BIONDI-SANTI
From their hillside estate Tenuta Il Greppo, Biondi-Santi exclusively vinified Sangiovese Grosso intended for long aging, thus establishing a style that remains the foundation of Brunello as its own denomination today.
For decades, Biondi-Santi stood alone as Brunello’s sole producer. Through wars, economic upheaval, changing fashions, and shifting critical tastes, successive generations safeguarded the identity of Brunello that has brought it the renown it enjoys throughout the world.
The story begins in the mid-19th century when Clemente Santi recognized the potential of a local strain of Sangiovese capable of producing wines of uncommon longevity. His grandson Ferruccio Biondi-Santi would carry that vision further, bottling the first Brunello di Montalcino in 1888 and establishing the model for a wine that would eventually become one of Italy’s great vinous treasures.
What followed was not simply the growth of a winery, but the development of an entire category of wine. Among those generations, Tancredi Biondi-Santi occupies a singular place in Italian wine history. Widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential enologists, he helped shape the foundations of modern Brunello while preserving the estate’s most precious legacy during World War II. As armies advanced through Tuscany, Tancredi concealed historic vintages behind cellar walls, ensuring that some of the earliest bottles of Brunello survived conflict and looting. Those wines would later become part of one of the most extraordinary collections of mature wine anywhere in the world.
Franco Biondi-Santi would later guide the estate into international prominence while remaining steadfastly committed to the principles that had distinguished Il Greppo from the beginning. At a time when many regions were embracing international grape varieties and richer, more modern styles, Biondi-Santi remained committed to elegance, freshness, longevity, and varietal purity. The estate’s influence helped preserve one of Brunello’s defining characteristics: that it remain a wine made entirely from Sangiovese.
Biondi-Santi remains one of the benchmarks not only of Montalcino, but of Italian wine as a whole. The estate’s vineyards rise between approximately 370 and 560 metres above sea level, among the highest in the denomination. Here, galestro, marl, limestone, and clay soils combine with pronounced day-and-night temperature variation to produce fruit of remarkable aromatic complexity and natural acidity.
The biological foundation of the estate is the celebrated BBS11 clone, developed through generations of selection at Il Greppo and officially recognized as the first vine clone in Italy named after a single producer. Chosen specifically for its suitability to the terroir of Montalcino, BBS11 produces wines marked by bright acidity, refined structure, moderate alcohol, and exceptional ageing potential.
Meticulous viticulture remains central to the estate’s philosophy. Grapes are harvested by hand and undergo rigorous selection before fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wines are vinified with restraint and aged in large Slavonian oak botti, a practice that has remained largely unchanged for generations. Rather than imparting oak character, these large casks allow Sangiovese to express itself with clarity and precision.
The biological foundation of the estate is the celebrated BBS11 clone, developed through generations of selection at Il Greppo and officially recognized as the first vine clone in Italy named after a single producer. Chosen specifically for its suitability to the terroir of Montalcino, BBS11 produces wines marked by bright acidity, refined structure, moderate alcohol, and exceptional ageing potential.
Meticulous viticulture remains central to the estate’s philosophy. Grapes are harvested by hand and undergo rigorous selection before fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wines are vinified with restraint and aged in large Slavonian oak botti, a practice that has remained largely unchanged for generations. Rather than imparting oak character, these large casks allow Sangiovese to express itself with clarity and precision.
Today, under the stewardship of CEO Giampiero Bertolini and Director of Viticulture and Winemaking Federico Radi, Biondi-Santi stays firmly anchored in the values that built its reputation. Massal selection, soil regeneration, biodiversity, and vineyard management strengthen the estate’s future and preserve its identity.
What distinguishes Biondi-Santi in the glass is not power, extraction, or lavish oak. These are wines known for finesse, structure, and longevity. Red cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, rose petals, violets, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, mineral notes, and savory nuances unfold gradually with time. Vibrant acidity and finely woven tannins provide the framework for wines capable of evolving over decades. More than a century after the first Brunello was bottled at Il Greppo, the house style remains remarkably consistent: elegant, ageworthy, unmistakably Tuscan, and profoundly expressive of Sangiovese.
We have proudly carried Biondi-Santi for many years and continue to regard it as one of the most important names in Italian wine. Whether discovering the estate for the first time or revisiting a longstanding favorite, these wines offer a direct connection to the origins of Brunello di Montalcino itself.
THE WINES
Biondi-Santi Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Approachable earlier than Brunello, Rosso di Montalcino carries the estate’s unmistakable signature of freshness, restraint, and Sangiovese purity. Produced from younger vines and aged in Slavonian oak, it serves as an ideal introduction to the style of Il Greppo.
2020 • 94 points, Robert Parker
Red cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate lead, followed by crushed rose petal, violet, and wild thyme. Subtle notes of bread crust and tobacco leaf emerge with air. Medium-bodied with a supple texture, lively acidity, fine tannins, and excellent balance. Focused and energetic throughout, finishing long with lingering floral, mineral, and savory notes.
2021 • 92 points, Vinous
Sour cherry, red currant, and blood orange open the bouquet alongside rose petals, lavender, and dried sage. Hints of tea leaf and cedar add further complexity. Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, polished tannins, freshness, and admirable concentration. Persistent and refined on the finish, leaving echoes of red fruit, herbs, and mineral character.
2022 • 94 points, Kerin O’Keefe
Fresh strawberry, red cherry, and pomegranate rise from the glass together with violet, lavender, and Mediterranean herbs. Delicate spice and subtle earthy nuances develop gradually. Medium-bodied with purity of fruit, bright acidity, silky tannins, and lovely concentration. The finish is poised and sustained, carrying floral and red berry notes with impressive persistence.
Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Biondi-Santi Brunello is distinguished by floral aromas, subtle leather notes, and a palate built on finesse rather than weight. Bright acidity and firm tannins provide the structure for long ageing, allowing the wines to develop increasing complexity and character over decades.
2017 • 96 points, Robert Parker
Wild cherry, raspberry, and red currant are framed by rose petals, sage, and baking spices. Notes of tobacco leaf and leather add depth and dimension. Full-bodied with generous concentration, bright acidity, polished tannins, and excellent freshness. Focused and graceful, it concludes with impressive persistence and savory detail.
2018 • 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck • with wooden case
Cherry, cranberry, and red plum aromas mingle with violet, rosemary, and star anise. Subtle tea leaf and tobacco notes emerge gradually in the background. Full-bodied with a finely textured palate, vibrant acidity, integrated tannins, concentration, and freshness. The finish is long and expressive, marked by floral lift and mineral nuance.
2019 • 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck • with wooden case
Red cherry, raspberry, and blood orange are layered with rose petals, lavender, and sweet spice. Tobacco leaf, cedar, and tea leaf contribute additional complexity. Full-bodied with depth, clarity, concentration, bright acidity, and finely woven tannins. The finish is remarkably long, carrying persistent floral, mineral, and savory notes.
Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG
The Riserva is Biondi-Santi’s ultimate expression of Brunello, produced only in exceptional vintages and sourced from the estate’s oldest vines.
2010 • 100 points, Wine Enthusiast • 1 bottle in stock
Wild cherry, red currant, and pomegranate unfold alongside rose petals, violet, and Mediterranean herbs. Layers of tobacco leaf, tea leaf, leather, flint, and dried undergrowth reveal themselves gradually. Full-bodied with extraordinary concentration, seamless balance, vibrant acidity, refined tannins, and immense complexity. The finish is profound and enduring, echoing with mineral character, floral perfume, and exceptional length.
2018 • 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Red cherry, cranberry, and blood orange lead into aromas of rose petals, lavender, and savory herbs. Tobacco leaf, cedar, and tea leaf provide additional depth. Full-bodied with impressive concentration, freshness, finely structured tannins, and superb balance. The finish is long and elegant, marked by mineral tension and persistent floral notes.
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