Sassetti Livio Pertimali

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

2012

Vintage

Varietal

Sangiovese

ABV

Peak 2025-2032

Where it is, June 2026

At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2025-2032).

In 2026, the 2012 Pertimali Riserva is in the heart of its peak window and showing the depth that fourteen years of bottle age confer on a well-made Brunello Riserva. The fruit has softened from primary to secondary: ripe black cherry and plum still anchor the palate, but leather, tobacco, mineral, and earth now dominate the finish. Tannins remain firm but no longer abrasive, vibrant acidity keeps the wine fresh. Open it now with 60 to 75 minutes of decanting and the wine is generous and complete. The peak runs through 2032, then a graceful decline through 2038.

Related vintages

The ‘12 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva.

A historically structured Pertimali Riserva from the 2012 vintage, with WS 96, JS 95, and WA 94. Drink or hold.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · at peak, 2026

Tasting note

Intense ruby red with a slow-receding garnet rim. The nose is layered and classical: dark black cherry, blackberry, and plum on the front; sweet spice, cedar, and dried rose on the back. With air, leather, tobacco, mineral, and an earthy savoriness emerge as the secondary character. The palate is elegantly structured rather than weighty: smooth ripe tannins, fresh acidity that runs the length of the wine, and a long mid-palate carrying the cherry-and-plum core forward into a savory finish. The oak is integrated as cedar and sweet spice rather than vanilla, in classical Brunello fashion. A long, mineral, persistent finish defines the wine.

The 2012 vintage

2012 in Brunello di Montalcino was a vintage shaped by extreme weather: hot summer conditions produced rich, concentrated wines with ripe fruit and freshness, with the best Brunellos showing the structure to age twenty years or more. Wine Spectator rated the regional vintage 96 (Classic) and quality_tier exceptional, calling for Drink or Hold. Pertimali's Riserva, made only in vintages the estate considers exceptional, was rewarded with 96 points from Wine Spectator (their highest mark for the wine), 95 from James Suckling, and 94 from Wine Advocate. Among the most age-worthy expressions of the 2012 Brunello vintage and a classical counterpoint to the bigger, riper interpretations of the year.

About Sassetti Livio Pertimali

Sassetti Livio Pertimali is a small, traditional Brunello producer based on the eastern slope of Montalcino, founded by Livio Sassetti in the 1970s and now run by his son Lorenzo. The estate's reputation rests on classical, structured Brunellos with a savory, mineral character that prioritizes longevity over up-front fruit. The Riserva is made only in vintages the estate deems exceptional, aged longer in large Slavonian botti, and released several years after the standard Annata. A reference for traditional Montalcino, with a small but devoted collector following.

From the cellar: pair with

Wild boar ragu with pappardelle

The Tuscan classic: the wine''s acidity and mineral spine cut the gaminess of slow-braised boar, and the cherry-and-plum core laces directly into the sauce.

Roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic

Slow-roasted lamb softens the still-firm tannins, and the herb-and-garlic crust echoes the wine''s savory cedar and rosemary notes.

Aged Pecorino Toscano with chestnut honey

Crystalline aged sheep''s cheese matches the wine''s mineral backbone and vibrant acidity; honey rounds the structure on the finish.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 62-65°F (16-18°C)
Decanting: 60 to 75 minutes if opening in 2026. By 2032, 30 to 45 minutes is sufficient.
Cellar Storage: 55°F (13°C) with 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.

Track this bottle Read the Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy 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

Is 2012 Pertimali Riserva ready to drink?

Yes. The wine entered its peak window in 2025 and is showing beautifully in 2026 with 60 to 75 minutes of decanting. The peak runs through 2032, with mature drinking through 2038.

How long will 2012 Pertimali Riserva age?

Top Brunello Riserva from a structured vintage routinely ages 25 years or more. The 2012 has been at peak since 2025 and will hold cleanly through 2032, with a graceful decline through 2038. Drink or hold.

Was 2012 a good Brunello vintage?

Yes, broadly considered great. Wine Spectator rated it 96 (Classic). Extreme summer heat produced rich, concentrated wines with ripe fruit and freshness; the best have the structure to age two decades or more. Pertimali''s Riserva is among the more age-worthy expressions.

What makes a Brunello Riserva different from the Annata?

Riserva is selected from the estate''s best lots in a vintage the producer considers exceptional, aged longer in large oak (typically 36 months minimum versus 24 for Annata), and released later. The result is a structurally bigger and more age-worthy expression of the same vineyard fruit.

Should I decant 2012 Pertimali Riserva?

Yes, 60 to 75 minutes in 2026. The wine is open but the secondary aromatics need air to fully emerge. By 2032, 30 to 45 minutes is sufficient.