Mastrojanni Vigna Schiena d'Asino Brunello di Montalcino 2016

Mastrojanni Vigna Schiena d'Asino Brunello di Montalcino 2016 is a single-vineyard Brunello DOCG crafted from 100% Sangiovese, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This limited-production wine — only 6,000 bottles made — earned 97 points from both Wine Advocate (Monica Larner) and Vinous (Antonio Galloni), placing it among the most critically celebrated Brunellos of an outstanding vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy  |  Brunello di Montalcino DOCG  |  Producer: Mastrojanni

Production & Heritage

Mastrojanni is one of Montalcino's most respected estates, situated in the southeastern sector of the appellation known for producing structured, age-worthy Brunello. The Vigna Schiena d'Asino — literally "donkey's back" — is a prized vineyard parcel where long sun exposure during the day and cool nighttime temperatures create ideal conditions for slow, even ripening of Sangiovese. The 2016 spent 36 months maturing in a combination of Allier, Slavonian, and Styrian oak barrels of various sizes (16 hl, 33 hl, and 54 hl), a mixed-vessel approach that adds complexity without overwhelming the grape's natural character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Violet and forest floor emerge first, followed by camphor, toasted nut, and hints of Mediterranean scrub. The nose is noble and restrained, revealing more with each pass of the glass.

Taste: The entry is lithe and focused, opening into a concentrated mid-palate of dried cherry, strawberry, and currant. Spice, tobacco, and licorice build in waves, framed by tightly knit, fine-grained tannins that give the wine serious structural backbone. The full-bodied frame carries an elegance uncommon at this level of intensity.

Finish: Long and savory, with accents of leather and licorice lingering well beyond the final sip. The tannin structure resolves gracefully, signaling decades of further development ahead.

How to Drink Schiena d'Asino 2016

This is a wine built for careful, attentive drinking — serve it at 62–65°F in large-bowled glasses and consider decanting for at least an hour to allow its layered aromatics to fully unfold. Schiena d'Asino 2016 is at its most rewarding served neat alongside food: slow-braised wild boar pairs brilliantly with its savory depth; bistecca alla fiorentina matches the wine's tannic structure stride for stride; and aged Pecorino di Pienza echoes the earthy, nutty undertones on the finish.

Best For

• Cellaring as a long-term investment piece from an exceptional Brunello vintage
• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector a 97-point single-vineyard rarity
• Anchoring an important dinner party or milestone celebration with a world-class Sangiovese
• Adding to a curated vertical of top-scoring Montalcino producers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Schiena d'Asino 2016 taste like? The dominant profile centers on dried cherry, tobacco, and licorice wrapped in fine-grained tannins, with violet aromatics and a long, savory leather-and-spice finish. It is full-bodied yet elegant, balancing power and precision.

How does Schiena d'Asino 2016 compare to Biondi Santi Riserva? Both are regarded as benchmarks of age-worthy Montalcino Sangiovese, but Mastrojanni's Schiena d'Asino tends toward a fuller, more generous mid-palate richness, while Biondi Santi Riserva is often described as leaner and more classically austere. At 97 points from Wine Advocate, the 2016 Schiena d'Asino stands on equal critical ground with any top-tier Brunello of the vintage.

Is Schiena d'Asino 2016 good for cellaring? Absolutely — the combination of dense fine-grained tannins, balanced acidity, and 36 months of oak aging gives this wine a framework built to evolve for 20 years or more. Decanter described it as "born to stand the test of time."

Where is Schiena d'Asino made? It is produced by the Mastrojanni estate in the southeastern hills of Montalcino, within the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG in Tuscany, Italy. The specific vineyard sits at an elevation that benefits from significant diurnal temperature variation.

What foods pair well with Schiena d'Asino 2016? Slow-braised wild boar ragu complements its earthy depth; grilled T-bone steak matches its tannic structure; roasted lamb with rosemary echoes the herbal Mediterranean notes; aged Pecorino cheese mirrors the nutty, savory finish; and porcini mushroom risotto amplifies its forest-floor aromatics.

What sizes does Schiena d'Asino come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, consistent with Brunello di Montalcino DOCG production norms.

Is Schiena d'Asino 2016 worth the price? With only 6,000 bottles produced and near-universal critical acclaim — 97 points from both Wine Advocate and Vinous, 96 from Decanter, 95 from both Wine Spectator and James Suckling — this positions firmly as a premium single-vineyard Brunello that delivers at or above its price tier relative to comparably scored wines from the appellation.

Why Schiena d'Asino 2016?

The 2016 vintage is widely considered one of the finest in modern Montalcino history, and Mastrojanni's Schiena d'Asino stands as one of its crowning achievements. A 97-point consensus from Wine Advocate and Vinous, backed by 96 from Decanter and 95 from both Wine Spectator and James Suckling, reflects a level of critical unanimity that few single-vineyard Brunellos achieve in any vintage. Limited to just 6,000 bottles worldwide, this is not a wine you encounter casually — it is a specific, site-driven expression of Sangiovese from a vineyard whose topography and microclimate produce grapes of uncommon concentration and balance. For collectors and serious drinkers of Italian wine, the 2016 Schiena d'Asino represents a benchmark to measure the appellation by.