Wine Advocate 95
"The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is an irresistible wine that demonstrates just how far the Agostina Pieri brand has evolved over the past decade. This may be the best Brunello ever released by this boutique estate in the Piancornello subzone of the appellation. Most notable and compelling is the seamless integration of flavor and texture that is not easily achieved with the finicky Sangiovese grape. The wine opens to a dark ruby hue with aromas of dried cherry, cassis, blue flower, ginger and balsam herb. You get lingering mineral tones that create a sense of focus and sharpness. I tasted the wine very young, but am confident of the aging potential of this timeless Brunello. It should be a delight to revisit in ten years."~Monica Larner


"When Francesco Monaci established this winery, he had no idea of the frenzy his wines would inspire. In only a handful of vintages, his Brunello and Rosso have become some of Montalcino’s most sought-after wines. A nephew of Consorzio President, and famed producer, Giancarlo Pacenti, Francesco had long dreamed of making great wines in the Montalcino area, but was not able to find the perfect vineyard until 1991. The steep Sangiovese vineyard that he finally found, in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, offered the potential to realize his goal.

The seven-hectare vineyard he found is perfectly situated, with a full southern exposure. This allows for incredible ripeness even in the old, low-vigor Sangiovese clones he favors. Grapes are harvested by hand and then strictly sorted to eliminate sub-standard fruit. The fermentation takes 25-30 days in vat and stainless steel before racking into large Slovenian oak casks and smaller French oak barriques. Only the finest lots are selected for Brunello.

This is one domain that takes great pride in its Rosso, treating it much like the Brunello. Pieri is the only producer ever to earn Gambero Rosso’s prestigious Tre Bicchieri score for a “mere” Rosso di Montalcino. That wine, the 1995, caused a sensation with its amazing concentration and persistence— it easily outpaced most Brunellos and set a new benchmark for the appellation.

And, always looking to push his wines further, Francesco began collaborating with Fabrizio Moltard in the 2002 vintage. Together, they aim to enhance the expressive sense of place that a unique vineyard, and unique appellation, can produce."~Distributor Notes