2019 Mastrojanni - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Vigna Schiena d'Asino (750ml)

Mastrojanni sits in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, a remote pocket of southeastern Montalcino near the ancient Abbey of Sant'Antimo, where the Illy family, of coffee fame, now owns the estate outright following a full acquisition a few years back. The property spans roughly 110 hectares, much of it left as untouched woodland, and the team has leaned further into biodiversity and biodynamic practices in recent seasons. Vigna Schiena d'Asino, named for the donkey's back shape of the ridge where it grows, is the estate's most prized single-vineyard site and its top wine, marked on the bottle by a distinctive black wax seal.

The vineyard benefits from long hours of sun exposure paired with notably cool nighttime temperatures, a combination that gives the old Sangiovese vines here exceptional depth and tension. Only a small amount of wine is produced each vintage, and true to Mastrojanni's traditionalist style, it undergoes an extended aging period in large oak casks well beyond the standard requirement for Riserva designation, allowing the fruit's structure and character to fully develop before release.

The 2019 offers dusted blackberry, sweet spice, clove, and rubbed sage, joined by cedar and a whisper of smoke. The texture is velvety and nearly creamy yet remains lively, carrying mineral tinged dark fruit and bright acidity through a long, staining finish with edgy, patience rewarding tannins. Pair it with braised short ribs, aged pecorino, or a rich mushroom based dish.