Italian Winery - Argiano
The Tuscan villa estate winery at Argiano is achingly gorgeous, with buildings dating back to 1570. Founded by the Pecci’s, an aristocratic noble family from Siena that received the villa as a dowry from the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1574, Argiano has changed ownership throughout the centuries. It has always stayed in the hands of aristocrats and indeed is owned today by the countess Noemi Marone Cinzano. The Argiano winery is located on a classic Tuscan hilltop, about 6 miles from Montalcino, an ancient roman village. Montalcino, as wine lovers know, is famed for its Brunello di Montalcino wines, and the Brunellos made by Argiano are considered to be some of the best in the world.
This area around Montalcino (which is about one hour inland from the Tuscan coast) provides the perfect microclimate for the international varietites such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Sangiovese. The foreign varietals are rather new experiments that have produced some splendid results. The Argiano vineyards are divided under five plots: Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino, Sant’ Antimo Rosso, Sant’ Antimo Merlot and Sant’ Antimo Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemaker, Dr. Giacomo Tachis, is legendary in Italy and abroad. Mr. Tachis’s resume includes winemaking at Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia, and he is considered to be one of the best Oenologists in Italy.
Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano changed the Argiano winery’s emphasis to one of higher quality and personality when she took it over. She placed Sebastiano Rosa in charge of the operations of the estate. Rosa is a very well rounded man having spent six years at University of California at Davis, worked two years for Chateau Lafite Rothschild, and three at Sassacaia, he brings a strong level of knowledge and experience. He is actually the nephew of Sassicaia’s Marchese Incisa della Rochetta. Argiano is, today, one of the super premier producers of Brunello di Montalcino, and their second wine Rosso di Montalcino is incredibly good value for money. The Argiano estate not only cultivates grapes but also olives, making premium extra virgin olive oil with the Argiano brand. The olives used are Frantoio 70%, Leccino 30% and are considered to be two of the best types for producing excellent olive oil. There are two Super Tuscan wines made n the Argiano estate as well, Solengo and Suolo (Suolo being the pricier), which have been met with huge success internationally, particularly in the US.
Considering its first vintage was in 1995, this is a super Tuscan red that seems to have come out of nowhere to reign as one of the great wines of Italy. It is the brainchild of veteran enologist Giacomo Tachis... And it comes from a superb estate for Brunello di Montalcino, Argiano. The wine is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (originally, small amounts of Syrah and Sangiovese were also included). The grapes come from a vineyard on the property called Solengo, which encompasses about 12 acres. It has a perfect south-facing exposure to the sun. The yields are kept to less than 2 pounds of grapes per vine to ensure optimum ripeness and concentration. "Nothing but the best for our Solengo," says Sebastiano Rosa, manager of the Argiano estate.’ – Wine Spectator Magazine (97 points)
Argiano's Wines:
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - 100% Sangiovese, 12 months in French Oak, 14% alc
- Rosso di Montalcino DOCG - 100% Sangiovese, Ageing in French Oak, 14% alc (second wine)
- Solengo (Super Tuscan) IGT - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, 14 months in oak, 13.5% alc
- Suolo (Super Tuscan) IGT - 100% Sangiovese, 40 yr old vines, 15 months in French Oak,only 3,000 bottles made
Loe. Argiano 53024 Montalcino
Phone: + 39 0577-844037
Fax: + 39 0557-844210
Email: argiano@argiano.net
Web: www.argiano.net
