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Siro Pacenti has always had an eye towards the future, embracing modern developments and technology, while maintaining the rich traditions of Brunello production. He started this eponymous estate in 1970 with the purchase of a five-hectare vineyard in the Canalicchio district just to the north of Montalcino. Siro’s son Giancarlo Pacenti took the reins in 1988 and quickly established the estate as one of the leading names in the region. Trained in Bordeaux, he fuses the best of modern cellar technology with progressive farming techniques, including biodynamic practices. The aim here is to arrive at the purest possible expression of the land. Please discard any preconceptions you might have surrounding the word “modern”; these are some of the most elegant, agile, linear wines from this region you will ever taste.  

The Pelagrilli vineyard is their original holding, just to the north of the town of Montalcino, consisting of sandy clay. The vines are fertilized with compost made on-site and pollinated by the estate's very own hive of bees. Giancarlo insists on new oak for reasons of cleanliness: he emphatically does not want vanilla or clove flavors in his wines. The wood for his barrels is seasoned at least twenty years and barrels are given a very light toast. The Brunello's are bottled after 2 years in barrel to preserve freshness and avoid excessive oak influence.

2019 was a great year for Brunello Di Montalcino, Wine Spectator awarded it 98 points, claiming: "...resulted in pure, fruit-filled Brunellos that combine elegance and power; the top wines rival the best 2016s"

Aging: French oak for 24 months and then in bottle.

Sangiovese 100%.  Bursting from the glass with a blend of rosemary and spiced blood orange before evolving to show dried black cherries and hints of incense. Precise on the palate with a supple attack, full body, and a juicy yet integrated acidity. The broad, extracted tannins are dense and ripe all the way to the citrusy finish.

Black cherries, lavender, black mushrooms, lead pencil and violets on the nose. Full-bodied with a powerful and polished tannin structure that follows through to the very end. Pure, silky texture. Fascinating aftertaste of ripe fruit, yet it’s fresh and tense. Some orange peel, too. Glorious at the end. So well crafted and pointed. This needs another three to five years to integrate but already extremely impressive.~99 James Suckling

Grace and remarkable sensory beauty animate the main scene of this modern and aesthetic Sangiovese. Rose petals, pomegranate, hibiscus and karkadè make up the main profile, lime, bergamot and jasmine the secondary one. Slowly emerging from the glass are captivating nuances of lime, lemon, white pepper, chamomile, geraniums, hawthorn, talcum powder and crumbled chalk. Full-bodied, perfectly ripe tannins of splendid workmanship, thrilling in their perfect extraction and quality with fine grain and silky memories. A masterpiece wine that offers moments of deep meditation and extreme enjoyment. Certainly one of the best expressions of Brunello di Montalcino ever tasted. Best since 2026. ~98 WinesCritic.com

Polyhedric and decidedly 'wild' in the mixed floral and fruity profile showing notes of lavender, hibiscus, hyacinth, plums, pressed blueberries, white pepper, crushed chalk, guaranà, pink grapefruit and pomegranate. Medium to full bodied, concentrated and harmonic closing by tightening from the centre palate onwards in search of a notable persistency. Better from 2024. ~97 WinesCritic.com

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne is intense, bursting from the glass with a blend of rosemary and spiced blood orange before evolving to show dried black cherries and hints of incense. This flows across the palate with velvety textures complicated by tactile mineral tones and zesty acidity as cool-toned red and black fruits slowly saturate. A web of fine-grained tannins envelops the senses as the 2019 finishes dramatically long and staining, leaving traces of cedary spice and inner rose to linger on and on. This is a formidable Vecchie Vigne that will pay dividends in the cellar. ~95 Vinous Media

Bringing together fruit from Siro Pacenti’s 35-plus-year-old holdings in Montalcino’s northern and southern quadrants, Vecchie Vigne shows even greater intensity and power than the Pelagrilli bottling along with more nuance and sophistication. With a deep ruby hue, it offers a fascinating mix of grilled herbs, toasty cedar, incense and irony minerals. Deeply concentrated and full in its black fruit purity, the palate is laced with sweet herb and spice. Substantial, well-padded tannins are polished, dissolving slowly into a tactile powderiness on the long liquorice finish. ~94 Decanter

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