Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012

Drink now or cellar for up to 25 years. Decant 2 hour before serving.

The Sassetti family have been making wine from some of Montalcino’s top vineyards for over a century, and winemaker Livio was actually one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino. Today the family estate is run by Livio’s son Lorennzo and his wife Sabina who continue the Sassetti legacy of making stunning Brunellos which showcase the beauty of their land.

Their 16 hectares of vines are located to the north of Montalcino on the Montosoli hill which has a reputation for being one of the appellation’s finest terroirs for Sangiovese. This is their iconic Brunello Riserva which is made from the estate’s finest fruit each year. The grapes are carefully harvested by hand and gently crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then left to mature in traditional 33 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks for 48 months, followed by another 6 months in the bottle before release.

This lengthy ageing period helps craft a polished and remarkably complex Brunello, with notes of ripe cherries and berries mingling on the nose with hints of woodsmoke, spice, and leather. On the palate the firm tannins and well-developed structure are nicely balanced by ripe dark fruit flavours and a long finish seasoned with toast and oak. A magnificent Brunello to cellar for a couple more decades or enjoy now alongside hearty beef or game dishes.