Frescobaldi - Tenuta Castelgiocondo : Brunello di Montalcino 2020

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for the Frescobaldi - Tenuta Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2020

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep, intense ruby red hue with slightly garnet highlights.

Nose

The nose offers lovely aromatic complexity with notes of ripe red and black fruits (raspberry, redcurrant, blueberry), complemented by floral nuances of violet and wild rose. With aeration, spicy aromas of cinnamon, pepper, and clove emerge, enriched by touches of leather, tea leaf, and subtle balsamic notes.

Palate

On the palate, this Brunello di Montalcino 2020 captivates with its elegance and refined structure. The tannins are noble and silky, gently enveloping the palate. Minerality brings freshness and purity, while the generous body and comforting warmth are harmoniously balanced. The long, persistent finish leaves a fruit-forward impression, pleasantly supported by a delicate tannic backbone.

Food and wine pairings

This Brunello di Montalcino 2020 beautifully accompanies roasted red meats and braised game. It pairs perfectly with a beef brasato, a wild boar stew, or guinea fowl in sauce. Fresh pasta with rich sauces, such as pappardelle with hare ragù or pici with sausage and mushrooms, also makes for excellent pairings. Aged cheeses, especially Tuscan pecorino, enhance the expression of this wine.

Serving and cellaring

This Brunello di Montalcino 2020 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 16 to 18°C. Thanks to its structure and balance, this wine can be cellared and evolve favorably for several decades under optimal conditions. An optimal drinking window opens from around 2025 to 2027, although the wine will continue to improve beyond that.

An Outstanding Brunello di Montalcino from a Privileged Tuscan Terroir

The estate

Acquired by the Frescobaldi family in 1989, Tenuta Castelgiocondo is among the historic estates that contributed to establishing the Brunello di Montalcino appellation in the early 19th century. Located southwest of Montalcino, this 815-hectare estate, including 235 hectares of vineyards, enjoys an exceptional position between 300 and 450 meters above sea level. Now led by Lamberto and Tiziana Frescobaldi, representatives of the thirtieth generation of this Florentine family whose winegrowing activity has been documented since 1308, Castelgiocondo embodies territorial excellence and a commitment to sustainability. The estate has been certified organic since 2015.

The vineyard

The Brunello di Montalcino vineyard stretches across parcels benefiting from optimal south and southwest exposure. The soils display remarkable geological diversity, composed of galestro, clay, marl, Pliocene sands, and limestone. This mosaic of free-draining terroirs allows sangiovese to express its full complexity. The vines, planted at a density of 5,500 vines per hectare, are cultivated according to organic farming and sustainable viticulture principles, promoting biodiversity and respect for the environment.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage proved exceptional for Montalcino. After a relatively dry winter that replenished water reserves, budbreak began in late March and flowering took place under ideal conditions during the second half of May, with warm, dry, and slightly windy days. Summer brought high temperatures from June to August, but the accumulated water reserves enabled the vines to get through this period without stress. The remarkable lack of rainfall during harvest, which took place in early October, favored the picking of grapes at perfect phenolic ripeness, with an exceptional chemical structure.

Vinification and aging

The Brunello di Montalcino 2020 harvest is carried out exclusively by hand, with a double selection of the grapes in the vineyard and then on the sorting table. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks with frequent pump-overs to encourage the extraction of aromatic and phenolic compounds. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally. Aging spans 48 months, divided between 24 months in large Slavonian oak casks and 24 months in French oak barrels. After blending, this Tuscan wine benefits from an additional 4 months of bottle aging before release.

Grape variety

Sangiovese (100%)