2019 Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Vigna Ripe al Convento Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 750 ml

The 2019 Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Vigna Ripe al Convento Riserva is the definition of an apex Brunello. 

It comes from an iconic family with a seven-century legacy: The Frescobaldis have supplied wine to historic figures from Michelangelo to Henry VIII, and their CastelGiocondo Vigna Ripe al Convento Riserva is a flagship bottling they produce in the most exceptional vintages.

In 2019—one of the most exceptional vintages the region has ever seen—Frescobaldi tapped their very best vines to make this world-class 2019 Riserva, which has been aging patiently in the cool Frescobaldi cellars since bottling.

Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi is one of the most venerable groups of wineries in Italy. And as Ornellaia is their flagship estate in the Maremma, CastelGiocondo is their jewel in Montalcino. According to Wine Enthusiast, the extraordinary Brunello produced at CastelGiocondo “delivers a modern touch to a territory steeped in tradition.”

The property dates back to medieval times, and under Frescobaldi stewardship, it has been meticulously restored and developed into one of the premier producers of Brunello di Montalcino. It’s characterized by its privileged southwest exposure and elevation ranging from 300 to 400 meters above sea level. 

These are optimal conditions for cultivating Sangiovese Grosso, with cooling breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea and significant diurnal temperature that elicit a gorgeous balance of ripeness and vivacity in the grapes. The soils are predominantly galestro (schistous clay) and alberese (limestone), interspersed with marine fossils that contribute to the wines' elegant minerality and structure.

The result is a rich, concentrated, cellar-ready Brunello that will pay dividends over the next two decades.