2008 Rosso di Montalcino

Although Agostina Pieri is a relative newcomer on the scene the wines have rightly attracted quite a bit of attention in a short period of time. This rustic, stripped-down winery is located in Piancornello, in the southern district between Castelnuovo dell'Abate and Sant'Angelo Scalo where all of the estate's vineyards are located. Pieri's son Francesco Monaci oversees production along with gregarious consulting oenologist Fabrizio Moltard, the man behind a number of emerging producers in Tuscany, including Montepeloso. Pieri is among the producers moving towards an increased use of cask over smaller French oak barrels. I tasted all of the Brunellos and Rossos in barrel from vintages 2006-2009 and came away deeply impressed. Perhaps the most fascinating wine I tasted was the 2002 Brunello, from the worst vintage in recent memory. Though undoubtedly a small-scaled, lithe offering, the wine was fresh, intact and simply beautiful.