Brunello di Montalcino · Italy
2020 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie
Il Marroneto's single-parcel Brunello from a historic vineyard near the Madonna delle Grazie church — elegantly perfumed, long-lived Sangiovese that needs patience through 2032.
- Varietal
- Sangiovese
- Region
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Vintage
- 2020
Drinking Window
In 2026: Too YoungHolding. Drinking window opens in 2028.
Right now: In 2026, the Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie Brunello di Montalcino remains firmly sealed, with the drinking window not opening until 2028. The aromatics are present on prolonged decanting — red cherry, rose, violet, blood orange — but the mid-palate has not yet filled out to the generous, sustained expression this terroir delivers at full maturity. Peak drinking is projected from 2032 through 2045. Serious Brunello collectors should hold firmly.
Tasting Note
Elegant and highly perfumed from first pour, the nose delivers red cherry, rose, and violet with a distinctive blood-orange lift and subtle menthol that sets it apart from the more earthbound Brunellos of Montalcino's southern zones. Sweet spice builds in the background. The palate is built around a refined Sangiovese frame — fine tannins that are present but silky, bright acidity that races cleanly through the mid-palate, and a long mineral finish with a faintly saline edge. There is nothing heavy or extracted here; this is an aromatic, precise expression of the Madonna delle Grazie site that rewards time in bottle above all.
About Il Marroneto
Il Marroneto is a small estate in the northern zone of Montalcino, farming fewer than five hectares in and around the historic Madonna delle Grazie vineyard that has been associated with Brunello production since the eighteenth century. Winemaker Alessandro Mori practices traditional Brunello vinification — extended maceration on skins, long aging in large Slavonian oak casks, and minimum intervention in the cellar — with the goal of preserving the individual character of each parcel. The Madonna delle Grazie bottling represents the estate's finest selection, drawn from the oldest vines and the blocks with the greatest natural expression of fine tannins and aromatic intensity.
Food Pairings
Bistecca alla Fiorentina with rosemary salt
The high acidity and fine tannins of this Brunello cut through the fat of a thick Florentine cut while the wine's red-cherry core amplifies the meat's savory depth — a textbook Tuscan pairing.
Wild boar ragu on pappardelle
The blood-orange lift and floral aromatics of this wine provide counterpoint to the earthy richness of wild boar, while the sustained acidity keeps the pasta course vibrant through the finish.
Aged Pecorino di Pienza
The crystalline texture and grassy, lactic character of a well-aged Pecorino creates a complementary interplay with the wine's fine tannins and mineral finish that neither component achieves alone.
Service & Cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 64-66F (18-19C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, with the window not yet open, decant 2 to 3 hours if opening for study purposes only. The fine tannins will soften somewhat and the aromatic range will expand, but the wine is not at a stage where it will fully reveal itself. From 2028 onward, decant 60 to 90 minutes; at peak from 2032 onward, 45 to 60 minutes typically suffices.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
Frequently Asked
When should I open the 2020 Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie?
The drinking window opens in 2028, with peak expression projected from 2032 through 2045. In 2026, the wine is still sealed by integrated but firm tannins and high acidity that have not yet resolved into the generous, complex expression this terroir achieves at maturity. Hold firmly for at least two more years.
How does Madonna delle Grazie compare to other top Brunello single-vineyard selections?
Il Marroneto's Madonna delle Grazie is recognized as one of the reference-point single-vineyard Brunellos from Montalcino's northern zone, prized for aromatic elegance and fine-grained tannin structure rather than the concentrated power of some southern-zone selections. It sits in the same conversation as Biondi-Santi's Riserva and Ciacci Piccolomini's Pianrosso as a wine that rewards two-decade cellaring.
How long should I decant this Brunello?
Before 2028, decant 2 to 3 hours if opening for study. From 2028 onward, 60 to 90 minutes is appropriate, allowing the floral and spice aromatics to emerge gradually. At peak maturity in the 2032-to-2045 window, 45 to 60 minutes with a wide decanter is ideal.
What are the key flavors in this wine?
The wine is built around an aromatic, elegant Sangiovese profile — red cherry, rose, violet, blood-orange lift, subtle menthol, and sweet spice, all framed by fine tannins and bright acidity. The finish has a mineral, faintly saline quality that is characteristic of the Madonna delle Grazie vineyard's stony galestro soils.
Is the 2020 Brunello vintage good for cellaring?
Yes. The best wines from this season combine purity, balance, and energy from a beautifully timed September harvest. For structured, terroir-driven estates like Il Marroneto, the vintage's natural energy and fine-grained concentration are very well suited to extended cellaring.
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