2016 Baricci 'Nello' Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Riserva Nello is Baricci’s most concentrated and selective interpretation of Montosoli. Produced only in exceptional vintages, it comes from the finest section of the estate’s best vineyard, described by the family as a “cru within the cru”. The wine honours Nello Baricci, who founded the estate on Montosoli in 1955 and devoted his life to establishing the hill as one of Montalcino’s great sites for Sangiovese.

The wine is made entirely from Sangiovese Grosso, the traditional Montalcino expression of Sangiovese historically associated with Brunello. Naturally high in acidity and tannin, the grape finds an exceptional balance on Montosoli. The hill’s cooler conditions extend the ripening season, while its rocky marine soils, rich in marl, quartz, schist and ancient fossils, provide drainage and give the wine its characteristic mineral definition. The Riserva reveals the grape in its most complete form.

The 2016 spends 24 days on the skins, followed by 40 months in 500-litre tonneaux. The longer maceration and extended maturation give the wine greater density and depth, while the freshness of the vintage and the mineral structure of Montosoli keep the profile precise and lifted.

In the glass, it shows a deep ruby-garnet colour. The nose is dark and layered, with black cherry, blackberry, plum, lavender, tobacco leaf, wild herbs, iron and crushed limestone. The palate is densely packed yet composed, with penetrating red and black fruit, vibrant acidity and finely woven tannins that emerge gradually rather than dominating the wine. Notes of liquorice, tangerine, earth and saline minerals carry through the long, classically dry finish.

Riserva Nello is not simply a more powerful Brunello. It is a rarer and more detailed expression of Sangiovese Grosso, shaped by an exceptional vintage, a singular parcel and one family’s intimate knowledge of Montosoli.

Perfect with the classic Fiorentina, or more complex pairings such as: raised beef short rib, roast duck with blackberries, mushroom and truffle pie, or a long-aged hard cheese.

Serve: 16–18 °C
Drink: 2025–2045