The Mastrojanni family has made extremely good Brunellos ever since the estate was founded in the mid-1970s. However, the big push in quality came recently, in 2008, when the coffee magnate family Illy purchased the estate and later brought on Andrea Machetti as CEO. Improvements in the vineyard and a new winery have paid off, giving the latest wines a more polished and reser- ved style. Sangiovese is the real protagonist here, its strength and sensitivity enhanced by a long aging process (36 months) in large Slavonian and French oak barrels resulting in unique expressions of the terroirs of Montalcino: vigorous, territorial Brunello with its two crus Vigna Schiena d'Asino and Vigna Loreto; fresh, exuberant Rosso; sophisticated Moscadello Vendemmia Tardiva; Botrys; and the modern San Pio, an IGT wine made with cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese.
