Epic 2016 Altesino Brunellos in Stock!

2016 ALTESINO – VINTAGE OF A LIFETIME!

"Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, considered the First Lady of Brunello, is the owner of the two iconic Brunello properties, Caparzo and the property we are highlighting today, Altesino. (Small amounts of the 96 point 2016 Caparzo Brunello are still available.) As expected, the 2016 Altesino Brunellos are among the most highly reviewed and best priced. Both wines, the 97 point 2016 Altesino Brunello ($59.99) along with the gorgeous and celebrated single cru, the 97 point 2016 Altesino Brunello Montosoli ($94.99), are fantastic examples of the 2016 vintage. They both are Montalcino’s finest Brunellos and among the highest reviewed ever for this iconic estate.

I was in Montalcino in Spring of 2020 (just before the lockdown!), visiting producers and at Benvenuto Brunello, tasting the 2015 and 2016 vintages. It is no overstatement that these are the greatest Brunello vintages I have ever seen, surpassing the epic 2010 vintage. I met with Elizabetta and her daughter and tasted the current releases of Altesino. They are among the best wines the estate has produced. They are easily among the best buys of this dream vintage. The critics are all in agreement on how terrific these wines are! We have limited quantities of both wines and they are now in stock at the best prices you will find in California!" – Lance Montalto, The Wine House

Remember: The Wine House has you covered for the holidays! You can shop online 24/7 for wines, premium spirits, beers, sakes, classes & events, glassware and other select accessories for enjoying your wines. The Wine House is open for walk-in customers and curbside pickup is available between 11AM and 6PM. Our store holiday hours will be 11AM to 7PM beginning Monday, December 6 until Wednesday, December 23. We will close at 5PM on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

If you would like to send your wine gift orders to multiple recipients, you can submit the Multiple Recipient Gift Order form via our website or click the template hyperlink on the order form page and email the recipient spreadsheet to us. We look forward to helping you!

Check out our CLOSEOUT wines on our website! Quantities are limited to current stock and new closeout wines are added regularly!

NOTE: Our store is open between 11AM and 6PM. When placing your order, you can select "in-store pickup" or "curbside pickup." Please see updated curbside pickup instructions below.

CHAT! If you see a chat bubble in the lower right corner on our website, a Wine House employee is ready to answer your questions. Please note that chat is only available between 11AM and 6PM, and the bubble only displays when an employee is available.

NOTE! For orders over $250, we offer Special Local Delivery
Monday - Friday to addresses up to 10 miles from the store for $10/case. Additional delivery options are also available on our website.

97 Points: "Rose, forest berry, underbrush and new leather are some of the aromas you'll find on this full-bodied red. From one of Montalcino's greatest vineyard sites, the firmly structured, elegant palate is also delicious, boasting ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, tobacco and licorice set against taut, fine-grained tannins. It's well balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2024–2036." – Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast (May 2021)

95+ Points: "Bold cherry, dried raspberry and myrtle add to the intensity and the brightness of the bouquet. The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino displays a lively and fruit-forward ensemble with an infectious and cheerful sense of energy. This is a tonic and crisp expression of Sangiovese with lifted berry aromas backed by subtle spice, tar and licorice gained over two years of barrel aging. This is a 110,000-bottle release (and a good buy for Brunello)." – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (November 2020)

95 Points: "Fresh violet, forest-floor and some pear-skin aromas, underneath brambleberries. Fresher style of Brunello. It's medium-bodied with silky tannins and a great balance between fresh-fruit and forest flavors. Drink after 2023." – James Suckling (November 2020)

95 Points: "Balsamic aromas of wild thyme, juniper, eucalyptus and pine lead off, with cherry and plum fruit at the core. There’s latent energy that’s restrained for now by the grip of tannins, yet this is lithe and nimble despite the solid structure. Best from 2024 through 2045. 10,000 cases made." – Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (March 2021)

97 Points: "Lovely sweet cherries and heather with some leather and balsamic undertones. It’s full-bodied with a velvety and lightly dusty palate. Juicy fruit and pretty orange peel to the berry character. Hints of cedar and meat at the end. Subtle and complex. Drink after 2025." – James Suckling (December 2021)

97 Points: "Packed with sweet, ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit and framed by loamy earth and woodsy notes, this red is intense, lively and light on its feet. Balanced, with firm tannins and a salty, minerally impression on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045." – Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (March 2021)

97 Point: "Rose, forest berry, underbrush and new leather are some of the aromas you’ll find on this full-bodied red. From one of Montalcino’s greatest vineyard sites, the firmly structured, elegant palate is also delicious, boasting ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, tobacco and licorice set against taut, fine-grained tannins. It’s well balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2024–2036." – Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast (March 2021)

96 Points: "The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli (with 15,000 bottles produced) is a true beauty. The wine reveals dark fruit intensity that comes forth as blackberry, plum and summer cherry. In no time, those aromas shift to the savory side of the spectrum with smoke, tar and tobacco. The results are generous and layered, offering the best of what the celebrated Montosoli cru can offer, especially in an ironic vintage such as this." - Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (November 2020)

96 Points: "The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli pulls you close to the glass with a captivating display of candied citrus rinds, incense and dried roses giving way to rich cherry sauce and a hint of brown spice. It’s deeply textural yet youthfully dense, as it first cools the palate with lavender and ripe dark red fruits; yet beneath is a layer of grippy tannins that close the wine down. Notes of licorice, black tea and purple florals linger on the youthfully chewy finale. The 2016 is just a baby today, and it will need a number of years to come fully into focus - but it will be worth the wait." – Eric Guido, Vinous (November 2020)

ABOUT ALTESINO

Near the end of 2002, Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, owner of nearby Tenuta Caparzo, purchased the Altesino winery. Today's winemaking team, led by Simone Giunti and Alessandro Ciacci, is firmly committed to maintaining Altesino’s hard-earned reputation as a Montalcino institution and a global leader in innovative winemaking.

Location of Vineyard
Amid the eastern hills of Montalcino near Siena in central Tuscany, stands the magnificently elegant 14th century-built Palazzo Altesi, home to the Altesino winery and a marvelous resort. The ancient coat of arms, carved in white Carrara marble, is still visible above the antique oak portal. The stunning Palazzo Altesi beautifully reflects Altesino’s charm and refinement.

Winemaking Philosophy
Though the worldwide reputation of Brunello has encouraged some conservatism among Montalcino estates, Altesino has always been a leader, unafraid of innovation. The estate pioneered the technique of aging its IGT wines in small French oak barrels, limiting the time spent in oak to enhance each wine’s personality. The resulting wines were a groundbreaking improvement over those produced by traditional methods. No longer overwhelmed by wood, they were able to display the unique characteristics of the fruit, with softened tannins and perfect balance.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Altesino became the first Montalcino estate to introduce the concept of cru wines, made with a special selection of grapes from a single vineyard. Its Montosoli Brunello, named after the prestigious vineyard, was the first of these wines and is still considered among the regions finest. Altesino also pioneered the concept of Brunello futures (wine purchased before its release) with its 1985 vintage. This commitment to innovation led to many modern wines in the estates portfolio, including Alte d’Altesi, Palazzo Altesi and Rosso di Altesino. Elegance, finesse, and a fruitier, richer style are the trademarks of Altesino’s wines and have earned the estate a position among the very top producers of Brunello. This achievement is even more impressive considering Brunello is perhaps the most recognized Italian appellation.

UPDATED CURBSIDE PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS (AUGUST 2021):

1. Place your online order, select "curbside pickup" and the date you wish to pick up your order. You will receive several emails. The first will acknowledge receipt of your order, another will let you know that your order is ready for curbside pickup.

2. When your order is ready for curbside pickup, it will be at the front of the store. IMPORTANT! Due to space constraints, orders will only be held in the front of the store for curbside pickup for 3 days. After 3 days, they will be moved back to Will Call by the Customer Service Desk inside the store.

3. When picking up, pull up in front of the store. There is no need to call when you arrive at the store – just roll down your passenger window and let us know the name on the order. We will put your order in your vehicle. There is no need to step out of your vehicle.