Brunello di Montalcino 1971, Biondi Santi

Biondi-Santi is the royal family of Montalcino. The Biondi-Santis have been cultivating grapes and making wine here since at least the mid-1800s. In the late 1800s, Ferruccio Biondi-Santi, the son of Clemente Santi and Jacopo Biondi, isolated a clone of Sangiovese, known today as Sangiovese Grosso, and began vinifying it on its own, without white grapes, as was then the custom. In doing so, Ferruccio Biondi-Santi invented the wine known today as Brunello di Montalcino. Thus begins the modern-day history of Montalcino's most famous wine.

Biondi-Santi's Brunello won awards, was served at important state events and had gained international recognition well before most of the Montalcino estates we know today even existed. For most of the last several decades, Il Greppo was managed by, Ferruccio's grandson, Franco Biondi-Santi. It's still hard to believe that Franco Biondi-Santi, the patriarch of Montalcino, passed away in early 2013. The Biondi-Santi Brunellos are known for their sense of classic austerity, and, above all else, their ability to age. Indeed, even at 30, 40 and 50 years of age, the wines retain searing acidity and considerable tannin.

A very easy litmus test for how great a vintage year (especially very handy for very old vintages) in Brunello was is to look to see if the Biondi-Santi's made any riserva in that year. If they did, it has to be an exceptional year.

It's been a while we have been buying older Vintages of Biondi-Santi bottles, Annata and their Riserva whenever we are offered a value deal. We have bought from not so great years to magnificent vintages in Montalcino and one consistent pattern is how well the Brunello's age, Not just the Riserva but their straight Brunello's as well.

As with older bottles, it's always a challenge to get reliable tasting notes. We wrote to the winery for producer notes and the page will be updated when we have that info. If critic scores and tasting notes are your thing, and you would rather wait then hit that "add to cart" button, then we understand. We request you please drop by another day. Hopefully, we will hear from the producers soon and have something to share for your further comfort. But it is also likely there isn't much to share.

If producer pedigree, terroir and vintage are your drivers and you can live without wine critic rating, then you know you don't need to go elsewhere to look for an exceptional bottle that is coming to celebrate it's 50th anniversary.