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The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona estate, whose origins date back to the 17th century, produces some of Italy’s most highly regarded wines. In 1985, estate manager Giuseppe Bianchini inherited the property from Countess Elda Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona, who had no heirs. Today, his children, Paolo and Lucia Bianchini, continue making excellent Brunellos in the tradition of their father, who died in 2004. The 85 acre estate in the prized Castelnuovo dell’Abate zone includes the famed Pianrosso site. The vineyards are located between Poggio d’Arna and the Orcia River on the southwest side of Montalcino at an altitude of 787 to 1,181 feet. Organic fertilizers are employed along with double pruning and green harvesting. The Bianchini’s own three cellars – the ancient Palazzo cellar, the main Molinello cellar and the Santo Stefano cellar, located in Montenero, which is used solely for production of their Montecucco DOC wine. The Ciacci wines all speak of flawless quality and exhibit Tuscan typicity crafted in a modern style.
| Tasting notes |
| The bouquet is intense and complex: fruit-forward, spicy, toasty, balsamic-like and lightly floral. Vibrant
notes of blueberry and sour black cherry are well integrated with scents of vanilla, cacao beans and leather. Warm, wellstructured,
balanced with firm tannins and a long finish. A Brunello that can be further refined in the bottle for years. Will likely
see a very long life! |
| Rating |
Wine Advocate 94 points (Apr 2010)
The estate’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’ Oro is rich and sensual in its layers of dark fruit. Ripe and perfumed , the wine reveals tons of persistence, great depth, fine, silky tannins and an expansive, multi-dimensional personality that emerges over time. Menthol, pine, spices and a host of other balsamic nuances swirl around in the glass, adding further complexity to the dark fruit and rounding out the wine beautifully. Readers who are patient will be rewarded with a superb Brunello. This is a terrific effort from proprietor Paolo Bianchini. Ciacci’s Pianrosso is an old-vines selection that spent 36 months in Slavonian oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
Wine Spectator 93 points (Jun 15 2010)
Raisin and dried fruitcake aromas follow through to a full body, with soft, velvety tannins. This is big and juicy, with plenty of fruit and attractive tannins. There's plenty of new wood as well. But it all comes together beautifully. Best after 2011. 1,000 cases made. –JS |
| Technical notes |
| The Pianrosso Vineyard is located in the Castelnuovo dell'Abate subzone. The vines are between 25-30 years old and planted
at an elevation of 787-1,181 feet on medium grain soil, with good levels of marl dating back to the Eocene period. The grapes
were fermented in stainless steel and glass concrete vats. Aged for nearly 4 years in Slavonian oak, followed by over 12
months of bottle aging. |
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