James Suckling 92
"Sweet berries and black cherries with some flowers and dark earth, too. Its full-bodied with velvety, chewy tannins that leave a slightly dry impression. But it should come around nicely with three or four years of bottle age. Try after 2024."

Wine Spectator 91
"Rich, with plum, blackberry and pomegranate flavors shaded by iron and tobacco accents. The structure comes mainly from the dense tannins and the fruit flavors are slightly muddled, yet this is long overall. Best from 2024 through 2042. 2,000 cases made, 850 cases imported."

The Wine
100 Sangiovese from the La Serena estate harvested during the first two weeks of October. The wine undergoes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel before moving into cask. The wine then ages for three years in a combination of 20, 30, 40 and 70 hectoliter French oak casks, and is refined for a minimum of four months in bottle before release. Certified organic on the label since the 2013 vintage.

The Estate
The La Serena estate has belonged to the Mantengoli family since the 1930s, but they did not start making wine until 1988, when brothers Andrea & Marcello entered the family business. What began as a one-hectare farm has since grown into nine hectares, with about six of those under vine, dedicated exclusively to Sangiovese for Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino. Andrea has always worked the vineyards in an organic way, but since the 2013 vintage his wines are now officially certified as Made With Organic Grapes on the label.

The estate is directly east of Montalcino in an area that has always produced highly acclaimed Brunello. Andreas neightbors include Cerbaiona, Casanova di Neri and even Biondi Santis Il Greppo estate. The estate is at 400 meters above sea level, and the soil here is similar to the Pertimali/Montosoli Cru areas, but is slightly less compact, providing wines with structure but perhaps more approachability in their youth than their neighbors.

La Serenas Brunello di Montalcino consistently receives top praise from wine critics. Their 2012 Brunello di Montalcino was blessed with 96 points from Wine Spectator, and their 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gemini received 95 points from Robert Parker. With Enologist Paolo Caciorgna giving a hand to Andrea, the estate is in great hands. Since the 2009 vintage, Andrea has abandoned the use of barriques for his wines, and now uses only large oak casks of 20 hectoliters and larger.

Vineyard Practices: La Serena practices organic and biodynamic viticulture. Grass is grown between the rows, and beneficial insects have been introduced to the property. After harvest, the vine shoots are collected and composted to be used as organic fertilizer. There is absolutely no usage of chemical herbicides or fertilizers.

Farming Practice:Certified Organic