Altesino Rosso di Montalcino
I have worked with these wines for many years, watched their vintages rise and fall, tasted their evolution in real time, and time and again I come back to the same conclusion: Altesino is one of the most consistently great producers in all of Montalcino.
They are, of course, legendary for one of my absolute favorite crus in all of Brunello, Montosoli. This historic north-facing hillside is known for producing Brunello of haunting perfume, precision, and age-worthy structure. Montosoli is elegance with backbone, and Altesino is one of the producers who helped write that story. Their understanding of this vineyard runs deep, and the house style reflects that same balance of power and finesse year after year.
That is what makes the 2024 Altesino Rosso di Toscana such a thrilling wine to offer. I feel that this bottle is not just a “Rosso.” It is an early snapshot into the vintage in Montalcino. This is precisely what I love about good Rosso when it’s done right. It gives you a window into the estate’s quality years before the Brunello is ready, at a fraction of the price and with immediate pleasure. You taste the farming, the philosophy, the hands in the cellar, all without waiting a decade.
The 2024 vintage is an excellent one, showing clarity of fruit and freshness, at 80% Sangiovese Grosso and 20% Merlot, the addition of Merlot doesn’t mask the character of Sangiovese but it broadens it. It adds a gentle mid-palate sweetness, softens the tannins, and rounds the edges just enough to make the wine beautifully accessible in its youth.
The 2024 Altesino Rosso di Toscana is honest, generous, and beautifully made. It is one of those rare wines that satisfies both the seasoned connoisseur and the casual Tuesday-night drinker. And for me, it’s a reminder of why I fell in love with Altesino in the first place.
92 Points, James Suckling
An attractive nose of minerals, ripe red and blue fruit and touches of violets, black olives and stones. The palate is smooth and juicy, with a medium body and lively fruit in the middle. Balanced and focused. Drink or hold.