PRICE $44.99, CASE PRICE $480/$40 per bottle

When it comes to vineyard aristocracy in Montalcino, a few places really stand out and those planted atop and around Montosoli Hill are perhaps the crème de la crème of the appellation.  This free standing hill sits at the northeastern part of the appellation and its 20 hectares of vines, farmed by only six producers, have created some of the most noble examples of Brunellos ever made. And, from among those six, the Baricci family has a particular pride of place and history. Nello Baricci was the Brunello Consorzio’s very first signatory in 1967 and the Baricci winery proudly will own forever Badge #1 on the roster of Brunello producers. But Nello, himself, was hardly an aristocrat. In fact, Montalcino-born Nello was a sharecropper who began working the land at a very young age. By squirreling away a little bit every chance he could, he managed, in 1955, at the age of 34, to purchase some of the land he farmed, about 5.5 hectares of the best exposures on the hill. Producing his first vintage of Rosso di Montalcino in 1968 and his first Brunello in 1971, the Baricci name now sits alongside a very few greats as Montalcino’s most venerable and venerated properties. With the third generation of the Baricci family now at the helm, this very small cantina finds itself at the very top of its game making it a true pleasure to sit down and taste the 2022 and 2023 Rossi (the only Rosso di Montalcino labeled Montosoli). It’s perhaps too simplistic to call the delightful 2022 a ‘Baby Brunello’ but, in essence, it is. We loved the purity of the fruit and the sheer depth of a wine that, at half the price of just about any other wine coming from the hill, shows all the class and elan of a Sangiovese from Montosoli. Filled with black cherries- both fresh and dried- there is also an alpine strawberry/violet pastille aspect to the nose that also picks up plenty of dried earth, bramble and bitter chocolate. Better to call it ‘Brunello in a minor key.’ Drink it now because it is so good but I have to believe it will only add weight and gravitas as it ages. A very fine deal. 

Vinous: More savory than expected, the 2022 Rosso di Montalcino Montosoli opens with a blend of rose petals, damp earth, sage and dried strawberries. It rushes the palate with sweet cherry-berry fruits and spice, all guided by juicy acidity. This finishes remarkably fresh with a hard red candy and licorice tinge that lingers. 92 points