Castelnuovo dell'Abate estate founded in 1975 and acquired by the Illy family in 2008. The Vigna Loreto and Schiena d'Asino crus are among Montalcino's most idiosyncratic Sangiovese expressions.
Signature wines: mastrojanni-vigna-loreto, mastrojanni-brunello-di-montalcino, mastrojanni-schiena-d-asino
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2016), Vinous 95 (2016)
Address: Podere Loreto e San Pio, 53024 Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Montalcino, Siena, Italy, Tuscany
Renaissance villa estate at Sant'Angelo in Colle dating to 1580. Wine Spectator named the 2018 Brunello its Wine of the Year for 2023 (95 points), the first Italian wine to claim that ranking in two decades.
Tasting: Cellar tours, tasting flights and the Casa di Argiano dining experience at the Renaissance villa.
Signature wines: argiano-brunello-di-montalcino, argiano-vigna-del-suolo, argiano-solengo
Scores: Wine Spectator 95 (2018), Wine Advocate 93 (2018)
Cinzano family estate at Sant'Angelo in Colle, 145 hectares of vines under one of Italy's largest organic conversions (certified ICEA 2013). Poggio al Vento Riserva is the historic cru.
Tasting: Estate tours, cellar visits and tastings by reservation; one of the largest organic-certified estates in Italy.
Signature wines: col-dorcia-poggio-al-vento-riserva, col-dorcia-brunello-di-montalcino, col-dorcia-olmaia
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2015), Vinous 95 (2016)
Renaissance villa estate at Sant'Angelo in Colle dating to 1580. Wine Spectator named the 2018 Brunello its Wine of the Year for 2023 (95 points), the first Italian wine to claim that ranking in two decades.
Tasting: Cellar tours, tasting flights and the Casa di Argiano dining experience at the Renaissance villa.
Signature wines: argiano-brunello-di-montalcino, argiano-vigna-del-suolo, argiano-solengo
Scores: Wine Spectator 95 (2018), Wine Advocate 93 (2018)
Cinzano family estate at Sant'Angelo in Colle, 145 hectares of vines under one of Italy's largest organic conversions (certified ICEA 2013). Poggio al Vento Riserva is the historic cru.
Tasting: Estate tours, cellar visits and tastings by reservation; one of the largest organic-certified estates in Italy.
Signature wines: col-dorcia-poggio-al-vento-riserva, col-dorcia-brunello-di-montalcino, col-dorcia-olmaia
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2015), Vinous 95 (2016)
Montepulciano estate acquired by Belgian shipowner Virginie Saverys in 2009 and converted to Demeter-certified biodynamics. The Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo from Sangiovese remains a benchmark of the style.
Tasting: Cellar tours, Vin Santo vinsantaia tastings and estate lunches by reservation; certified biodynamic by Demeter.
Signature wines: avignonesi-vino-nobile, avignonesi-grandi-annate, avignonesi-occhio-di-pernice, avignonesi-50-50
Scores: Vinous 95 (2017)
De Ferrari Corradi family estate at Cervognano, 16 hectares of high-density Prugnolo Gentile. The Vigna del Nocio Vino Nobile, from a single 1968-planted vineyard, is the flagship.
Tasting: Boutique cellar visits and tastings by appointment; the Vigna del Nocio single-vineyard is the estate's calling card.
Signature wines: boscarelli-vigna-del-nocio, boscarelli-vino-nobile, boscarelli-boscarelli-igt
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2019)
Off-grid solar-powered cellar at Montepulciano, certified organic by CCPB. Salco Evoluzione is the Riserva flagship; the estate publishes a carbon-footprint declaration on every label.
Tasting: Tours of the off-grid energy-independent cellar, tastings and a restaurant overlooking Montepulciano; certified organic.
Signature wines: salcheto-salco-evoluzione-vino-nobile-riserva, salcheto-vino-nobile, salcheto-rosso-di-montepulciano
Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2017), Vinous 93 (2018)
Carletti family estate founded 1961 at the foot of Montepulciano. The Asinone single-vineyard Vino Nobile, named after the donkey-shaped hillside, is among the most consistently reviewed wines of the DOCG.
Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights by appointment; the Asinone single-vineyard Vino Nobile is the flagship.
Signature wines: poliziano-asinone, poliziano-vino-nobile, poliziano-le-stanze
Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)
