2 bottles per lot
Details
RARE BRUNELLO FROM THE BIONDI-SANTI ESTATE
Brunello di Montalcino began at Il Greppo, the Biondi-Santi estate, in the nineteenth century. Through the hard work and dedication of
Tancredi Biondi-Santi, the wine became the international icon it is
today, and in doing so, Brunello lifted Montalcino out of poverty
and obscurity and into prosperity and fame.
Established in 1880, Biondi-Santi was a winery destined for
greatness. Founder Clemente Biondi-Santi launched his family's
name in the wine business, but in the late 19th century, with
Ferruccio Biondi-Estate, the estate at "Greppo" made its mark in
viticulture history. Ferruccio Biondi-Santi took a clone of the
Sangiovese grape, known as Sangiovese Grosso, and produced
the first ever Brunello. Ferruccio's son Tancredi made the wine
famous, officially classifying it as Brunello, forever changing Italy's
place in the wine industry. Tancredi's son Franco Biondi-Santi,
who passed away last year, brought the estate to ever greater
heights, leaving a legacy that few winemakers can rival.
Biondi-Santi Brunello's trademark aromatics and acidity can be
attributed to the vineyard's altitude that ranges between 1,300-
1,600 feet above sea level. Both the Annata and the Riserva
undergo fermentation in traditional Slavonian oak for 18 days,
followed by aging in large oak casks of 800 to 7,000 liters for a
period of two to three years for the Annata, while the Riserva is
released six years after the harvest.
In April 2013, the wine world lost an icon when Franco Biondi-Santi
passed away at the age of 91. The great "Gentleman of
Montalcino" might be gone from the world, but his legacy lives on.
We are proud to present a historic offer from the cellar of Franco
Biondi-Santi's Il Greppo, the birthplace of Brunello di Montalcino. Il
Greppo holds the greatest Brunello produced, and Italy's most
accomplished wines.
These wines hold a special place in the hearts of connoisseurs,
winemakers, and trade alike. These wines appear on lists with
names like "The Top 100 Wines to Experience in a Lifetime," and
the vintages of 1955, 1964 and 1975 glow with iconic status.
These Biondi-Santi Brunello Riserva wines capture the history of
the Italian collectible wines, the history of Brunello, and the history
of Tancredi and Franco Biondi-Santi.
While others might have access to the Biondi-Santi vintages (1955,
1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1975), only these rare,
collectable wines are sourced in a straight line from the
temperature-controlled cellars of Il Greppo, to our temperaturecontrolled
cellars in Corsham, UK.
This impeccably sourced Biondi-Santi offer illustrates what sets
this offering apart from others. Thanks to the "ricolmata" these
bottles were "topped-off" and recorked in the Il Greppo cellars by
Franco Biondi Santi with a notary on hand to confirm the legitimacy
of the bottling, making it a museum piece for the dedicated wine
collector. It's a wine that would be the crown jewel in any important
collection, in particular the iconic 1955 and 1975 vintages that
bookend this collection.
Offered in bond, available duty paid
Biondi-Santi, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1945
Tuscany
In original carton
2 bottles per lot
Brunello di Montalcino began at Il Greppo, the Biondi-Santi estate, in the nineteenth century. Through the hard work and dedication of
Tancredi Biondi-Santi, the wine became the international icon it is
today, and in doing so, Brunello lifted Montalcino out of poverty
and obscurity and into prosperity and fame.
Established in 1880, Biondi-Santi was a winery destined for
greatness. Founder Clemente Biondi-Santi launched his family's
name in the wine business, but in the late 19th century, with
Ferruccio Biondi-Estate, the estate at "Greppo" made its mark in
viticulture history. Ferruccio Biondi-Santi took a clone of the
Sangiovese grape, known as Sangiovese Grosso, and produced
the first ever Brunello. Ferruccio's son Tancredi made the wine
famous, officially classifying it as Brunello, forever changing Italy's
place in the wine industry. Tancredi's son Franco Biondi-Santi,
who passed away last year, brought the estate to ever greater
heights, leaving a legacy that few winemakers can rival.
Biondi-Santi Brunello's trademark aromatics and acidity can be
attributed to the vineyard's altitude that ranges between 1,300-
1,600 feet above sea level. Both the Annata and the Riserva
undergo fermentation in traditional Slavonian oak for 18 days,
followed by aging in large oak casks of 800 to 7,000 liters for a
period of two to three years for the Annata, while the Riserva is
released six years after the harvest.
In April 2013, the wine world lost an icon when Franco Biondi-Santi
passed away at the age of 91. The great "Gentleman of
Montalcino" might be gone from the world, but his legacy lives on.
We are proud to present a historic offer from the cellar of Franco
Biondi-Santi's Il Greppo, the birthplace of Brunello di Montalcino. Il
Greppo holds the greatest Brunello produced, and Italy's most
accomplished wines.
These wines hold a special place in the hearts of connoisseurs,
winemakers, and trade alike. These wines appear on lists with
names like "The Top 100 Wines to Experience in a Lifetime," and
the vintages of 1955, 1964 and 1975 glow with iconic status.
These Biondi-Santi Brunello Riserva wines capture the history of
the Italian collectible wines, the history of Brunello, and the history
of Tancredi and Franco Biondi-Santi.
While others might have access to the Biondi-Santi vintages (1955,
1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1975), only these rare,
collectable wines are sourced in a straight line from the
temperature-controlled cellars of Il Greppo, to our temperaturecontrolled
cellars in Corsham, UK.
This impeccably sourced Biondi-Santi offer illustrates what sets
this offering apart from others. Thanks to the "ricolmata" these
bottles were "topped-off" and recorked in the Il Greppo cellars by
Franco Biondi Santi with a notary on hand to confirm the legitimacy
of the bottling, making it a museum piece for the dedicated wine
collector. It's a wine that would be the crown jewel in any important
collection, in particular the iconic 1955 and 1975 vintages that
bookend this collection.
Offered in bond, available duty paid
Biondi-Santi, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1945
Tuscany
In original carton
2 bottles per lot
Special notice
‡ Offered in bond, available duty paid : You can choose to take this lot in bond or duty paid. Please note that if you choose to take this lot in bond the hammer price will be payable in full. If you choose to take this lot duty paid excise duty at current rates and clearance VAT on the hammer price and duty will be added to your invoice. These charges cannot be cancelled or refunded by Christie’s. Please note unless you specify otherwise you will be invoiced for lots duty paid.
Sale room notice
New capsules and labels, recorked by Franco Biondi-Santi at the estate. Levels upper-shoulder. The estimate remains the same.
Brought to you by
Chris Munro