About the Wine

The Máté family wine estate nestles on two private hills on the sea-breeze ventilated side of Montalcino. A Roman vineyard 2,000 years ago, the seven campi of marvelously varied terroir totaling 7 hectares are surrounded by Mediterranean woods, herbs, and wild fruit. The vineyards were designed by Fabrizio Moltard, Angelo Gaja’s agronomist, and the clones chosen by France’s Pierre Guillaume.

The grapes: Sangiovese (in fossil-filled tufo), Merlot (in sandy clay), Cabernet Sauvignon (in marl), and Syrah ( mineral-rich southern terraces like Cote Roti) are planted to a high density of 6,200 vines per hectare, (3,000 per acre). The yields are kept extremely low by three annual green prunings to concentrate flavors and profumes.

Selected, hand-picked at fullest maturity, and fermented in small temperature-controlled stainless steel vats or new wooden barrels, the grapes are punched down by hand to extract colors and tannins, while the must is kept cool to maintain the  rich aromas of fruits and spices. The wines are aged for up to two years and a half in Allier French oak barriques and tonneaux.

In the Máté vineyards and winery, no effort is spared to yield wines of great refinement, replete with unforgettable flavors.

“It’s Montalcino’s Time to Shine. If I had to think of one way to universally describe the majority of wines from the 2016 vintage, I would offer that they are like a well-muscled black stallion in its prime. They are dark yet radiant, expressive, nearly explosive at times, yet pure, poised, and structured.” ~Eric Guido, Vinous Media     

2016 was not only a great year for wine throughout the whole of Europe but is being called the best vintage ever for Brunello di Montalcino! Now is the time to stock up on 2016 Brunello; these wines will only get more valuable as they continue to ageinto the sensational wines we know they're going to be! Think of this opportunity as an IPO, this is your chance to make a sure-fire investment in a wine that will continue to appreciate for the next 25 to 30 years.

Aging: The wine matures for up to 3 years in 500 and 4,000 liter French oak, and ages in bottles for a minumum of 6 months.

Tasting Notes: 100% Sangiovese. On the nose, complex and fresh, with inviting fruit aromas balanced by oak-imparted spices. Well-structured and full-bodied on the palate, with fine tannins that promise great aging capacity; long and impressive finish. An ideal companion to red meat entrées, hearty stews, and assorted cheeses.

Reviews

A core of bright cherry awaits in this fragrant red. Elegant, with strawberry, rose, mineral, and tobacco adding detail, there is no shortage of structure, afforded by the vivid acidity and resonant tannins. Finishes balanced and long. Best from 2025 through 2048. 1,300 cases made, 500 cases imported. ~95 Wine Spectator

Ash, cherry, and violet aromas follow through to a medium to full body, with a tight palate of firm, silky tannins. Chewy at the finish. Try after 2023. ~94 James Suckling

Nobly shining ruby red. Very appealing nose of ripe forest berries and raspberries, light cherry, supported by cedar, and a breath of hazelnut. Balanced and juicy palate, stretches with elegant body over the tongue, polished, clear, and long. ~93 Falstaff

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino displays rosy florals and bright strawberries complemented by sweet autumnal spice. There are depths of silky textures giving way to polished red/black fruits, with an attractive inner sweetness contrasted by saline-minerals and peppery herbs. Its tannins are round, creating a subtly structured feel through the licorice-tinged finale. With just a few years of cellaring, the 2016 Máté should be drinking beautifully. ~92 Vinous Media

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