2005 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

When it comes to winemaking in Tuscany, there’s history. And then there’s Frescobaldi, the noble family whose wines extend a legacy that traces unbroken back to the 14th century, and the most extraordinary period of Florentine history. The 2005 Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a gorgeous entry point into the vintners who have supplied wine to no less than Michelangelo and Henry VIII. James Suckling praised the “layers of fruit” in the 2005 Riserva, and Robert Parker calls it “a decidedly opulent style for Brunello” and an “impressive effort.” Having accumulated the perfect amount of bottle age in the cool Frescobaldi cellars in Tuscany, this wine is not only in perfect condition—it is at its prime. A perfect candidate for a few more years of aging, or to enjoy during dinner this week.  

Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi’s most celebrated estate, Castelgiocondo, is the jewel in the crown of the venerated company’s famed collection of Tuscan properties. According to Wine Enthusiast, the extraordinary Brunello di Montalcino produced at Castelgiocondo “delivers a modern touch to a territory steeped in tradition.” In 2005, Frescobaldi’s Riserva Brunello di Montalcino earned 93 points from James Suckling, who described it as full-bodied “with velvety tannins and a long and caressing finish.”

Among Italy’s strictest practitioners of grape selection, Frescobaldi’s methods consistently yield aromatic and intensely flavored Brunello from the Sangiovese grosso grown on the 37-acre estate. The fluctuating growing season of 2005 included a mild spring and relatively cool summer, but the warm fall that year resulted in healthy bunches of fruit that translated to a rich, concentrated, and cellar-ready red wine. Sometimes life grants you second chances. For those who missed out on buying the 2005 vintage nearly a decade ago, this is another shot at owning one of the masterful Brunellos of the vintage.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.00%
• 1 hour
• Drink Up
• % Sangiovese
• Serving temperature – 62°
• Cork