Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2013

Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2013 is a 100% Sangiovese DOCG red wine from Tuscany, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 96 points from Wine Spectator, which described it as "elegant in profile, tightly wound and deftly balanced" — a landmark score for an estate that has quietly produced some of Montalcino's most refined Brunello for over three centuries.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy  |  Vintage: 2013  |  DOCG: Brunello di Montalcino  |  Estate: Lisini, Sant'Angelo in Colle

Production & Heritage

The Lisini estate sits at 1,312 feet above sea level in Sant'Angelo in Colle, one of Montalcino's warmest and most prized sub-zones, and has been in the Lisini family since the early 1700s. The property spans 49 acres of vineyards, including the celebrated 3.7-acre Ugolaia cru. True to their philosophy, the estate picks quite late — often among the last producers in the area to harvest — allowing the Sangiovese to develop full phenolic maturity. As required by Brunello di Montalcino DOCG regulations, the wine underwent a minimum of four years of aging, including at least two years in barrel, before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sprightly wild berry and cherry aromas before layering in licorice and grilled herb notes. Deeper sniffs reveal spice, leather, and a distinctive floral lift of wild rose and dried jasmine.

Taste: The entry is juicy and lively, with red cherry and red currant flavors carried by bright, harmonious acidity. At mid-palate, the wine gains density and energy, with spicy plum and minty herb tones building alongside iron and earth undercurrents. Wine Spectator noted the cherry, strawberry, and floral flavors are "tinged with iron, earth and spice notes."

Finish: The close is silky and smooth, with a hint of fresh acidity keeping everything taut. Long, lingering spice notes trail off with considerable finesse and precision.

How to Drink Lisini Brunello 2013

A wine of this caliber and age rewards patient, neat enjoyment in a large-bowled Burgundy glass at around 64–66°F; a brief decant of 30–45 minutes helps it fully unfurl. While this is fundamentally a wine for the table rather than the cocktail shaker, its versatility with food is remarkable. Pair it alongside a classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina, where the wine's acidity cuts through charred fat. It shines with wild boar ragù over pappardelle, its earthy spice echoing the gamey sauce. A plate of aged Pecorino and chestnut honey draws out the floral and leathery secondary notes beautifully.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector a benchmark Brunello vintage
• Anchoring a Tuscan-themed dinner party with a 96-point centerpiece
• Cellaring alongside other top 2013 Montalcino wines for long-term comparison
• Celebrating a milestone anniversary with a wine that rewards contemplation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lisini Brunello 2013 taste like? It leads with juicy red cherry, red currant, and strawberry flavors, layered with licorice, iron, earth, and minty herbs. The texture is silky and smooth, with bright acidity and long spice-driven length.

How does Lisini Brunello compare to Biondi-Santi Brunello? Biondi-Santi is historically regarded as the benchmark for austere, long-aging Brunello built for decades of cellaring, while Lisini tends toward a more approachable elegance and floral expressiveness even in youth. Both are traditional Montalcino estates producing 100% Sangiovese, but Lisini's warmer Sant'Angelo in Colle site yields riper, more immediately generous fruit.

Is Lisini Brunello 2013 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its silky tannins, layered complexity, and 96-point Wine Spectator score make it ideally suited to unhurried neat enjoyment, especially with a brief decant to let its floral and spice aromatics fully emerge.

Where is Lisini Brunello made? Lisini Brunello is produced at the Lisini estate in Sant'Angelo in Colle, a sub-zone within the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG in Tuscany, Italy. The vineyards sit at 1,312 feet above sea level, a site the family has farmed since the early 1700s.

What foods pair well with Lisini Brunello 2013? Grilled T-bone steak complements the wine's tannic structure and iron notes. Slow-braised lamb shoulder echoes its earthy, herbal layers. Wild mushroom risotto highlights its savory depth. Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano mirrors its complexity, while roasted duck breast with cherry reduction bridges its fruit and spice character.

What sizes does Lisini Brunello 2013 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this vintage.

Is Lisini Brunello 2013 worth the price? Lisini positions as a mid-to-upper tier Brunello that consistently over-delivers relative to its price bracket; the 96-point Wine Spectator score on this 2013 vintage places it among the top-rated wines from a historic estate, offering strong value compared to equally scored Montalcino peers.

Why Lisini Brunello 2013?

The 96-point Wine Spectator rating is no accident — it reflects a vintage where Lisini's late-harvest philosophy and the warm Sant'Angelo in Colle terroir converged to produce a Brunello of unusual depth and poise. Few estates in Montalcino carry three centuries of continuous family ownership, and that institutional knowledge shows in the wine's restrained power and floral complexity. Where many 2013 Brunellos lean heavily on structure, this bottling stands apart for its silk-textured approachability without sacrificing aging potential. It is a serious, estate-driven Brunello from one of the denomination's most quietly consistent producers.