"Brunello Art"
The origin of the Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona estate dates back to the 17th century. Located in southeastern Montalcino in the beautiful village of Castelnuovo del Abate, it has breathtaking views of the Orcia Vally and Mount Amiata. The oldest part of the property is the Palazzo (meaning Palace), erected by Montalcino’s Bishop, Fabivs de’ Vecchis, Abbot of Sant Antimo abbey.
Over the course of time, the Palazzo became the property of the Montalcino diocese and was auctioned according to Italian law regarding ecclesiastic property.
In 1877, Francesco Ciacci, head of a Castelnuoveo-based family, purchased the property from the Church. In the mid-1900s, the historical “Palazzo del Vescovo” became known as the Palazzo Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona after the marriage between count Alberto Piccolomini d’Aragona, a direct descendent of Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II), and Elda Ciacci
.
Today, the Bianchini family owns the Estate. Guiseppe Bianchini managed the farm for the Countess Ciacci Piccolomini. He lived on the land with his family and oversaw the day-to-day operations of food and wine production. His children were born on the Estate, and grew up in the vineyards and olive groves with their father. Guiseppe was willed the property in 1985, when Countess passed without any heirs. Prior to this, the farm made wines for personal and local consumption. The Countess was never interested in making Brunello for the larger market. However, it had always been a dream of Guiseppe’s to produce great Brunello. After selling a portion of the Estate to pay for inheritance taxes, he set about farming the most perfectly situated plots of land for classic Brunello production.
Guiseppe passed in 2004. His children, Paolo and Lucia, continue to farm the land with great care and incredible results. Of the 200 hectares in Montalcino, 40 are planted to vine. They farm organically, without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Nestled at the base of Mount Amiata, the terroir is moderated by proximity to the volcano and the Orcia River. This extends the growing season and, coupled with the well-drained, rocky soils, leads to wines of great finesse, balance, and longevity. Like many of the great producers of Italy, Paolo and Lucia are modern in the vineyards, favoring low yields, using cover crops, and working the vines manually. In the cellar, the Sangiovese-based wines are classically styled, employing large oak and cement with wonderful results. The wines are quintessential expressions of place and the nobility of Sangiovese.
Across the Orcia River from Montalcino lies the DOC of Montecucco, in the province of Grosseto. In 2003, the Bianchinis acquired 12 hectares of vineyards in Montecucco where they farm Sangiovese. The microclimate of these vineyards produces wine of great intensity and balance. True to the Ciacci Piccolomini style, Montecucco Sangiovese has rich fruit, with mineral, flowers and spices, and an incredible sense of place.
From the Montalcino property, Ciacci produces two Sant Antimo wines. “Ateo,” meaning “Athiest,” is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. “Fabivs,” named after the Montalcino Bishop who erected the abbey of Sant Antimo, is 100% Syrah. Both wines are true expressions of place, with the terroir of Montalcino shining through in full force.
Of course Ciacci is best known for their eponymous single-vineyard Brunello, “Vigna di Pianrosso.” One of the most noteworthy crus of Montalcino, the wine is a force, with great power, depth, and elegance. Made only in the best vintages is the “Riserva” bottling of Pianrosso. Recent vintages include 2001, 2004, and 2006. The vintage Brunello is from entirely Estate vines, and is one of the best values in Brunello today. A classic expression of both Montalcino and Ciacci, the wine combines grace and power with a lovely drinkability.
Ciacci’s Rosso di Montalcino is a textbook example of great Sangiovese and baby Brunello. It is pure and focused with complexity and immediacy. The integrity of the wine is unquestionable. Ciacci also crafts a tremendous little IGT Rosso that offers unparalleled value. 85% Sangiovese with a balance of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, it is a perfect everyday wine.
List of wines
This
"basic"
Brunello
is
a
newer
addition
to
the
exceptional
Ciacci
line-up.
New
vineyards
came
into
production
in
time
for
the
2003
vintage,
allowing
them
to
release
a
great-value
Brunello
di
Montalcino
as
a
compliment
to
their
legendary,
single-vineyard
bottlings
from
the
Pianrosso
site.
Aged
for
roughly
3 years
in 20-85 hl
Slovenian
oak
barrels,
followed
by
approximately
4
months
for
bottle
View Technical Sheet
The
Brunello
"Pianrosso"
was
named
after
the
celebrated,
eponymously
named
vineyard
site.
This
single-vineyard
bottling
is
what
Ciacci's
outstanding
reputation
was
built
upon.
Aged
for
more
than
36
months
in
20-62 hl
Slovenian
oak
barrels
followed
extended
periods
of
bottle
refinement.
Only produced in the most exceptional vintages, the Riserva is produced from Pianrosso single-vineyard fruit and sees 4 years of aging in 20-62 hl Slovenian oak barrels, followed by 12 months of bottle aging.
Ciacci
IGT
Rosso
is
a
blend
of
85%
Sangiovese
Grosso,
with
the
remaining
15%
a
combination
of
Cabernet
Sauvignon,
Merlot,
and
Syrah.
The
fruit
is
from
young
vines
on
the
Montalcino
Estate
that
would
otherwise
go
into
Rosso
di
Montalcino
and
the
two
Sant
Antimo
wines.
A
fantastic
value,
the
wine
displays
sweet
cherry,
red
plum,
flowers,
leather,
and
a
hint
of
dusty
earth.
The
French
varietals
add
plushness
to
the
palate
that
nicely
rounds
out
the
Sangiovese.
Rosso
di
Montalcino
is
100%
Sangiovese
Grosso
from
Ciacci's
organically
farmed
Montalcino
Estate.
It
is
fermented
in
stainless
steel
and
concrete
vats
before
being
transferred
to
large
Slovenian
oak
where
it
rests
for
12
months.
The
wine
is
a
pure
expression
of
Sangiovese,
with
bright
and
rich
red
fruit,
slightly
tart
as
it
should
be,
with
earth,
dried
citrus
zest,
tobacco,
and
spice.
The
Montecucco
DOC
sits
directly
southwest
of
Montalcino,
across
the
Orcia
River.
In
2003,
Ciacci
began
producing
wine
from
this
newly
acquired
Estate.
Located
in
the
province
of
Grosseto,
this
11ha
vineyard
is
planted
on
soils
dating
back
to
the
Pliocene
Cretaceous
period.
The
terroir
is
a
chalky
clay
with
elevation
up
to
750
feet
above
sea
level.
Montecucco
is
a
Sangiovese
dominated
wine
with
10%
Merlot
and
5%
Syrah.
It
has
luscious
dark
red
and
black
fruits
with
leather,
peppery
spice,
and
a
dusty,
organic
minerality.
While
rich,
there
is
also
an
austerity
in
this
balanced
and
lengthy
wine.
This
wine
is
dedicated
to
Fabivs
de
Vecchis,
bishop
of
Montalcino,
who
in
1672
built
the
Palazzo
which
houses
Ciacci's
headquarters
and
historic
cellar.
It
is
100%
Syrah
crafted
from
vines
brought
over
from
the
Northern
Rhône
Valley
of
France.
The
"del
Conte"
vineyard
is
particularly
suited
for
the
production
of
Syrah.
The
wine
has
forward
blue
and
black
fruits,
violets,
roasted
meat,
tar,
and
pepper
with
a
volcanic-flavored
minerality.
Ateo,
meaning
"atheist,"
was
first
produced
in
the
1989
vintage.
In
this
vintage,
Ciacci
decided
not
to
produce
a
Brunello
di
Montalcino.
The
decision
coincided
with
the
first
harvest
of
Merlot
and
Cabernet
Sauvignon
from
their
Estate
vineyards.
While
it
first
came
into
existence
as
a
provocation,
Ateo
is
now
an
estate
classic.
Today,
the
wine
is
only
Cabernet
Sauvignon
and
Merlot,
in
equal
parts.
It
shows
sweet
black
cherry
and
cassis,
and
has
a
plummy
texture.
Tobacco,
vanilla,
and
baking
spices
intermingle
the
nose
and
palate.
