Altesino is an estate winery situated in Località Altesi in the far north of the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG in the Montalcino region of Tuscany, Italy. It produces Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Sant’Antimo DOC.
The original building is a 15th-century country house. Altesino’s winery was founded in 1970 after Giulio Consonno bought the then vine-less estate (he also developed the nearby Caparzo estate). Consonno was a Milanese businessman who owned the children’s clothing company Prénatal. Consonno invited Sergio Rossi to work on both the Altesino and Caparzo projects, and the latter subsequently created his own estate, La Gerla. Consonno developed the concept of site-specific or ‘cru’ Brunello via the Montosoli bottling, and also produced the first Grappa di Brunello. There was also a stud farm breeding Arabian horses. After Consonno died his son took over but, not being into wine, sold both Altesino and Caparzo to Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini in 2002. Elisabetta also owns Borgo Scopeto in the Chianti Classico DOCG and Doga delle Clavule in the Morellino di Scansano DOCG in the Maremma.
Staff: Assistant director: Guido Orzalesi. Under Giulio Consonno the staff comprised Claudio Basla (Director), Angelo Solci and Pietro Rivella (winemakers).
Terroir: Altesino is located in the Castello Altesi sub-region just inside Montalcino’s northern boundary and has vines both there (where the winery is also located) and in other areas of the Montalcino zone.
Vineyards : 2015 44 hectares (109 acres) of vines on five sites in four areas in Montalcino.
1) Castello Altesi, Altesino: These are the original vineyards, directly below the main building (the palazzo) and winery at Castello Altesi. Around 250 metres (820 feet). | 2015 17 hectares (42 acres). Mainly Sangiovese, plus 1,80ha of Merlot and 2,50ha of Cabernet Sauvignon.
2) Castello Altesi, Macina: The Macina vineyard is close to Altesino’s winery vineyard above, but slightly lower lying. 9 hectares (22.2 acres). 100% Sangiovese.
3) Montosoli: 2015 5 hectares (12.35 acres) of Sangiovese on Montosoli at 350 metres (1,180 feet) (Source: Laura Pinarello).
4) Sant’Angelo in Colle: 2015 Altesino’s Pianezzine vineyard near Sant’Angelo in Colle in the south of Montalcino comprises 6.5 hectares (16.05 acres) of 100% Sangiovese. It is south-west facing, and is between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate.
5) La Velona: As its name suggests this vineyard is in Località La Velona near Castelnuovo dell’Abate in the warmer, far southeast of Montalcino. It comprises 6.5 hectares (16.05 acres) of 100% Sangiovese at an altitude of around 220 metres (feet).
Winery: Underneath the main building (palazzo).
White wines
Bianco di Montosoli: Made unde Basla.
Red wines
Toscana Rosso IGT, Alte d’Altesi: 1999 Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Toscana Rosso IGT, Borgo d’Altesi: 1999 Cabernet-dominated.
Toscana Rosso IGT, Quarto d’Altesi: 1999 Merlot.
Toscana Rosso IGT, Palazzo d’Altesi: 1999 Sangiovese-based.
Rosso di Montalcino DOC: 2002 Smoky oak plus some corky notes, sweaty fruit (Landmark Hotel 2004). | 2003 Clean international style, cleaner than previous vintages, but light and dull (Anteprima 2005). | 2011 At the consorzio with Ian d’Agata Tuesday 28th May 2013: Bright crimson, plenty of ripe fruit in an immediate hard to resist style. | 2018 40,000 bottles.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Altesino: 2009 14.0%. Very ripe red fruit showing noticeable evolution – cedar notes – but with appealing, direct richness, a juicy mouthful with a twist of new wood. Drink whilst its exuberance remains in the ascendant (Consorzio 27th May 2014 with Ian d’Agata and others). | 2015 120,000 bottles.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Our 40th Harvest: 2012 Our 40th Harvest.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Montosoli: Altesino’s flagship, a single site wine from vines in the nearby Montosoli sub-zone. North-north-east facing. Altitude is from 300-340 metres. | 1990 This “redefines what Sangiovese can be in Tuscany,’ James Suckling wrote on the 1990 Montosoli in ‘Brilliant Brunello’, Wine Spectator Oct, 31, 1995 p.33. | 1993 Bottled. | 1995 Bottled. | 1997 Bottled. | 1999 Sweaty and loose, but above average (Landmark Hotel 2004). | 2000 Aged in large botti. Fizzy and stinky (Anteprima 2005). | 2009 14.5%. Odd cabbage nose, short, bit green and not very typical at Col d’Orcia 24 June 2014. | 2011 14.5% alcohol. 15,000 bottles. | 2015 15,000 bottles.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva, Altesino: 1997 Produced. | 2006 Produced.
Contact
Altesino
Loc. Altesino n. 54
53024 Montalcino (SI), Italy
Tel+39 0577.806208 | Website: www.altesino.it