“A great wine is made on the vine”……….
Located in the southern most portion of the Brunello zone, the Agostina Pieri estate covers approximately 20 hectares, of which 11 are devoted to vines for making Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. The southerly position of the estate results in vines that are lower in altitude – the highest only about 230 meters above sea level. However, the relatively closer proximity to the Maremma allows for cooling breezes which moderate the heat that can often impact the growing season in the southern part of the zone.
Since 1991, Agostina Pieri has run her estate with a hands on and hands only approach, taking painstaking effort at each stage of production in order to produce wines to her exacting standards. As she is quick to tell me, “this may not make the most logical sense at every turn, but even though our estate is small, we have been able to gain the trust of national and international markets.” She’s right. It was a brush with her Rosso di Montalcino many years ago that put this estate on my radar and that moment has stuck with me ever since.
Today we’ve cracked the cellar door again to get a look at her 2006 Brunello. I last checked in on this wine 4+ years ago and very little has changed since then. The consistency here is pretty remarkable because after I was jotted down my notes for this article, I reviewed my last point of reference and was somewhat surprised at the striking similarity.
The 2006 Agostina Pieri Brunello is a pretty violet color. Fermented in stainless steel, the wine is aged in a combination of large and small barrels. The aromatics on the nose are strikingly floral with a bright berry component. Almost in an understated manner. On the palate, the wine is elegant, graceful and fresh. The medium to full bodied berry notes cascade softly over the palate and add notes of spices and flowers. An elegant feminine serenade. As I mentioned in my earlier review, this appears almost Burgundian in style and while it’s not a powerhouse or the best Brunello you will ever have, it is aging gracefully and effortlessly and is a delicious wine. 93 points and a very nice value around $45.
Salute!
August 8, 2016
Leave a comment
2059
