos, and they farm those vines with early-drinking excellence in mind.   

These wines don’t have to be aged in oak as long as Brunello, so they tend to be brighter and more vibrant. But a warming climate is lending greater boldness, heft, and power to Rosso di Montalcinos, which leads to wines like the 2021 Talenti—a superb value that gives a TON of pleasure right out of the gate.

Many of you are already very familiar with this Wine Access–favorite producer, which is led by winemaker Riccardo Talenti. On the strength of their elite Brunellos, the winery has risen to become one of Tuscany’s “standouts,” in the words of Vinous. The 2021 vintage was a gift to wines like this one—the season filled the grapes with marvelous concentration and richness while achieving balance, thanks to cooling nights that preserved acidity.

This wine is a shoo-in for your weeknight rotation and whatever pasta dish you have planned next.