2023 Cerbaiona Rosso di Montalcino

Staff Reviews

OC

Orazio Campoli

Orazio Campoli

K&L Buyer

Review Date: 09/2026

Calling this a "Rosso" is honestly a disservice. In the hands of a legendary estate like Cerbaiona, this is essentially a baby Brunello that just happens to be accessible a few years earlier. It completely shatters the ceiling of the category and offers a brilliant, high-definition snapshot of their terroir. The 2023 is all about vibrant, electric tension. The nose doesn't try to fake weight or hide behind oak; it explodes with pure, unmanipulated Sangiovese character. This is of the best deal in Sangiovese if not Italy, period.

Notes

Cerbaiona’s name belongs to a small Montalcino estate whose vineyards appear in records as far back as 1454. The property sits at about 400 meters, and the tower on its label comes from Montalcino’s fortress. Rosso di Montalcino is the estate’s Sangiovese offering alongside its Brunello, sharing the property’s distinctive setting. The vineyard’s more recent story is equally specific. Beginning in 2016, Cerbaiona undertook a four-year program of replanting and expansion, choosing alberello training: each vine has its own supporting stake, with shoots arranged into a goblet shape. This labor-intensive approach marks the estate’s renewed commitment to working each plant individually.