2012 Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 750 ml

Rare, Precious, and Three-Dimensional

Brunello collector alert. “With only 2,700 bottles made, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a rare and precious wine.” The opening line of The Wine Advocate’s glowing review says it all — but it didn’t stop there. “It is etched and sophisticated,” the Advocate continued, “with pronounced aromas of dried cherry, tar, leather, crushed mineral and campfire ash.” The review closed with a serious proclamation, calling the 2012 “a standout wine among its peers.” Vinous marveled over its “three-dimensional texture” in a radiant 97-point review.  Statements like these would merit attention in any year, but in the epic 2012 vintage, it signifies much more. Our 360 bottles are examples of extraordinary Brunello, worthy of a place in any serious collector’s cellar.

Perched on a sunny plateau in southern Montalcino, Piancornello covers almost 50 acres of rocky, volcanic soil — perfect for growing Sangiovese. The Pieri family has been here for three generations, maintaining a deep and respectful connection with the land. Viticulture is entirely organic, and cellar protocol is as hands-off as possible. Year after year, the results speak for themselves in the form of gorgeous, classic Brunellos that leave critics like Robert Parker speechless.

In 2012 particularly, everything went right. As Wine Enthusiast wrote, the 2012 vintage displayed “more consistent quality across the denomination than the highly acclaimed 2010s.” The summer was hot and dry, without the extreme heat spikes of 2011, and the Pieri family capitalized on the abundant Mediterranean sunshine, practicing extreme canopy management, spending meticulous hours in the vineyards, hand-shaping each plant, and making sure to protect clusters from the scorching Tuscan sun. When the call to harvest was made, Sangiovese was perfectly ripe with a magnificent balance of sugars and acids.

After fermentation with indigenous yeasts and 36 months spent in traditional large oak barrels, the finished wine was stunning: deep ruby red, powerful on the palate, with densely packed fine-grained tannins and full body balanced by bright acidity. As The Wine Advocate noted, this wine is one of the best of a great vintage, with the potential to improve for many years to come.

Jonathan Cristaldi

Editor-in-Chief, Wine Access