ENZO TIEZZI
TUSCANY / MONTALCINO / BRUNELLO
In 1978, Enzo Tiezzi, a visionary enologist and director of the Col d'Orcia estate in Montalcino, foresaw the future of Brunello di Montalcino as he gazed upon a glass of the prized wine. His graduate thesis, which earned him the title of Dottore, outlined a plan for the success of the Brunello appellation and the creation of the Rosso di Montalcino DOC. Known as the èminence grise of Montalcino, Tiezzi began his journey as the director of Poggio alle Mura in 1958 and modernized 1,600 hectares of vineyards. In 1973, he left Poggio alle Mura to run the Col d'Orcia estate and oversaw the expansion of vineyards to 70 hectares by the 1980s.
Tiezzi was elected president of the Consortium of Brunello producers in 1983, a position he held until 1988, during which time he successfully elevated Brunello to DOCG status and created the DOC of Rosso di Montalcino.
He dedicated his life to Montalcino, and in 1989, after leaving Col d'Orcia and Argiano, he purchased his first vineyards for his very own estate just outside of the town of Montalcino. Today, the Tiezzi estate comprises of four holdings and boasts a combined total surface of around ten hectares, including 5.5 hectares of Sangiovese da Brunello and three hectares of olive trees. The historic Soccorso and San Carlo vineyards, situated just outside Montalcino's old city walls and next to the Madonna del Soccorso church, are considered the heart and crown jewels of the estate.
The true masterpiece of the estate is the single-vineyard bottling from the Madonna del Soccorso vineyard, a plot of high-altitude vines that sit at a breathtaking height of 500 meters above sea level, in close proximity to the historic village of Montalcino. This exclusive bottling bears the original label associated with this vineyard, believed to be one of the first to carry the term “Brunello” in the late 1800s, and is known for its mesmerizing aromatics. Only a limited quantity of 2000 cases of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino combined are produced annually at this small, but grand estate.
“Beautifully crafted Brunello… Love it!”
– Wine Spectator
“The estate’s Brunello is a splendid and powerful wine.”
– A. Galloni
Owner
Region
Vineyards
Farming
Harvest
Size
Grapes Grown
Website
Vineland Rep.
Tiezzi Familly
Tuscany/ Montalcino
Poggio Cerrino, Cigaleta & Soccorso
Organic
Manual
10 hectares, 6 under vines
Sangiovese
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Enzo Tiezzi Rosso di Montalcino 'Poggio Cerrino'
The Rosso undergoes the same processes as Brunello di Montalcino. The main difference lies in the fact that it is released for sale after ageing in barrels for a year. This is declassified each year directly from the production of the Poggio Cerrino Brunello di Montalcino. It is produced with the very same grapes that go into the Brunello, fermented in the same way, just aged 18 months instead of the usual 44 months for the Brunello.
Classification: Rosso di Montalcino D.O.C
Varietal:100% Sangiovese
Terroir: From the Poggio Cerrino Vineyard
Altitude vineyards at 350 meters above sea level with a north-east exposure
Age of the vines: between 25 and 40 years old
Soil: Sandy soils with clay and schist
Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation and an extended maceration on the skins takes place in upright oak fermenters
Aging: 12-18 months in large Slavonian oak casks of 10 to 40 hectoliters
Production: 800 cases produced annually on average
Notes: Lively dark red. Expressive aromas of strawberry, iron and loam, lifted by a violet topnote. Juicy and brisk, with ripe harmonious acidity nicely framing the redcurrant, spice and herb flavors. This deep, precise Rosso finishes clean and persistent, with a saline note. A declassified Brunello made from roughly 45 year old vines, this is an excellent Rosso. – Vinous Media.
92
2018
VINOUS
ENZO TIEZZI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO ‘POGGIO CERRINO’
The Poggio Cerrino Brunello is a wine of distinction, crafted from the finest grapes sourced from the Cigaleta and Poggio Cerrino vineyards, located in the north-eastern region of the town of Montalcino. The Cigaleta vineyard, at 25 years of age and the Poggio Cerrino vineyard, at 40 years of age, imbue the wine with a unique complexity and depth. The terroir, characterized by sandy clay soils, interlaced with schists and Galestro, adds an extra layer of complexity and finesse. The Poggio Cerrino Brunello is a wine that offers immediate pleasure, yet has the capability of aging gracefully for many years. In 2012, Antonio Galloni, a wine connoisseur, had the opportunity to taste wines crafted by Tiezzi at Col d'Orcia in the 1970s and 80s and was left in awe, praising them as "a revelation" and "a remarkable achievement... fabulous."
Classification: Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G
Varietal: 100% Sangiovese
Terroir: From the Cerrino and Cigaleta vineyards
Altitude: 350 meters above sea level
Age of the vines: from 25 to 40 years old
Soil: Sandy clay soil with Galestro schist
Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation and maceration in open-top, upright oak fermenters for 21 days
Aging: Aged in large Slavonian oak casks of 10-40 hectoliters for just under four years, rested 6 months in bottle before release
Production: 900 cases produced on average annually
Notes: Poggio Cerrino dazzles with a fruit-forward display of ripe cherries, blueberry and plum, complemented by confectioners’ spice and hints of sweet tobacco. It’s soft in texture but with a contrasting mix of tart berry fruits and zesty acids, which balance while also adding to the wine’s vibrant persona. Hints of grippy tannin linger under an air of inner florals. The bouquet of Poggio Cerrino leads you to believe this will be an extroverted expression of the vintage; it instead comes into focus nicely and is an excellent option for earlier drinking while waiting for the bigger wines of the year to mature.
91
2016
VINOUS
94
2018
GARDINI
ENZO TIEZZI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO ‘VIGNA SOCCORSO’
The Vigna Soccorso is a vineyard steeped in history, having once belonged to the renowned Professor Riccardo Paccagnini, credited as the first producer to put the word “Brunello” on his labels in the 19th century. Paccagnini, an agricultural scholar, won multiple awards for his Brunello in expositions in Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseilles between 1904-1905, but abandoned the vineyard in 1917. Upon its acquisition by Doctor Tiezzi in 1999, the property was in a state of disrepair, but he meticulously renovated it and built his cellar there. The label of this wine pays homage to Professor Paccagnini’s first labels, an ode to the wines that won him international acclaim. Situated at an elevation of 530 meters above sea level, the vines are planted in sandstone and volcanic soils with silt, sand, and clay, and are trained in the traditional bush-trained method, as they would have been in Paccagnini's time.
Classification: Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G
Varietal: 100% Sangiovese
Terroir: Entirely from the storied Soccorso vineyard next to eponymous medieval church La Madonna del Soccorso
Altitude: 530 meters above sea level, among the highest vineyards in the appellation
Soils: Sandstone, Volcanic soils with silt, sand and clay
Viticulture: The vines are “alberello” or bush-trained
Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation and maceration on the skins without temperature control for four weeks in upright, open-top oak fermenters
Aging: The wine is aged just under four years in the traditional Slavonian-oak casks form 10-40 hectoliters
Production: 625 cases produced on average each year
Notes: The Vigna Soccorso from Tiezzi is a wine of remarkable character and depth, exuding a bold and expressive bouquet of ripe blackberry, dried orange, minty herbs, tobacco, and subtle hints of mocha. On the palate, it unfolds with a textural richness, revealing layers of ripe black cherries, plums, and zesty acids that are perfectly balanced by subtle undertones of sour citrus. The tannins are firm and assertive, building in intensity and creating a gripping sensation on the palate, while a subtle hint of violet florals and tobacco adds a beguiling complexity. This wine is a powerful, dark and large-scaled expression of Brunello that is sure to captivate the senses of even the most discerning wine enthusiasts.
93
2016
VINOUS
95
2018
GARDINI