Il Marroneto

Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie

Brunello di Montalcino

2020

Vintage

Varietal

Sangiovese

ABV

Peak 2032-2045

Where it is, June 2026

Too Young: holding.

As of May 2026, the 2020 Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie is in its pre-window phase, with the drinking window not opening until 2028. The wine is clearly structured for the long haul, with the firm tannin frame and bright acidity of a wine that has decades ahead of it. Tasting it now reveals the extraordinary raw material and aromatic promise of the wine, but the full expression of its terroir and aging complexity will not emerge for another six to fifteen years. Peak drinking spans 2032 through 2045, with the very finest bottles potentially lasting into the mid-2050s in ideal storage. This is a wine to purchase and commit to, not to open prematurely.

Related vintages

The ‘20 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie.

A transcendent single-vineyard Brunello of extraordinary aromatic elegance and mineral precision from one of Montalcino's oldest and most historic sites.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · too young, 2026

Tasting note

Il Marroneto's Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie is one of Tuscany's most extraordinary wine experiences: a single-vineyard Brunello from a walled garden next to the town of Montalcino, made by Andrea Machetti with an almost meditative commitment to the highest possible expression of his historic site. The 2020 is elegant and highly perfumed from the first pour, opening with red cherry, rose petal, and violet in a perfume of remarkable grace and precision. Blood orange lift adds a citrus energy that keeps the wine fresh and animated, while subtle menthol and sweet spice weave through the primary fruit, adding aromatic complexity without any sense of intervention. The Sangiovese frame is refined and classical: fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and a long mineral finish that carries the wine's aromatic precision into its close. There is nothing heavy or extracted about Madonna delle Grazie. It achieves concentration through old vine intensity and terroir focus rather than through any attempt to build the wine into something it is not. The result is a Brunello of extraordinary elegance, precision, and character, capable of aging for decades while remaining unmistakably transparent and expressive at every stage of its evolution. A defining expression of what Sangiovese can achieve on Montalcino's oldest and most celebrated sites.

The 2020 vintage

The 2020 vintage in Brunello di Montalcino was a warm but internally balanced year that produced Sangiovese of exceptional concentration and aromatic precision. While temperatures were high through the summer, Montalcino's high elevation and the Mediterranean influence of southerly winds maintained freshness in the fruit and prevented any sense of over-ripeness. The Madonna delle Grazie vineyard, located within the walls of a historical garden immediately adjacent to the town, is particularly well-suited to the warmer vintages, its sheltered position and excellent drainage producing wines of consistent elegance regardless of the season's heat. The 2020 vintage produced wines with the depth and structure to age beautifully for many decades.

About Il Marroneto

Il Marroneto is a tiny estate within the walled town of Montalcino, farming fewer than six hectares of Sangiovese Grosso from a vineyard that has been continuously cultivated since at least the seventeenth century. Owner and winemaker Andrea Machetti produces only two wines: the estate Brunello and Madonna delle Grazie, the latter from the walled historic garden that gives the wine its name. The wines are made with obsessive attention to detail and almost no intervention, reflecting Machetti's belief that the site and the grape need nothing added to achieve greatness. Production is minuscule, allocations are extremely scarce, and the wines consistently rank among Montalcino's finest in critical assessment.

From the cellar: pair with

Bistecca alla Fiorentina with grilled rosemary and sea salt

The classic Tuscan pairing: the wine's fine tannins and bright acidity cut through the richness of a thick Florentine T-bone, while the char on the meat harmonizes with the wine's spice depth.

Wild boar pappardelle with juniper and sage

The wine's elegant but firm structure stands up to the gamey richness of wild boar, and the aromatic herbs echo the wine's herbal and spice character.

Aged Pecorino Toscano with chestnut honey and fig preserves

Hard Tuscan sheep's milk cheese with sweet accompaniments brings out the wine's cherry and mineral depth while softening its tannin edge.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 16-18C / 61-64F
Decanting: Decant two to three hours if opening before 2032. After 2032, one to two hours should suffice. The wine rewards patience in both the cellar and the decanter.
Cellar Storage: 12-14C / 54-57F

Track this bottle Read the Brunello di Montalcino guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

What makes Madonna delle Grazie unique among Brunello wines?

The vineyard is located within a walled garden immediately adjacent to the medieval town of Montalcino, one of the oldest continuously cultivated sites in the appellation. The combination of ancient vines, exceptional terroir, and Machetti's minimalist winemaking produces a Brunello of singular elegance and transparency.

When should I open this?

The window opens in 2028, with peak drinking from 2032 through 2045. Opening before 2028 is not recommended unless you plan to decant for three or more hours.

Is the 2020 Brunello generally considered a great vintage?

Yes. 2020 is a well-regarded vintage in Montalcino, with wines showing excellent concentration and the structure for long aging. At the top estates, it is considered among the finest recent expressions of the appellation.

How scarce is this wine?

Very scarce. Il Marroneto farms less than six hectares, making it one of the smallest significant Brunello producers. Madonna delle Grazie is allocated only to a small number of importers globally and rarely appears on the secondary market at release pricing.