SKURNIK WINES® Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona – 6057838641311

About this Winery: 
Ciacci Piccolomini is one of the most sought-after producers in all of Italy. This ancient estate has 35 hectares of superior holdings in the prized Castelnuovo dell’Abate zone, including the ‘Pianrosso’ vineyard (meaning ‘red field,’ a reference to the iron rich soils). Made by the brother-and-sister team Paolo and Lucia Bianchini, this ancient estate was left to the Bianchini family in 1985 by Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona, who had no heirs; Giuseppe (Paolo and Lucia’s father) had been the estate manager. Their Brunellos emphasize finesse and balance, with layers of ultrafine tannins and subtle ripe fruit, yet they age incredibly well.

Tasting Notes:
Ruby red verging on garnet. The bouquet is intense and complex: fruit-forward, spicy and ethereal, with hints of red berries and various spices. Warm, harmonic with pronounced and soft tannins. A full-bodied wine with a very long aftertaste. A Brunello that can be refined in the bottle for many years.

Technical Information

Vineyard: 11,69 hectares (29,22 acres) are named after “Pianrosso”: situated at an altitude between 240 and 360 a.s.l. with a soil of medium grain with good levels of marl, dating to the Eocene period.

Grape varietal: 100% Sangiovese

Fermentation and refinement: In stainless steel and glass concrete vats, temperature-controlled via cooling plates and jackets.

Ageing: more than 3 years in 7,5 – 30 hl Slavonian oak barrels, followed by over 12 months of bottle ageing.

100 Points & # 6 of Top 100 Wines of Italy 2020 – James Suckling:
“The opulence of fruit and complexity of earth, meat, mushroom and cedar is breathtaking. It’s full-bodied, deep and powerful with so much intensity and depth. Chewy and layered, it goes on for minutes. Give it even more time. Try after 2023.” (December 2020)

96 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:
“The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is distinguished by a unique aromatic profile that brings out mineral notes of crushed limestone or chalk. This adds a greater sense of focus and delineation that not only characterizes the bouquet but also applies to the way the wine hits the palate in a fuller and more determined way (compared to the slightly softer classic Brunello). Instead, this single-vineyard Brunello shows an upright and direct approach with soft salinity on the close followed by forest fruit, spice and medicinal herb. The mouthfeel makes a big impact thanks to its streamlined and polished texture. Some 37,000 bottles were released in January 2020.” – Monica Larner (Jan 2020)