Castello Banfi

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Lying in Tuscany's Siena hills to the south of Chianti, Montalcino is home to the world-famous Brunello di Montalcino wine. This premium DOCG red is made solely from the Sangiovese grape. It is typically a full-bodied, tart and tannic wine in its youth and requires long aging to soften and reveal its sumptuous flavors of cherry, potpourri, strawberry and coffee bean. Montalcino has one of the warmest and driest climates in Tuscany, and winemakers benefit from its wide variety of soil types. Today, Brunello di Montalcino wines fall into two camps—traditional and modern—depending on how the wines are vinified and aged. Either way, they are nearly always worth the wait! The DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) classification is the top tier for Italian wine classifications. It controls production methods and wine quality. Strict rules oversee the production of DOCG designated wines, including allowed varietals, winemaking procedures, barrel and bottle aging methods, grape ripeness and limits on grape yields during harvest. DOCG wines are also required to be officially tasted. DOCG bottles have numbered government seals across the neck of the bottle to prevent forgery.