As we settle into winter, with its hearty fare and chilly evenings, we are putting a spotlight on Montalcino, Italy, a region that is known for its age-worthy Sangiovese wine that pairs beautifully with rich foods.

Montalcino is a medieval town in the heart of southern Tuscany. The region is known for Brunello Di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino, which are almost exclusively Tone & Backbone in style: at their best they create intense, structured yet elegant wines that speak to the beauty of the terroir.  

Much like Burgundy, Montalcino makes a lot of wine. They are often expensive and the results can be uneven for those without a guide. It is easy to spend $50 on a Brunello di Montalcino and get a mediocre bottle of wine. At taste56, we do the hard work for you and only carry the best producers. We stand behind every bottle we select, especially since less than 1 out of 10 wines we try make our inventory.

Below are some of the finest Montalcino wines in their respective price ranges and furthermore represent some of the most interesting Italian wines around. 

Pian dell'Orino EstatePian dell'Orino Estate

Sangiovese at its best is made to go with food. You can count on Sangiovese to produce a Tone & Backbone style wine with elevated acidity and beautifully integrated tannins that combine to create medium to full-bodied wines. The proportionally higher tannin and acidity mean these wines particularly sing when combined with the right food, for example Sunday sauce, rich stews, and meat braises.

Tuscany can produce Sangiovese of supreme elegance and the bottles below exemplify the quality possible from the region. 

Uccelliera Rosso di MontalcinoUccelliera Rosso di Montalcino

Uccelliera
Rosso di Montalcino 2021
BUY $28

The best bargain in Rosso di Montalcino that rivals many Brunnelli despite its shorter aging period (and price). Medium-plus bodied and complex, with flavors and aromas of red, black, and sour cherry, tobacco, rose, forest floor, and anise spice that lingers in the finish. 

Pian dell'Orino Rosso di MontalcinoPian dell'Orino Rosso di Montalcino

Pian dell'Orino
Rosso di Montalcino 2020
BUY $85

Biodynamic, medium-plus in body with ample structure and aromas of red, black, and sour cherry fruit, followed by notes of tobacco and rose. There are flavors of leather, mineral, smoke, spice box, and sandalwood in the lengthy, complex finish. 

Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino

Cerbaiona
Brunello di Montalcino 2019
BUY $225

A fine & rare collector’s gem. This is a baby, which will require decanting, or some cellaring, but there are layers of black, and red cherry fruit, spice, underpinned by floral, tobacco, and mineral notes that linger in the persistent finish.