Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Tenuta Greppo Biondi-Santi 1971

Lot presentation

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Tenuta Greppo Biondi-Santi 1971

The wine

The Biondi Santi family is intimately linked to the history of Brunello di Montalcino. It was Ferrucio Biondi-Santi who, in the 19th century, isolated the Sangiovese Grosso grape variety, with its firm tannins predestining it for very long ageing. Tancredi, his son, initiated the rules of the appellation, requiring extensive ageing in barrels and bottles before releasing the wine onto the market.

Renowned for the outstanding ageing potential of its wines, Tenuta Greppo?–?‘Greppo’ stands for ‘steep escarpment’, a nod to the vines planted on the hillside?–?shot to fame at the end of the 19th century. At this time, the owner Clemente Santi witnessed one of his Sangiovese, a variety he had long studied and grown, be awarded a prize at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867. Two years on, his Brunello was awarded a gold medal at a local competition in Montepulciano.
Today, time flows as does wine, and the commendations haven’t dried up either. The 26-hectare estate captures the very essence of Sangiovese and masters the art of long ageing, in the purest local tradition. The wine matures between 12 (for the Rosso) and 36 months (for the Riserva) in Slavonian oak foudres (barrels ranging from 10 to 140 hectolitres). Further bottle ageing then refines the tannins of this unique grape variety. The wines exude remarkable elegance and finesse.