Livio Sassetti Pertimali
Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
2015
Vintage
Varietal
Sangiovese
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2025-2032).
The Pertimali 2015 Brunello di Montalcino has been in its drinking window since 2023 and in May 2026 is showing in a particularly flattering phase. The 2015 vintage in Montalcino was rich and generous, and Pertimali's version is delivering exactly the opulence and complexity the vintage promised. The primary cherry and violet aromatics that defined the wine at release have been joined by earthy, mushroom-inflected tertiary notes that add depth and interest without obscuring the fruit's inherent freshness. The round tannins that James Suckling noted are now fully integrated and silky, allowing the wine to be consumed without any decanting if preferred, though an hour of air still adds aromatic dimension. The peak window runs through 2032, meaning this wine is in the heart of its optimal drinking period right now, and there is no reason to delay opening a bottle.
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The ‘15 Brunello di Montalcino.
A generous, florally-perfumed 2015 Brunello of round tannins and vibrant cherry freshness, from one of Montalcino's most respected traditional producers in the denomination's most immediately rewarding recent vintage.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Livio Sassetti Pertimali's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino pours a vivid, translucent ruby with a clean garnet rim and a brightness in the glass that signals the purity and freshness this traditional Montalcino estate consistently achieves. The nose is immediately expressive and generous: ripe but precise Sangiovese cherry leads alongside violet, strawberry, and dried rose, then gives way to a complex secondary layer of earthy shiitake mushroom, forest floor, and light spice. The 2015 vintage's characteristic warmth and ripeness are fully evident in the aromatics without any sense of overripeness or cooked fruit. On the palate, the Pertimali 2015 delivers the full-bodied, complete experience that makes this vintage one of Montalcino's benchmarks: ripe fruit, balanced by vibrant acidity and a structured tannic framework that is firm without being aggressive. The midpalate is layered, building through cherry and minerality before reaching a finish of considerable length with violet and dried herb persistence. The balance here is the key to this wine's appeal: richness and elegance in equilibrium, with round tannins that are integrating beautifully and a freshness that will sustain the wine's evolution well into the 2030s.
The 2015 vintage
The 2015 vintage in Brunello di Montalcino was a year of exceptional warmth and generosity, producing wines of unusual richness and completeness for the denomination. A warm, dry summer extended through a long, dry harvest, giving Sangiovese Grosso fruit of very high sugar and phenolic ripeness. The resulting wines are rounder, richer, and more immediately accessible than the preceding 2013 or 2012 vintages, with a generous palate weight and soft tannin profile that reflects the vintage's warmth. The 2015 is often contrasted with the structured, austere 2016 that followed: the 2015 is the more hedonistic and immediately rewarding vintage, delivering pleasure with less cellaring than Montalcino typically demands. For Pertimali, whose traditional style already emphasizes balance over extraction, the 2015 vintage was a natural fit.
About Livio Sassetti Pertimali
Livio Sassetti Pertimali is one of Montalcino's most respected traditional producers, farming the family estate in the northern sector of the appellation with a commitment to Brunello's classical style: long maceration, aging in large Slavonian oak botti, and patience as the primary winemaking tool. The estate's northern position contributes a characteristic freshness and aromatic precision to wines that are nonetheless richly structured and age-worthy. Pertimali wines are consistently elegant rather than extracted, positioned among Brunello's finest traditional producers alongside names like Giacomo Conterno and Biondi-Santi.
From the cellar: pair with
Bistecca alla Fiorentina with rosemary-infused olive oil
The classic Tuscan pairing: the steak's iron character amplifies the Pertimali's cherry-violet core, and the rosemary complements the wine's dried herb finish naturally.
Porcini mushroom risotto with aged Pecorino
The mushroom's umami depth and the Pecorino's sharp saltiness mirror the wine's shiitake-earthiness tertiary notes and provide a vegetarian pairing of genuine sophistication.
Lamb chops with olive and caper tapenade
The round tannins of the 2015 Pertimali find a natural foil in lamb's gentle gaminess, while the olive and caper tapenade adds a Mediterranean brininess that complements the northern Montalcino freshness.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 17-19C / 63-66F
- Decanting
- Pour directly or decant for 30-45 minutes. The 2015 Pertimali is in its prime and fully accessible, with round, integrated tannins that do not require the aggressive decanting of younger or more structured Brunellos. An hour in the glass from a careful direct pour is equally effective.
- Cellar Storage
- 12-14C / 54-57F
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.
More from Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Frequently Asked
Is the 2015 Brunello vintage better than 2016?
They are different rather than one strictly better than the other. The 2015 is more generous, round, and immediately rewarding; the 2016 is more structured, precise, and built for longer aging. For current drinking, many prefer 2015; for the cellar, 2016.
Is this Brunello ready to drink now?
Yes, the 2015 Pertimali is in its prime drinking window right now. The peak runs through 2032, but the wine is showing beautifully in 2026 with minimal preparation.
What is Pertimali's winemaking approach?
Livio Sassetti Pertimali follows the classical Brunello tradition: long maceration with Sangiovese Grosso, aging in large Slavonian oak botti for several years, and no intervention beyond what the wine requires. The result is elegant, complex, and age-worthy Brunello of the traditional school.
How does the northern Montalcino location affect the wine?
The northern sector of Montalcino has sandy, galestro-rich soils and higher elevation than the southern zones, producing wines of greater aromatic freshness and more linear structure compared to the richer, more powerful wines from the warmer southwestern sector.