When Francesco Monaci established this winery, he had no idea of the frenzy his wines would inspire. In only a handful of vintages, his Brunello and Rosso have become some of Montalcino’s most sought after wines. A nephew of consorzio president, and famed producer, Giancarlo Pacenti, Francesco had long dreamed of making great wines in the Montalcino area, but was not able to find the perfect vineyard until 1991. The steep Sangiovese vineyard that he finally found, in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, offered the potential to realize his goal.
The seven-hectare vineyard he found is perfectly situated, with a full southern exposure. This allows for incredible ripeness even in the old, low-vigor Sangiovese clones he favors. Grapes are harvested by hand and then strictly sorted to eliminate sub-standard fruit. The fermentation takes
This is one domaine that takes great pride in its Rosso, treating it much like the Brunello. Pieri is the only producer ever to earn Gambero Rosso’s prestigious Tre Bicchieri score for a “mere” Rosso di Montalcino. That wine, the 1995, caused a sensation with its amazing concentration and persistence it easily outpaced most Brunellos and set a new benchmark for the appellation. And, always looking to push his wines further, Francesco has begun collaborating with Fabrizio Moltard for the 2002 vintage. Together, they aim to enhance the expressive sense of place that a unique vineyard, and unique appellation, can produce.
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Rosso di Montalcino 1998 Again, one of the elite Rossos of the vintage. Top marks from the Italian Guida dei Sommelier. 1997 Most of the crop was destroyed by hail. 1996 Gambero Rosso: “Yet again Agostina Pieri has produced one of the the very best Rossos di Montalcino... Two (and a half ) Glasses instead of Three.” 1995 Gambero Rosso: “Tre Bicchieri... literally wiped the floor with the stiff competition... a wine that changes all the rules about making Rosso di Montalcino.” |
Brunello di Montalcino 1999 Jancis Robinson: “18.5/20. Tied for #1 ’99 Brunello among 65 producers. 1997 Wine Spectator: 1995 Wine Spectator: 1994 Gambero Rosso: “Due Bicchieri... the (debut) Brunello ’94 has passed with flying colors, turning out to be one of the best of its year.” |
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OVERVIEW Proprietor: Agostina Pieri Winemaker: Francesco Monaci Consultant: Fabrizio Moltard Obsessive about quality, Francesco and his immediate family do all the vineyard work themselves maxim-izing the potential of each vine. VINEYARD INFORMATION Soils: Galestro and lime-rich clay Zone: Montalcino (Piancornello) Fruit source: 10.5 hA vineyard RECENT VINTAGES 2006 A year that produced beautiful, aromatic reds. 2005 A relatively "normal" vintage of classic, mid-weight wine. 2004 Classic vintage. Wines display balance and purity. 2003 Freakish heat led to atypically approachable wines. 2002 Rain-plagued vintage. Very little Brunello made. 2001 Another classic vintage for aging. |
ADDITIONAL WINEMAKING NOTES Vineyard work done solely by the family. Multiple leaf pickings plus a green harvest. No fining or filtration. Fruit is 100% destemmed. THE WINES Brunello di Montalcino Grapes: 100% Sangiovese Grosso Ave. Yield: 30 hL/hA Aging: 12 months in barrique and 12 months in 4000L cask. Production: 1,400 cases Rosso di Montalcino Grapes: 100% Sangiovese Grosso Ave. Yield: 30 hL/hA Aging: 12 months in barrique (2nd & 3rd passage) Production: 1,700 cases Note: Pieri puts great effort into his Rosso, and remains the only producer to ever earn Gambero Rosso’s tre bicchieri for a Rosso. |
