ABOUT: Sesti is one of only a few producers using organic and biodynamic practices among the 200-ish makers of Brunello di Montalcino. Since 1991, when their first Nebbiolo vines went into the ground, Guiseppe Sesti has been focused on sustainable practices and low intervention wine making. Those vines drilled down into the soil around the families sprawling estate in Tuscany, built on the site of an ancient ruin. It looks like an incredible place to work and live. In 1999 daughter Elisa joined the family in running the business and maintaining the high standards set by her father. The whole line up of wines is fantastic, from the exceptionally affordable Monteleccio, Rosato, Rosso, and onto the glorious Brunello’s. There are no lower quality grapes here, all wines are made with the very best Sesti has to offer with just slightly different yields in the vineyard and vinified in different ways. In our opinion Sesti wines regularly outperform most others and provide outstanding value. Not a bad one in the lot. TASTE: The Sesti Monteleccio Rosso Toscana is made from all the Sangiovese grapes that didn’t make it into the Brunello or the Rosso di Montalcino. Lucky for us because the quality of this wine is through the roof and so generously priced that we feel very lucky to have acquired some. Flavors and aromas of strawberries and cherries, baking spices and wet potting soil, orange peel, rose petal, dark chocolate and marzipan. Uncommon perfume. The tannins are refined and sandy, the finish is very long, and while it’s drinking great right now it will also develop for another ten years, happily. PAIR: mushroom-fontina pasta, baked potatoes with sour cream, zucchini with parmesan and onions, stuffed bell peppers, and polenta with sage.
