Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2000

Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2000 is a 750ml bottle of 100% Sangiovese Grosso from Tuscany's celebrated Montalcino DOCG, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV. Robert Parker famously declared, "If I had only one Brunello to drink, it would be Pertimali" — a testament to the estate's standing among Montalcino's elite. The 2000 vintage carries an average critics score of 89 points.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy  |  Brunello di Montalcino DOCG  |  Estate: Livio Sassetti Pertimali, Montosoli

Production & Heritage

The Livio Sassetti Pertimali estate sits in the prized Montosoli vineyard area on the northern slopes of Montalcino, where clay and limestone soils impart a distinctive minerality to the fruit. The family cultivates a unique clone of Sangiovese Grosso — selected over generations from their most treasured vines — that is planted nowhere else. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 28–29°C with a maceration period of 10 to 12 days, followed by 36 months of aging in large Slavonian oak barrels, a hallmark of traditional Brunello production that favors structure and terroir expression over new-oak influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The estate's Montosoli fruit typically reveals layered aromas of dark cherry and wild berry, gradually opening into dried red flowers, dusty earth, and a thread of rocky minerality. With over two decades of bottle age, expect the 2000 vintage to have developed additional tertiary complexity.

Taste: On the palate, Pertimali Brunello is known for its smooth, sinuous texture. Flavors characteristic of the estate include black raspberry, licorice, sappy herbs, and allspice, carried by an elegant tannic framework that balances concentration with restraint. Balsamic-kissed strawberry and mint notes often emerge at mid-palate.

Finish: The finish is long and measured, with fine-grained tannins and lingering impressions of dried herbs and mineral dust. Years of bottle maturation tend to polish and extend this finale further.

How to Drink Pertimali 2000

A mature Brunello from this caliber of estate deserves unhurried attention. Decant for at least 60 to 90 minutes before serving at 62–65°F (17–18°C) in large-bowled Burgundy-style glassware to let the tertiary aromatics fully unfold. Sip it neat alongside a meal — this is a wine built for the table. It pairs magnificently with bistecca alla fiorentina, where the charred richness meets the wine's structure; with wild boar ragù over pappardelle, echoing the earthy Tuscan terroir; and with aged Pecorino di Pienza, whose salty nuttiness highlights the wine's fruit and minerality.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or birth-year occasion tied to 2000
• Gifting a serious Brunello collector or Italian wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Pertimali vintages
• Pairing with a formal Tuscan-inspired dinner

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pertimali 2000 taste like? This Brunello is characterized by dark cherry, black raspberry, licorice, and sappy herbs layered over a sinuous, elegantly tannic structure. With over twenty years of bottle age, expect tertiary notes of dried flowers, earth, and balsamic nuance to have developed significantly.

How does Pertimali compare to Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino? Both estates are traditional Brunello producers that age their wines in large Slavonian oak barrels rather than smaller French barriques. Biondi Santi is widely considered the founding estate of Brunello di Montalcino, while Pertimali earned its own legendary reputation through Robert Parker's endorsement and its exclusive Sangiovese Grosso clone from the Montosoli vineyard.

Is Pertimali 2000 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — a mature Brunello from a top Montalcino estate is best appreciated on its own or alongside food, provided it is properly decanted to allow the complex aromatics to open fully.

Where is Pertimali made? The wine is produced at the Livio Sassetti Pertimali estate in the Montosoli area on the northern slopes of Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy, within the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG appellation.

What foods pair well with Pertimali 2000? Bistecca alla fiorentina complements the wine's tannin and structure; wild boar ragù echoes its earthy, herbal character; aged Pecorino cheese highlights its fruit and minerality; braised lamb shank matches the weight and depth of a mature Brunello; and porcini mushroom risotto mirrors the wine's savory, forest-floor complexity.

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

Is Pertimali 2000 worth the price? Pertimali positions as a premium-to-collectible Brunello, and the 2000 vintage carries additional value as a mature library release from a producer with one of the strongest critical reputations in Montalcino — anchored by Robert Parker's famous endorsement of the estate.

Why Pertimali 2000?

Few Brunello estates command the kind of singular praise that Robert Parker bestowed upon Pertimali. The exclusive Sangiovese Grosso clone grown on Montosoli's clay-limestone slopes produces fruit that cannot be replicated elsewhere, giving these wines a fingerprint entirely their own. Three years in Slavonian oak followed by over two decades of bottle maturation have allowed the 2000 vintage to evolve into a complex expression of traditional Montalcino winemaking. For collectors seeking an estate-driven, terroir-focused Brunello with genuine provenance and age, this bottle represents a meaningful piece of Tuscan wine history.