Sesta di Sopra's Brunello Riserva is a limited selection from the small family estate in southern Montalcino, Tuscany. Produced only when the estate judges the vintage suitable, it gives Sangiovese Grosso a more concentrated expression. This mature bottling is a thoughtful choice for a special meal and a drinker who enjoys substantial, developed Brunello.
- Aromas: Dark cherry and plum, with leather, smoky and roasted notes, chocolate and menthol adding depth around the mature fruit.
- Palate: Dense and structured, with concentrated fruit, fresh acidity and close-grained tannins. The finish is long and savoury, rewarding a substantial food match.
- Style: A dry, full-bodied Brunello Riserva with greater concentration and a firmer frame than the estate's more approachable red expressions.
- Winemaking: Selected Sangiovese Grosso fruit is reserved for this limited bottling in suitable years. Extended maturation develops the wine's complexity and helps integrate its substantial fruit and naturally firm tannic structure.
- Cellaring: Drink now if well stored, with potential for further development in bottle. If ageing further, store in a cool and dark location. Before opening stand upright to settle sediment, and taste before choosing gentle decanting or further aeration.
- Food Pairing: Braised beef, roast lamb, game or mature hard cheese; rich, savoury dishes give the concentrated palate and tannins a comfortable setting.
For someone who loves mature Brunello, a small-estate Riserva makes a memorable gift or dinner bottle. Open it when the meal can be unhurried and let the glass evolve. This is Sangiovese with depth and structure, best enjoyed with food and a little attention. Serve slightly cool, taste before deciding on decanting, and give the wine time to develop in the glass.
Sesta Di Sopra
South of Montalcino, near Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Sesta di Sopra is a small family estate built around a simple attraction to a special place. Founded in 1980, the project began with the restoration of an abandoned farmhouse, believed to have been an old watchtower, followed by the recovery of olive groves and the planting of vineyards. Sangiovese Grosso is the focus, grown on limestone-influenced soils that help restrain vigour and support concentrated fruit. The family’s close involvement gives the estate an intimate scale within the celebrated Brunello landscape.
Its identity is closely associated with Brunello di Montalcino, supported by wines that offer different introductions to the same grape and countryside. Vineyard care, low yields and patient maturation are central to the approach, with the small cellar combining traditional oak casks and modern temperature control. For lovers of Sangiovese, the appeal is the opportunity to discover a producer whose story remains personal: a restored home, a carefully tended vineyard and wines shaped by the distinctive conditions of southern Montalcino. Sesta di Sopra brings a human dimension to one of Tuscany’s most admired appellations.
