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Marinella Senatore interprets the character of Ornellaia 2021 “La Generosità”

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From 22 May to 5 June 2024, Sotheby’s will auction large-format bottles with Vendemmia d’Artista artwork labels.

The profits will support the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s Mind’s Eye program.

“La Generosità” (Generosity) is the character of Ornellaia 2021. The theme is in harmony with Marinella Senatore, an Italian artist who works all over the world, conveying the dynamics and poetics of communities. The pride and dedication of the people who make Ornellaia, inspired the artist, who designed a set of labels as unique artistic prints of the original collages, a sculpture for the Salmanazar (9 litres) and a site-specific work for the 16th edition of Vendemmia d’Artista.

In the works dedicated to Ornellaia 2021 “La Generosità”, Marinella Senatore used her artistic motifs and translated the character of the wine into a universal language. Collages and “luminarie” can be seen in the labels for the 750ml bottles, the 100 double magnums, 10 imperials and the sculpture dedicated to the one and only Salmanazar. “I observed and studied Ornellaia at length. The energy of the natural elements, like the sea, wind and stars found here, merge with the energy of the people who work here and create correlations that are declarations of awareness: it’s human empowerment,” explains the artist.

The “La Generosità” character filters through the artist’s beloved concept of care and giving, which is where hands come into play, one of Marinella Senatore’s defining features. Outlines of the hands of the people who work every day to craft the excellence of Ornellaia were included in the collages made for the labels and become both a portrait and a feeling. Dance is another important motif. Dancing is an archetypical gesture whereby the community celebrates itself and Marinella Senatore wanted to show this ancestral movement, citing the harvest festival, through an original score and dancing figures.

Lamberto Frescobaldi, President and member of the family that owns Ornellaia, reiterates: “Our identity is based on the place, our work and being a team. The 2021 character is centred on the generosity of the land and Marinella Senatore’s interpretation revealed additional meaning: the generosity of the land creates an ecosystem, to which we all belong and it is also significant for me that the harvest celebration is part of her work.”

The light sculpture created for the Salmanazar forms the zenith of Marinella Senatore’s artistic process.

On the 9-litre bottle, the artist installed one of her famous “luminarie”, which were used in the past to unite people in temporary places defined by light and colour. The work for the Ornellaia 2021 Salmanazar is inspired by a Baroque rose window. It is made from innovative cold neon (so as not to have any heat impact on the wine) and contains no mercury out of respect for the environment. The Salmanazar also bears an important message: “I contain multitudes”, in the words of the American poet Walt Whitman. “The distinguishing phrases of my works are not based on personal taste, but on the collective. For me, it is interesting to bring together different communities connected by invisible threads.”  

Some of the 110 large formats embellished by Marinella Senatore’s art and the sole Salmanazar will be sold by Sotheby’s in an online auction held between 22 May and 5 June, 2024.

For the sixth consecutive year, the profits will be donated in their entirety by the owners Marchesi Frescobaldi to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to support the Mind’s Eye program, which increases accessibility to art for people who are blind or have low vision through multisensory exploration.  

The original collages, handcrafted by the artist, will form the site-specific work that will be added to Ornellaia’s priceless art collection. Finally, with the aim of sharing Vendemmia d’Artista with its community of collectors, in every case containing six 750ml bottles of Ornellaia 2021, one will feature a special label styled by the artist, as in previous editions.

Ornellaia 2021 is on the market since 1st of April.

Link to the auction page:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/ornellaia-vendemmia-dartista-2021-la-generosita-marinella-senatore

Brunello di Montalcino 2018, a vintage in full Biondi-Santi style

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In line with its tradition for 1 March, Biondi-Santi is marking that day with the release to market of the new vintage of its Brunello di Montalcino, in this case 2018. Accompanying it are the 2010 and 1988 vintages of La Storica, true oenological monuments that by definition must spend an additional minimum of ten years in the winery cellars after their first release. Such Riservas rest in the special La Storica cellar that preserves all the bottles of the 42 Riservas produced from 1888 to date, constituting a library that is both literally and figuratively priceless.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018

The 2018 harvest, overseen by the team helmed by Federico Radi, concluded a growing season marked by cool weather and plenteous rainfall over the entire growth cycle, and a summer with below-average temperatures. Harvest started on 16 September and continued off and on for a total of eight days. The last few days benefited from the northerly tramontana, a cool dry wind that helped dry the clusters. The result was a fragrant Brunello di Montalcino, energy-laden yet refined and balanced as well. Its moderate alcohol is already evident on the nose, which boasts an impressive spectrum of fragrances as well, ranging through dried wild herbs, sweet violets, orange zest, wild berryfruit, morello cherry, and inebriating mint. On the palate, it is simply delicious, succulent, and easy drinking, yet at the time fully capable of significant ageing, thanks to its vibrant acidity. 

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 1988 AND 2010

The Riserva 2010 is an extraordinary vintage that boosted Montalcino into the group of world-class growing areas. Its monumental tannins ensure decades of longevity, but it is at the same time approachable and enjoyable even now. The hallmarks of this particular Riserva are its depth, intensity, and firm structure, but well within the stylistic parameters of a Biondi-Santi. An explosive nose releases dark berry, pungent earth and forest floor, medicinal herbs and tanned leather, plus a touch of spice—star anise and white pepper. On the palate, all components are well-knit, with a fine harmony of powerful concentration, finesse, and vigour, powering through to a notably lengthy finish. Still austere, severe even, it shows every sign of an extremely impressive longevity.

The Riserva 1988 vaunts incredible fruit on the nose—after all these years!—segueing into tanned leather, forest floor, menthol, and blood orange. Supple, refined tannins are completely integrated yet still noticeable and make their contribution to the overall vitality of this wine. The acidity is high on the WOW scale, electric and dynamic, and is certainly one of the factors that has kept this wine so youthful-feeling despite its age. A note of sea brine adds to the depth and vibrancy of the finish. Riserva 1988 is a wine that will electrify lovers of evolved wines marked by ethereal, delicate yet elegant finesse.

LA VOCE DI BIONDI-SANTI 2024

RESPECT. Heritage. Earth. Identity.

The third edition of La Voce di Biondi-Santi accompanies the release of Brunello di Montalcino 2018 and the second release of La Storica. To access the listening experience of the new contents, both audiobook and podcast, simply use the QR code on the neckband on the bottle of Brunello di Montalcino 2018.

The theme selected by Biondi-Santi for 2024 is RESPECT.

“Everything we do here at Il Greppo springs from this value,” commented Biondi-Santi CEO Giampiero Bertolini. “Respect for the history of Biondi-Santi and the heritage that is part and parcel of that history. But for our growing area as well, of which we are respectful stewards, and for all the unique qualities of our terroir. Respect for individuals, obviously, whether they are part of our estate team or our partners across the globe. And for our loyal consumers, who can rely on wines that have never deluded expectations, thanks to the trusted character of our Brunello di Montalcino, fruit of 150 years of attention to detail. While we are preparing for the future and confronting the challenges of the present, respect is the principle that guides us in doing the best for our winery, for Montalcino, and for all who love our wine, those who know that they can rely on a wine of extraordinary longevity.”

The value of “Respect” inspired as well the new audiobook, La Corona (The Crown), by Joanne Harris, celebrated international author, screenwriter, and librettist, named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.

La Corona is a succession of brief stories spoken by voices within the framework of a fairytale-like narrative charged with a fantastical atmosphere with traces of the author’s best-known book, Chocolat, the best-seller that inspired the popular film of the same name, even though La Corona’s most explicit reference is to The Thousand and One Nights.

A king, who is about to inherit the crown of his deceased father, who for more than a half century

as king had been loved and respected by everyone, feels unequal to the responsibility he is to inherit. So, he asks courtiers, nobles, and common folk how his father had won such deep respect from everyone. The replies, which are recounted, provide the king with a definition of respect and the concrete ways that respect is demonstrated that is so broad, diverse, and variegated that he comes to realise that the only way to understand it is to perpetually go in search of it. 

Neri Marcorè recites the story in the Italian version, and Tomas Arana the English.

Four conversations that make up the podcast explore the theme of respect through personal interpretations of as many speakers. CEO Giampiero Bertolini expatiates on “Respect history by talking about the future,” and Technical Director Federico Radi explains “The historical vineyards, our treasure-box.” “We can’t control nature,” is the theme by yachtsman Giovanni Soldini, selected by Biondi-Santi as this year’s Kindred Spirit, and author Joanne Harris talks about her personal experiences at Biondi-Santi in her “Respect is a reciprocal value.”

BIONDI-SANTI

The first use of the word ‘Brunello’ dates back to the mid-19th century, when Clemente Santi won a prize for his ‘vino scelto,’ made entirely from the Sangiovese Grosso variety grown on his land in Montalcino. In 1888, his nephew, Ferruccio Biondi Santi, produced the first wine officially known as ‘Brunello di Montalcino.’  Since then, the Biondi-Santi name has been synonymous with excellence and is one of the world’s leading lights in the ‘Made in Italy’ movement, loved by both collectors and the most respected wine critics.

In 2017, Christopher Descours’ acquisition of Biondi-Santi opened a new chapter in the company’s story with the introduction of important research and development projects both in the vineyards and the winery. These projects aim to further build on the excellence that has always been associated with this producer.

La Generosità (Generosity), the essence of Ornellaia 2021

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A delicately balanced light-filled interpretation of the sun and sea, translating the land that gives everything to its vines.

The mild climate and rainfall of early-mid 2021 allowed for adequate water reserves to build in the lands of the Ornellaia estate. Precious water returned to the vines during the hot summer months that had almost no precipitation.

“It’s precisely the generosity of our soils, together with the meticulous work of the team in the vineyard, that has led to a harvest of healthy grapes with great qualitative potential,” stated Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of Marchesi Frescobaldi. “To reflect this giving land, La Generosità (in english Generosity) is the character chosen to reflect the essence of Ornellaia 2021”.

Marco Balsimelli, Production Director at Ornellaia, detects the essence of the vintage in the glass: “Ornellaia 2021 is a very expressive and complex wine. With hints of Mediterranean scrub, juniper berries, and with classic aromas of blackcurrant, there’s a notable density and a fleshy tannic texture that fills the palate with precision, length and flavour.”

Cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this Bolgheri Rosso Superiore DOC translates the essence of the vineyard parcels it comes from, but it does so with its own personality. In tune with the trait of this year, Ornellaia 2021 embraces tasters with magnificent sensations. Persistent and vibrant, it brings with it an aromatic freshness and elegance that makes it irresistible for enthusiasts and collectors.

The renowned Italian artist Marinella Senatore was invited to interpret the character “La Generosità” (Generosity) for the Vendemmia d’Artista project, choosing to portray the theme through the medium of collage.

Ornellaia 2021 debuts on the market on 1st of April, with every case of six bottles of the vintage (0.75 l bottles) enhanced by one artistic label.

Siddura: the virtues of heritage

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Situated near the medieval, picturesque little village of Luogosanto, Siddùra can be. described as the heart of the Gallura. Here the noble culture of wine is as old as the history of the people who have inhabited this land over the centuries. To renew this antique tradition gives a historical dimension to our lives and daily toils. It fulfills our dream of creating something unique and extraordinary of these ancient roots. We are grateful for being so lucky.

The soil of the Siddura vineyards consists of a mixture of granite, sand and clay. Being loose and dry they provide the ideal conditions for viticulture, where vines give best results when suffering “hunger and thirst”. Mild temperature swings, a ventilated climate and optimal sun radiation, due to the gentle slopes, help to preserve and enhance the organoleptic character of the fruit. Our aim is to produce wines which can be closely identified with their Terroir.

Particular climatic conditions combined with soils of exceptional quantity are fundamental components of great wine. Various kinds of cultivation, meticulous supervision of the vines as well as low yields provide for unique, well-balanced and elegant wines.

The wine cellar, situated at the center of the vineyard is a subterrenean structure with natural insulation resulting from its location. Here the entire production chain takes place, starting with the grapes and ending with the bottling. We favor spontaneous fermentations and use diversified types of containers, like cement tanks, oak barrels. We regard it as our mission to respect and enhance the quality of the product, donated to us by Nature and enriched by our intellectual and professional skills.

BÀCCO

Their Carignano, comes from the most vocated area in the Region of Sardinia for this vine, introduced by the Phoenicians around the 9th century B.C. and then spread in Roman times in the south-west of the island. The wine’s taste-olfactory characteristics reflect those of the territory in which it originates, characterised by Mediterranean scrub, myrtle and strawberry bushes alternating with mastic tree and helichrysum. A dimension between heaven and earth that renders space indefinite and extends the gaze towards the horizon.

Intense ruby red, enveloping and complex, incipit of currants and berries in spirit, accompanied by sweet spices.
The palate is full-bodied, fruity and persistent, fading in an interplay between freshness and subtle tannic notes.

TÌROS

The region of Sardinia, with its unique scenery and enchanting landscapes, is not only a land for great red wines from indigenous grapes, but is now also recognised for the great value of its terroir, ideal for the cultivation of both national and international varieties, capable of producing wines of extraordinary structure and elegance, such as Tìros. Grapes that the winery processes with care to obtain a harmonious and persistent blend. An important wine for long ageing, which could not be missing to complete, with its prestige, the rich range of wines produced at Siddùra.

Intense red, fine and opulent, with a complex bouquet of spicy notes, red fruits and jammy blackberries
Full and velvety, of great elegance, with soft tannins that give pleasantness, intensity and body.

MAÌA

This is their first wine born on the estate from a careful selection of the best grapes. The particular type of soil resulting from granite disintegration, together with an optimal microclimate, have contributed to making Maìa, a Vermentino that, as its name evokes, ‘tastes of Gallura’.
Straw yellow in colour. yellow-fleshed fruit and white flowers. harmonious and delicate.
Fresh and savoury, with a good balance of flavour and a bitter almond finish typical of the variety.

Marcella Caimi

Pellegrini since 1904, quality wines and spirits

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The family tradition related to wine began in the late 19th century, when Pietro Pellegrini (great-grandfather of the current owners) sold wine in his tavern at the foot of Cisano Castle. In 1904 the headquarters (still the company’s headquarters today) was built in Cisano with cellars for storing bulk wines, which was followed by the beginning of wholesale distribution in Lombardy.

The birth of the trademark “PPC – Pietro Pellegrini Cisano” dates back to that time, used to brand the estate barrels, and preserved over time as the company logo.
In the 1950s, his son Angelo (grandfather of the current generation) brought his experience to the town of Sava (Taranto), opening a branch and starting to take care of winemaking as well, with the help of his sons Gian Pietro and Emanuele.

In 1963 a farm in Montelupo Fiorentino, Florence, was purchased and a new winery built. Thus was born Fattoria di Petrognano, a winery producing wines with a strong Tuscan tradition. The wine and olive-growing business was developed and has been carried on ever since, with the same passion and dedication, by the Pellegrini family.

Inside them is a “cellar within a cellar” where the last bottles of labels that will no longer be offered for sale are placed, with the aim of building a “historical cellar” of the most important wines distributed.

WINE

Graci Etna rosso

Winery protagonist of Etna’s oenological renaissance in the name of quality and respect for identity. Located on the northern slope of the volcano, in Passopisciaro, an area of millennial winemaking tradition. The vineyards, with a density of between 6,000 and 10,000 vines per hectare, are located between 600 and 1,000 meters above sea level, part of which are planted free-range.

Only native grape varieties: Nerello Mascalese, Carricante and Catarratto. Great attention to sustainability. Cultivation of the vineyards under a certified organic regime. Very careful selections and search for full maturity by limiting yields in the vineyard to a minimum. Rigorous approach in the cellar in search of precision and finesse.

Vinification and aging take place in cement tanks, in vats and in large barrels produced with very long aging wood.
All work is aimed at indulging the personality of the vines while keeping intact the diversity and nuances between one vintage and the next, in the belief that only by indulging and respecting the natural expression of a great territory can we have wines capable of excitement.

Meme Chianti Superiore

The most widely produced wine of the Fattoria di Petrognano is Chianti in the ‘young’ type and represents 70% of the total production. Its vinification is traditional, in stainless steel, with maceration on the skins not too prolonged. After vinifying the grapes from each individual vineyard of Sangiovese and Canaiolo separately, the best containers are blended, with careful tasting. The result will form the blend of Meme Chianti docg (its name indicates the nickname given by the grandson Emanuele to his grandfather, also Emanuele).


The result is a wine for the whole meal, also excellent served chilled in summer. Exclusively in the best vintages and with part of the same lots selected, Meme Chianti Riserva docg will be aged in wood.

Elixir Pellegrini Private Stock

Barba-Turico was inspired by nineteenth-century remedies that, sold by acrobats in the squares, promised to cure everything from lovesickness to toothache. These remedies, in turn, adhered to the precepts of the Kabbalah, which provided in the number of 26 ingredients the perfect balance for the creation of an elixir of long life.

After more than a year of careful study of the laboriously recovered liquor manuals of the time, Davide Monorchio, head of the Liquors and Distillates division of Pellegrini S.p.A., analyzed hundreds of recipes and identified 26 botanicals from the Italian Alps, each known for its healing properties, to create an elixir with an “alpine” flavor.

A couple of examples? Achillea Millefoglie, in addition to being perfect for making liqueurs, was also used to treat states of anxiety and insomnia thanks to its pleasant aromatic notes. Peppermint, rich in balsamic aromas, is known in herbal treatises for its digestive virtues while Chamomile is still widely used today for its mild calming effects. Barba-Turico comes from the slow cold maceration of 26 elements including herbs, spices and roots, typical of the Italian mountains. An ancient elixir, pleasantly balsamic excellent to be enjoyed straight at the end of a meal but also served over ice.

Baffotonico is the result of the slow cold maceration of a selection of 26 berries, roots and flowers known in herbal disciplines for their stomatal and restorative virtues.
Ever faithful to the tradition of bitter elixirs, in the most literal sense of the term, Baffotonico offers itself to fans of the genre with a generous alcohol content, 33 percent vol. to maximize the aromas and flavors of all the botanical compartment used and with the addition of a very low residual sugar, the minimum necessary to create a perfect balance.

Fondo Antico, Sicilian passion

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The story of Fondo Antico and the Polizzotti-Scuderi family is rooted in the pride for their origins, the passion for the tenacious and generous Sicilian land.


We are in Contrada Portelli in the territory of Trapani with the Egadi Islands majestically watching over the 80 hectares of vineyards from the sea. A hundred years’ experience in wine-growing and an obsequious respect for their origins are combined with research, innovation, team spirit and the curiosity to venture towards new horizons, to communicate their wines and make this strip of Sicily known to the world.

From 1960, half of the annual harvest was delivered to local cooperatives, while the remainder continued to be vinified on the estate. Since 1995, all production was brought back to the family winery, under the shrewd guidance of Giuseppe Polizzotti. Thus was born Fondo Antico, whose name is a tribute to the toponym by which the locals, in ancient times, used to call the land in Contrada Portelli, where it all began.

Fondo Antico’s wine production translates into the cultivation of the indigenous grape varieties of Western Sicily such as Grillo, Inzolia, Grecanico, Zibibibbo, Nero d’Avola up to Perricone. Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah are the varieties that have been able to reinterpret, in an original and unrepeatable way, the richness and strength of the soils that characterise the Fondo Antico estate.

The soil

The Fondo Antico plots are planted on land of marine origin: the soil is in fact rich in calcareous deposits such as rock salt, gypsum, carbonates and sulphates, all of which contribute to making the winery’s wines more savoury and structured.


Two different altitudes and soil types characterise the Contrada Portelli vineyards: the vineyards at 350 m a.s.l. are planted on calcareous soil, which gives the wines more structure and elegance, without neglecting a good acidity base. While the other varieties are planted at 50 m a.s.l., on a medium-textured clay soil, which helps to make the wines more fresh and vigorous.

The harvest period runs from mid-August until mid-October, and the grapes are picked partly by machine and partly by hand. The company has also decided to adopt the mechanised method, in addition to the traditional one, because in a hot climate like Sicily’s, timeliness is very important. Separate vinification for each grape variety follows, thanks to the double receiving line.

The Wines

The wine production is composed of wines that reflect the personality of Fondo Antico. Thanks to the use of historical winemaking techniques in the Sicilian tradition, we obtain wines that are able to arouse emotions that only Sicily can transmit.


With this line goes in search of something more particular, more articulate, more exclusive, revealing monovarietal wines whose production technique is aimed at enhancing the varietal profile itself (colour, smell and taste).

Aitho Rosso

Etna Rosso DOC

A wine that reflects the great elegance and complexity of the volcano.
Colour: light ruby red.
Nose: red fruit aromas dominate (strawberry, black cherry) with hints of oriental spices and fresh balsamic hints that enrich the fine bouquet
Taste: harmonious and full, with silky tannins and an elegant finish.

Aitho Bianco
Etna Bianco DOC


Wine kissed by the sun and sea breeze.
Colour: straw yellow with green hues.
Nose: elegant bouquet with mineral notes of gunpowder, fresh citrus hints.
Taste: dry, mineral and savoury on the palate with pleasant acidity and persistence.

Bello mio
Zibibbo – IGT Terre Siciliane


A fragrant, captivating and delicate wine made from an indigenous aromatic variety, the Zibibibbo.
Colour: pale straw yellow with greenish reflections.
Nose: typical aromas belonging to the Terpenes family present themselves with notes of bergamot, citron, bitter orange, ending with floral notes of orange blossom, jasmine and dog rose.
Taste: The aromatic profile perceived on the nose is reconfirmed. The sip is full and savoury.

Grillo Parlante
Grillo – Sicily DOC


Brilliant straw yellow colour with greenish reflections. Its bouquet marries the exuberance of exotic fruit with the delicacy of white flowers.
Colour: brilliant, yellow with greenish reflections.
Nose: typical varietal aromas belonging to the thiol family reminiscent of exotic fruits, lychee, yellow peach, passion fruit together with more terpenic aromas reminiscent of white flowers or citrus notes.
Taste: full and fruity, balanced by the savouriness associated with the cultivation soils (carbonates and limestone of marine origin).

Nene’
Nero D’Avola – Sicily DOC


Nenè, to pay homage to the story “Il Mare Colore Del Vino” by Leonardo Sciascia.
A long-lived, fresh, fruity Nero d’Avola with distinct references to cherries and berries.
Colour: ruby red with violet reflections.

Nose: aromas of red fruits and cherries dominate. Dried fruits and spices enrich the fine bouquet.
Taste: harmonious and full flavours of cherry and undergrowth on the palate. The savouriness balances the roundness and makes the sip long and pleasant. It accompanies both meat and pitch dishes, especially when enriched with Mediterranean spices.

Per te
Perricone – IGT Terre Siciliane


‘Per te’ is a wine dedicated to Sicily and the Sicilian viticultural heritage, of which Perricone is an ancient expression. A vine abandoned for a long time but, with joy rediscovered.
Colour: ruby red.
Nose: the wine opens on notes of Mediterranean herbs and red fruits.
Taste: soft and enveloping on the palate, spices and Mediterranean scrub dominate the taste. Not
lacks the savouriness associated with the soils.

Badia di Morrona and its estate-defining wines

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Sangiovese VIGNAALTA, Bordeaux blend N’ANTIA, and the young Syrah TANETO

Between Pisa and Volterra, in the sensuously-contoured hills that stretch as far as Terricciola, lies Badia di Morrona, owned by the Conti Gaslini Alberti family since 1939. Theirs is the credit of intuiting that this particular growing area, with its beneficial climate and distinctive geological matrix, would offer an ideal terroir for both Sangiovese and international grape varieties.

“My father always believed,” explained Filippo Gaslini Alberti, who today directs the family estate, “that Sangiovese, Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah as well, were all necessary and complementary grapes if the full winemaking potential of Badia di Morrona were to be realised. Over the years, study of the estate terroir has enabled us to better understand which areas to dedicate to the individual grape varieties, with the result that today we are proud to have crafted three wines that interpret, each with its own distinctive voice, the original timbre of this modest corner of Tuscany.”

VIGNAALTA and N’ANTIA are Badia di Morrona’s two historic crus, a monovarietal Sangiovese and classic Bordeaux blend, respectively. “Commitment to Tuscany’s royal grape but openness as well to international noble grapes north of the Alps” were essential components of Conte Duccio Gaslini Alberti’s vision and philosophy, as well as that of the winery today. TANETO, which debuted in the early 2000s, is the latest and most creative interpretation of Badia di Morrona. “Its leading grape, Syrah, succeeds in its expression of its terroir.”   

These three reds are today the most impressive ambassadors of a wine estate fully aware of its own history, sensitive to the challenges presented by the future, and, above all, enamoured of its growing area, a  terroir still little known yet of stunning beauty and impressive winemaking qualities.

VIGNAALTA,Terre di Pisa DOC, is the estate’s most aristocratic Sangiovese and proud denomination leader. It is produced from only the finest-quality grapes from the vineyard of the same name, which, as its name implies, covers Badia di Morrona’s highest hill. The 8-hectare parcel, caressed by constant breezes, is rooted in sandy soils rich in fossil coral, testimony of an ancient seabed. From the first sip it reveals a Sangiovese that is vibrant and elegant.

N’ANTIA Toscana Rosso IGT is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot from a single parcel of the estate’s oldest vineyards—over 35 years old. These striking “wooden sculptures” enjoy a clay soil with abundant travertine fragments and yield a wine of profound, forceful character.

TANETO Toscana Rosso IGT is a Syrah-based blend from vineyards planted in soils particularly rich in fossil shells. They contribute to TANETO’s marked minerality, which in turn perfectly complements Syrah’s classic spiciness.

The grapes, harvested exclusively by hand, are quickly brought to the semi-underground, energy-self-sufficient cellar. Following fermentation in stainless steel, the three wines then take different paths. VIGNAALTA spends two years in large oak ovals, while N’ANTIA and TANETO rest in standard oak barrels for 15 and 12 months, respectively. Finally, all three refine their qualities in traditional concrete vats before bottling.

This late autumn, VIGNAALTA 2019 and N’ANTIA 2020 along with TANETO 2021 land in both the Italian and international markets.

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Badia di Morrona is located in Terricciola, between Pisa and Volterra. The heart of the estate is the ancient monastery, Badia di Morrona, dating back to 1000 AD. The iconic grape is Sangiovese, planted in more than half of the 110 hectares of vineyards owned by the estate, with the remainder in Vermentino, Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet. This viticultural wealth yields a well-integrated collection of wines, which boasts coveted crus such as VIGNAALTA and N’ANTIA, of Sangiovese and Bordeaux varieties respectively, and TANETO, the quintessence of Badia di Morrona’s Syrah. The Chianti denomination is well-represented of course, with I SODI DEL PARETAIO in both standard and Riserva versions, and the estate offers also other more everyday labels. The wine portfolio is compellingly complemented by a welcoming hospitality programme: distributed throughout the estate are large, meticulously-restructured farm residences that are perfect departure points for leisurely exploring this still little-known world in Tuscany.

Rosso di Montalcino 2020. Youthful, passionate, and profoundly Biondi-Santi.

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Biondi-Santi’s Rosso di Montalcino is a proud, independent-minded wine. It is an impressive combination of Sangiovese’s classic depth and texture with crisp fruit and easy drinkability, as well as the deep knowledge, prestigious growing area, and complex emotions of Tenuta Greppo, renowned for its introduction of the very first Brunello, in 1888, and today a hallowed spot for all serious wine-lovers. 

In the words of Technical Director Federico Radi, “Our Rosso di Montalcino is first of all the embodiment of fine balance, with its components of structure, acidity, and … time, all in ideal equilibrium. Even though it is a “youthful” wine, its undeniable elegance is the fruit of patience and of listening to nature, and thus it perfectly mirrors the Biondi-Santi style.  Our Sangiovese, grown in estate vineyards at elevations ranging between 200 and 550 metres, is transformed here into intriguing crispness and well-balanced tannins. This is a Rosso that is a textbook representative of its vintage.”

A mild winter and cool spring ushered in the 2020 growing season at Il Greppo. Summer rains, particularly in June, built up groundwater reserves invaluable during the hot, dry conditions of July and August, enabling the vines to maintain balanced growth and making possible an excellent suite of aromatic precursors in the grapes.  Harvest for Rosso started on September 9, right after some beneficial late-August rains. It matured 12 months in large Slavonian oak casks. 

Rosso di Montalcino DOC is the “entry key” to the world of Biondi-Santi, yet it is accessible to the wide public of wine consumers and is thus able to seduce even the youngest wine-lovers, delighting their palates with the maturity and fascination so quintessential to Brunello. 

Rosso is made exclusively from estate grown grapes and in a number of bottles that is proving unequal to a constantly-growing demand over the last three years, according to CEO Giampiero Bertolini.  A firm believer in the importance of the denomination, he describes Rosso and Brunello as “playing on the same team, both superb examples of an exceptional growing area, and that is why Bondi-Santi has such faith in Rosso di Montalcino.”

Rosso di Montalcino 2020 Biondi-Santi has been available in the markets for only a few weeks, released at three years following the harvest, about one year more than most of the denomination’s wines. Its bouquet offers a rich cornucopia of wild red berry fruit, sweet violets, and red roses, backgrounded by hints of citrus and appealing nuances of pungent balsam and wild Mediterranean herbs. The finest wine shops will be pleased to provide a couple of bottles, one to enjoy immediately, and the other to forget a few years in your wine cellar.

Masseto. The 2020 vintage, an embodiment of its time, makes a debut.

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While the harvest has just came to a close in the Masseto vineyard, Masseto 2020 emerges from the estate’s cellars carved into the blue clay depths beneath the vines. Now in its 34th vintage, the iconic wine remains a coveted collector’s piece among wine lovers worldwide.

A product of the homonymous vineyard that first loaned its name to the wine and then to the estate, Masseto has since become synonymous of Italian excellence internationally. The vineyard stretches across one of the hills in Bolgheri, opposite the Tyrrhenian Sea. The few hectares are split into micro-parcels that are harvested and vinified separately.

The magic of this wine lies in the distinctive soil composition that vaunts a vein of Pliocenic blue clay once concealed in the sea, which artfully governs the hydration of the vines, absorbing excess water and keeping the roots fresh and moist, even during extended dry spells. Aligned with the Mediterranean sun and constant sea breezes, these traits form the perfect conditions for a perfect ripening of the grapes.

2020 was no exception. Typified by a mild winter, a spring with normal precipitation, and a hot, dry summer, harvest at Masseto took place in mid-September after propitious rainfall with changes in temperature from day to night. “We always picked the grapes early in the morning to preserve their freshness as much as possible and the harvest ended on 16 September,” explains Gaia Cinnirella, Winemaker and Cellar Master of Masseto. The end result once more encapsulates the essential elegance of this unique place in a glass.

Having been harvested and selected with expert care and attention, the grapes were taken to the cellar, which – as well as being an architectural gem instilled with soul-stirring geometry – was designed with the best possible conditions to turn these generous natural fruits into bottles of rare prestige.

Masseto 2020 has cultivated all the characteristics of the vintage, beginning with elegant concentration. The wine is powerful on the palate with exquisite length and balsamic notes. The integrity of the tannins reveals the hallmark ageing potential of Masseto. 

Marco Balsimelli is the new Production Director of Ornellaia and Masseto

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Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja, CEO and the Ornellaia and Masseto team welcome Marco Balsimelli who, as of January 2024, will take on the position of Production Director for the two estates in Bolgheri owned by the Frescobaldi family.

Born in 1983, he studied oenology and viticulture at the University of Florence before leaving for Bordeaux, where he graduated from the prestigious Faculté d’Oenologie. He gained considerable experience in different châteaux among which Château Gruaud Larose. Since 2010, he has worked as an oenologist consultant collaborating with Eric Boissenot whose clients include many Grands Cru Classés in Bordeaux but also well-known wineries outside of France.

“We are delighted to welcome Marco Balsimelli to Ornellaia and to Masseto as part of a team of expertise and experience,” says Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja. “Every vintage of Ornellaia and Masseto is a product of meticulous day-to-day work to which dozens of people are dedicated in defining the final excellence.”

“Ornellaia and Masseto represent Italian pride worldwide and we like the idea that an internationally minded Italian will assist us in writing the next chapters,” adds Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of Frescobaldi.

“I would like to thank Giovanni Geddes and Lamberto Frescobaldi for their esteem and trust. It is an incredible honour for me to be called to be part of the team of such prestigious wineries. It is an exciting challenge,” says Marco Balsimelli. “By taking care of the smallest details and working with top professionals, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, we will emphasize the essence of this place and continue to make an important contribution to the Ornellaia and Masseto stories”.

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