Just wanted to take a moment to get to know our Mastrojanni wines a bit better this week. Back in 1975, Gabriele Mastrojanni saw something in Castelnuovo dell’Abate - a rather unpopulated area at this time to the southeast of the burgeoning Montalcino center. Among its undulating hills, cut as it were by the River Orcia, sheep and ghost town castles speckled its woodsy landscape. But Gabriele knew good vine land. And that was enough for this Roman lawyer to buy up some land and plant some vines. He purchased San Pio and Loreto estates.

Turns out, he was right. In a wine world that is increasingly more interested in the way that site informs identity, the conversation about Brunello is changing quickly. While sub zones aren’t set in stone, they are becoming increasingly more dominant in the conversation about Brunello. While some of the oldest and most influential still hug Montalcino’s core, Castelnuovo dell’Abate is no doubt one of the darlings in the wings.

Only 6 miles to the southeast of Montalcino, unique geographical features impact Castelnuovo dell’Abate's micro-, meso-, and macro-climate. Though warmer in some ways than those in Montalcino, the river moderates this intensity. Further more, Montlacino’s ridge works to protect this area from the summer’s fiery maritime winds. Mount Amiata reinforces the climate here by pushing down cooling air in the growing months and acting as a shield to divert storms and minimize hail in this particular area compared to others. Most vineyards exists between 850-1475 feet and experience a grateful diurnal shift in the evenings (sometimes as much as 20 degrees C), allowing for beautiful acid development, round supple tannins, and well formed phenolic structure.

Finally, the soils are remarkably diverse in this area, which further sets it apart from some of its neighbors where parcels a little more homogenous. It is largely gravel rich clay over a limestone bedrock. The winery explains: "The vineyards look to the south, south-east, some to south-west. The woods and steep rocks are dispersed like leopard spots. Each has its own geological characteristic: those to the south-east have more clay and tuff with sandstone inserts. The river conglomerate with limy pebbles can be found in the south and south-west facing vineyards” Even Tuscan wine writer Kerin O’Keefe comments that in this region, “the multifaceted soils of different geologic epochs impart layers of complexity.” The uniqueness of this area has compelled O’Keefe to remark the wines of Castelnuovo are distinctively “elegant and powerful” in a lineup.

Andrea Machetti came on as head winemaker in 1992 and is still there today, despite the fact Gabriele has long since passed as has his own son. When his son passed in 2008, Francesco and Riccardo Illy (yep - the Italian coffee folks) scooped it up and helped improve it in all the right ways under Andrea’s guidance. They converted to organic viticulture, improved sorting process, upgraded fermentation and aging vessels, and generally worked to achieve higher quality through better vineyard management. They stand out as leaders in this area producing beautiful, traditional Sangiovese in harmony with nature and guided by sense.

Here’s what we have! Be sure to share some more information with your customers if they are less familiar with these wines… The 15s and 16s promise pretty incredible concentration and age worthiness for those seeking some wines to cellar.

Mastrojanni Rosso di Montalcino 2019 - 7 months 54 hL Allier oak, 3 months in bottle

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 2016 - 36 months 16/33/54 hL Allier oak barrels, minimum 6 months in bottle

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 'Vigna Loreto’ 2015 - 36 months 16/33/54 hL Allier oak barrels, minimum 6-8 months in bottle. This single vineyard is defined by pebbles and limestone, giving it a more powerful, long-lived expression.

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 'Vigna Loreto’ 2016 - 36 months 16/33/54 hL Allier oak barrels, minimum 6-8 months in bottle. This single vineyard is defined by pebbles and limestone, giving it a more powerful, long-lived expression.

Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino 'Vigna Schiena d'Asino’ 2015 - This comes off one hectare of the oldest vines. Intensely aromatic with great depth. 42 months in 16hL Allier oak barrels. 12 months in bottle.

MMMMMM...Mastrojanni...