Bartoli Giusti Tenuta Comunali is an estate in the Montalcino region of Tuscany, Italy. Its main wines are Sant’Antimo Rosso DOC, Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The Bartoli Giusti family has deep roots in Montalcino and a long history of cultivating vineyards. Wine has been made here by the family since the 1700s, as a map found whilst renovating the cellars shows. Today the company is run by siblings Gino Antonio and Anna Maria Focacci.

Owner: Siblings Gino Antonio Focacci who is an ingegnere, and his sister Anna Maria Focacci who is an agronomist and enologist.

Vineyards: 125 hectares of land. Bartoli Giusti cultivates 50 hectares of cereals, 10 hectares of olive groves and about 20 hectares of Sangiovese (4,000-4,500 vines/ha) on hills looking towards Montalcino. The 8ha of vines are found at Località Comunali at 300-350 metres near both the town and the San Filippo estate and Patrizia Cencioni’s Solaria). There are also 4ha of vines in Castelnuovo dell’Abate plus is 1 ha near La Fortuna and Fuligni on the hill leading off from Montalcino to Buonconvento. There are no vines near the winery, see below.

Winery: The winery is located near the town at Località Osservanza (GPS Coordinates: 43.0524 – 11.5016. +43° 03′ 08″ N +11° 30′ 05″ E. It has atmospheric underground ageing cellars with vaulted ceilings.

Winemaking: Hand picked. Selection in both vineyard and in cellar.

Red wines

Rosso di Montalcino DOC: 2012 25,000 bottles. Peppery, some fizz, not great (Anteprima 2014). | 2013 19,000 bottles. Not yet bottled as they want it to finish its MLF. Anna Maria told me (Anteprima 2015) she wants the wine to do its MLF in spring. I thought this had lots of red plum jam notes and good texture (Anteprima 2015). 2014 Bright, very primary, still fizzing (Anteprima 2016).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Bartoli Giusti: Hand picked. 80hl Slavonian botti. | 2000 Light and stringy (Anteprima 2005). | 2009 47,000 bottles. Greenish nose and palate, bit thin (Anteprima 2014). | 2010 58,000 bottles. Nice, maybe a bit of funk but plenty of rich berry fruit with clear tannins and good style (Anteprima 2015). | 2011 Bit of fizz and reduction, brightish underneath, fluid, a bit dumb, simple, and green too (Anteprima 2016).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva, Bartoli Giusti: Made in the best vintages and from a selection of the best grapes. | 2008 5,000 bottles. Greenish tannin at end, bit acetic (Anteprima 2014). | 2009 1,500 bottles. Ripe and not too baked, more weight of fruit and tannin compared to the 2009 normale (Anteprima 2015). | 2010 Bit green again, simple and extracted (Anteprima 2016).

Agritourism: The The Agriturismo Tenuta Comunali farmhouse has 10 apartments of varying sizes and a small country church. Two swimming pools with a view over the Val d’Orcia. Tel+39 337.774184 or 0577.847045).

Contact

Owners’ contact details (Sede Recapito titolari): Via Cialdini 107, I-53024 Montalcino (SI = Siena), Italy. Tel+39 0577.848129

Winery (Cantina): Loc Osservanza, I-53024 Montalcino (SI = Siena), Italy. Tel+39 0577.849438

Direct sales point: The estate has a wine shop in the historical centre of Montalcino (near the Fortress) and is open everyday for direct sales from 10am to 7pm. The address is via Ricasoli, 19, 53024 Montalcino (SI = Siena), Italy. Tel+39 0577.846171.

Website: www.bartoligiusti.it