From: Tuscany, Italy
Blend: Sangiovese
Critical Acclaim: WE 95 Wine Enthusiast
Delicious and elegantly structured, this gorgeous red offers enticing scents of fragrant blue flowers, forest floor, wild berries and new leather. On the full-bodied palate, taut, fine-grained tannins provide finesse and a polished framework for ripe Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and the barest hint of mocha. Drink 2023–2029.
RP 94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Mastrojanni has created my all-time favorite Brunello packaging. A simple white label is embellished with an individually applied red wax seal. The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is just as beautiful on the inside. This ample 65,000-bottle release absolutely defies the vintage expectations. There's so much vibrant fruit here and freshness. The wine is textured and firm with plenty of creamy weight to soften it out. This is a phenomenal interpretation of the 2017 growing season.
Rating: 94+
WS 93 Wine Spectator
This has depth to its aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, iron, spice and tobacco. Though vibrant, it also has a layer of firm tannins that provide grip and structure. Features a fine aftertaste of iron, sanguine and tobacco elements. Best from 2024.
JS 91 James Suckling
This is a rich and fruity Brunello with lots of ripe-cherry and orange-peel character. It’s full and layered with slightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs time to calm down. Try after 2022.
Taste: This Brunello greets the eye with a brilliant ruby red hue adorned with garnet reflections. The nose is a fascinating blend of classic and young aromas, dominated by ripe fruits and enriched with a multifaceted spice note. It's dense, silky tannins on the palate, supported by a fragrant acidity, leading to an elegant and lingering finish. A 95-point accolade from Wine Enthusiast speaks volumes of its allure, describing it as "delicious and elegantly structured" with scents of blue flowers, forest floor, wild berries, and new leather.
Pairing: This wine's richness finds its perfect culinary counterpart in game, lamb, and grilled red meats. For a more subtle pairing, mature cheeses make for an exquisite combination, echoing the wine's depth and complexity.
Lamb Tagine
By Melissa Clark
About. The Montalcino area has long been revered for its viticultural prowess, but when Mastrojanni first ventured into the wine-making realm in 1975, it was still a relatively nascent domain. Founded by the visionary lawyer Gabriele Mastrojanni, the winery started its journey by acquiring the San Pio and Loreto estates. The vision was clear: to plant vineyards in the untouched, virgin lands that had resisted human interference for ages.
While several pioneers like Biondi-Santi had previously experimented with the Sangiovese Grosso grape, Mastrojanni's dedication to the grape and the Montalcino terroir set them apart. Fueled by the unique combination of soil, climate, and sheer passion, Mastrojanni's growth in production and exports might have even surpassed Gabriele's initial aspirations.
Montalcino's geographical and geological tapestry plays a significant role in shaping the wines it produces. Located in the picturesque hamlet of Castelnuovo dell'Abate, the Mastrojanni estate boasts vineyards aged almost forty years, sitting 200m above the renowned Orcia River.
Each vineyard patch reflects its geological history, from clay and tuff with sandstone inserts to limy river pebbles. The south and south-west facing vineyards, particularly, bear witness to ancient river conglomerates, an eloquent hint at the region's rich past. The unique climate of central Italy, with its arid summer months, forces the vines to reach deep into the soil for water reserves, adding complexity to the grapes.
Mount Amiata stands as a silent sentinel near the Mastrojanni estate. This extinct volcano, soaring 1,738 meters high, is integral in defining the area's microclimate. By diverting potential storms and ushering in cooling winds at night, it's a key player in the vineyard's ecosystem.
Mastrojanni's 2017 Brunello di Montalcino, a DOCG-certified wine, is a pure expression of 100% Sangiovese (Brunello). It matures gracefully over 36 months in Allier oak barrels and then further ages in the bottle for at least six months, nestled in the winery's cellars.
