2017 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany 750 ml

An underdog estate that began with a windfall. A spree of THREE consecutive 97-point scores from one of the world’s foremost authorities on Brunello. Consistent 4.5-Star ratings from Wine Access members. Ciacci Piccolomini is a Brunello to lay in by the case.

Once referred to as “Brunello’s true believer,” Kerin O’Keefe is the author of Brunello di Montalcino: Understanding and Appreciating One of Italy’s Greatest Wines. As editor of Wine Enthusiast, this Italian wine authority has rated SIX consecutive vintages of this wine 95 points or higher.

Even before Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona established itself as one of the most sought-after Brunellos in Tuscany, the estate had a fantastic story. The property is partially located on a UNESCO World Heritage site, and sits in close proximity to the medieval village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate and the 11th-century Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo. It was in the Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona’s family for a century, and when she passed away in 1985, she did something shocking: She left it all to her estate manager.

That man was Giuseppe Bianchini, and for the next twenty years he did what the countess had never done. He planted vines in earnest, and focused on elevating the estate’s wines and bringing them to the world. 

After Giuseppe passed away in 2004, his son Paolo quit a promising professional cycling career in order to take over at Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona.And like a cyclist putting in his greatest performance on the biggest stage, Paolo has risen to the occasion in 2017.