"93+ points Wine Advocate
Argiano’s Suolo is a selection of the estate’s finest Sangiovese that is aged in small French oak barrels. The 2007 reveals gorgeous density and richness in a finely-knit fabric of red berries, flowers and French oak. Darker notes of smoke and liquorice emerge over time adding further complexity. This fleshy, extroverted Sangiovese should drink beautifully for at least another decade"
Argiano’s history dates back to 1580, when the Pecci family of Siena began the construction of a magnificent villa, complete with vast cellars. In 1967, Argiano, which is the south west quarter of the Brunello appellation, was one of the founder members of the Consorzio di Brunello. In 1992 Contessa Noemi Marone Cinzano bought the estate, and engaged the world-famous Giacomo Tachis (the creator of Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia) as consultant oenologist. Under his guidance, the Sangiovese vineyards were extended and the cellars modernised. In 2013, André Esteves, a Brazilian financier bought Argiano. Since then, he has provided funds for a massive updating of the entire estate. New cellars have been built, the villa is undergoing an extensive renovation programme and the vineyards have been mapped into six separate zones by the acclaimed Chilean terroir consultant, Pedro Parra. In consequence of the switch to organic methods, the bee population has soared throughout the estate, which covers 125 hectares, 70 of which are under vine.
The Argiano plateau is at 300m. The soil is clay, with limestone and fossils. The Brunello di Montalcino, also 100% Sangiovese Grosso (usually harvested between the end of September and the middle of October), ferments on the skins in stainless steel for 2 or 3 weeks. The malo-lactic fermentation follows smoothly on from the alcoholic. The wine is then aged in large French oak barrels of 30 months
100% Sangiovese and the ruby blood-red colour after which the grape variety is named is definitely in evidence here! Full-bodied in every sense of the word, this is a savoury, mouthwatering, unctuous wine with a super ripe quality yet it manages to remain in balance. Impressive with quite astonishing length and a real rarity.
