We are proud to be the exclusive distributor for Jacobo Biondi Santi's latest venture in Tuscany's Maremma region, Castello di Montepo.
Biondi Santi's legendary status in Brunello di Montalcino have made them among the region's very best benchmarks. Their contribution towards the founding of this appellation, their winemaking styles, and viticultural zones etched into the rich history, inspiring legions of growers to follow their path.
Clemente Santi’s early experiments with Sangiovese Grosso, known locally as Brunello, laid the foundations for the wine’s birth, coining the name Brunello di Montalcino. Ferruccio Biondi-Santi, his grandson, would later build upon these experiments by being the first to vinify a 100% Brunello wine, straying from the more common approach at the time to ferment grapes of different varieties, colors and clones together.
The exclusive Sangiovese Grosso BBS 11 trademarked by the Biondi-Santi family was a result of many years' research from 52 blends to select the most suitable clone from their family sites.
It was their discovery that Brunello grown from high altitudes on rocky galestro soils combined with extended fermentation and skin maceration would result in powerful, concentrated wines that displayed incredible aging potential, especially when aged in oak casks. This set the stage for the requirements for the DOCG for which the family helped to lay out, and also heavily influenced the winemaking styles throughout Montalcino and Tuscany.
Now more than two centuries later, with Brunello Montalcino and their family wines a global superstar, sixth-generation family member Jacopo Biondi Santi has set his sights on a new challenge in the coastal region of Tuscany’s Maremma, just twenty miles south of Montalcino.
He purchased the Castello di Montepo estate, an 11th Century castle on the region’s hilltop centre, in the 1980s with a vision to expand into the region. Once described by Monica Larner MW (Robertparker.com) as a "postcard-perfect medieval fortress", and the "most visually impactful castle in Tuscany" that is "positioned regally like a crown on the crest of a hill", this estate, located approximately 15 minutes north of the town of Scansano, consists of undulating hills, nestled within beautiful forests that surround the property. With no other vineyards in sight, Jacopo comments that an estate like this is "something you don't really see in Piemonte or Montalcino anymore", and we can hardly agree more.
Castello di Montepo is an 11th Century castle situated on the hilltop centre in the town of Sansano, Maremma. Jacopo Biondi Santi purchased this estate in the 1980s, noting that the terroir was perfect for their exclusive BBS 11 clone.
After years of studying the rich terroir, he planted and expanded his vineyard holdings to over 600 hectares, finding the perfect home for their proprietary Sangiovese Grosso BBS 11 (short for Brunello Biondi Santi), a clone identified and trademarked by the family, becoming the one and only producer to name their own clone.
To fully focus on this exciting new venture, Jacopo and his son, Tancredi sold the last of their family shares at their eponymous Brunello estate to Paris-based EPI group in 2019. It is here at the Castello di Montepo estate that Jacopo pioneered the first microzonal study in Tuscany of 55 out of 600 hectares owned by the family. This enabled him to identify and delineate three specific sites - Maceone, Poggio Ferro, and Fontacanese - to plant their exclusive clone. Tancredi describes this project as "a unique endeavour in Tuscany that aims to reflect the importance of the land in winemaking as well as the incredible role it plays in producing a fine wine that speaks of the place it comes from".
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The Cru project was the result of a pioneering microzonal study of 50 out of 600 hectares owned by the family, culminating in the birth of their three single site expressions - Maceone, Poggio Ferro, and Fontacanese
At no more than 1 hectare each, these individual sites showcase the diverse terroir of Maremma's coastal climate, with the revolutionary approach to delineating vineyards through a microzonal study a first for the region. When we first tasted the wines with Tancredi, he discussed how his father Jacopo had long wanted to conduct this study in Brunello di Montalcino, yet was turned down by the local governing body. Now with this new project in Maremma, he has finally been able to complete his vision, and once again become a pioneer for the emerging region. Only 3,000 bottles of each Cru are produced yearly - far less than what their former estate in Brunello di Montalcino produces even for their Riserva!
Currently the estate has only released 2 vintages of this new Cru project thus far, the 2019, and the 2020s, the former inaugural vintage of which we are proud to bring into Hong Kong for the very first time. And in this short time, they have already been met with critical acclaim, with the 2020s receiving top scores from Jonathan Cristaldi of The Tasting Panel magazine, a testament to the bold vision of Jacopo Biondi Santi whose careful balance of traditional know-how and modern innovation will surely lead the way for Maremma to also become one of the top fine wine regions in Tuscany and Italy.
Castello di Montepo di Jacopo Biondi Santi Maceone 2020
100% Sangiovese Grosso BBS11
Spicy, fresh, wound up, and complex with
brooding aromas and flavors of Bing cherry, black raspberry, and sappy cedarwood dusted with ground espresso bean plus hints of toffee
and charcuterie. Super dense on the palate, where granulateci, chewy tannins that are firm and even chocolaty meet notes of dried sage,
cardamom, tart cranberry, tangerine peel, earth, truffle, and licorice. With energy to spare, this wine is ready for long-term cellaring.
100 Points - Jonathan Cristaldi, Tasting Panel
Castello di Montepo di Jacopo Biondi Santi Fontacanese 2020
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon shows remarkable compactness and tightness, offering
tantalizing hints of its potential. Alluring blackberry, raspberry, and plum intertwine with high-toned herbal notes that crackle with
vibrancy. Elegant cedarwood and nuances of dark chocolate further enrich the medium- to full-bodied palate, while juicy, vivici fruit
character imparts a delightful sweetness reminiscent of freshly picked blackberry and juicy cherry. The impressively sculpted tannins are like long beams, exhibiting a slightly sappy quality, while flavors of black truffle, black tea, and tarragon add depth. Power and precision are on display throughout.
98 Points - Jonathan Cristaldi, Tasting Panel
Castello di Montepo di Jacopo Biondi Santi Poggio Ferro 2020
100% Sangiovese Grosso BBS11
Bing cherry, pomegranate, and blood orange mingle with white pepper and black truffle on the nose. The medium-bodied palate shows power and force-robust tannins are super fine-grained, and the density of the fruit weighs on the midpalate, infused with crushed cocoa nibs and dried rose petals; balanced acidity contributes levity and length. With tremendous staying power, this statuesque, radiant showstopper is cellar-worthy.
99 Points - Jonathan Cristaldi, Tasting Panel
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