Cerbaiona, Brunello di Montalcino 2020: The Celebrated Benchmark Brunello, Vintage after Vintage

When we opened the doors to Italian Wine Merchants in 1998, we did so with a singular commitment: to represent and sell only the greatest wines available, regardless of market knowledge, fashion, or critical opinion. At the time, this approach often put us at odds with mainstream tastes. We championed Bartolo Mascarello with unwavering conviction—even when many considered him a relic of the past. His 1996 Barolo, for example, received a modest 92 points from a major critic, and some readers mocked us for promoting his wines so fervently. But Bartolo wasn’t alone. Back then, names like Giacomo Conterno, Giuseppe Quintarelli, Josko Gravner, and Poggio di Sotto were nearly impossible to sell—except to a handful of dedicated connoisseurs who already understood their greatness. Still, we stood firm, not because it was easy, but because it was right. In time, the quality and soul of these wines spoke for themselves, and today, they stand at the top of their respective categories.

Alongside these legends, we also aligned ourselves with a group of boutique estates whose authenticity, passion, and commitment to excellence matched our own. Among them: Tua Rita, Miani, Paolo Bea, Gianfranco Soldera—and, crucially, Cerbaiona. This estate has been part of our journey for more than 25 years, and its story is deeply intertwined with the modern success of Brunello di Montalcino. Situated in the northeast quadrant of Montalcino, Cerbaiona is one of the region's smallest but most revered producers. For decades, under the stewardship of Diego Molinari—a former Alitalia pilot turned vigneron and adorable figure—Cerbaiona earned a cult- like reputation for producing Brunellos of unmistakable elegance, tension, and soul. The wines were never about flash or trend. They were about place—an uncompromising expression of Montalcino's terroir, filtered through careful, thoughtful winemaking and continue that ethos today under new ownership committed to the Molinari’s vision.

Cerbaiona’s role in Montalcino’s ascent cannot be overstated. At a time when many producers were chasing modernist styles and bigger scores, Cerbaiona stayed small, stayed traditional, and stayed true. Their commitment helped define the boutique, terroir-driven model that is now central to the region’s global reputation. Today, Cerbaiona Brunello is recognized as one of the benchmark wines of Montalcino—highly allocated, deeply respected, and celebrated for its consistency and purity of expression.

We are proud to introduce the 2020 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino, the latest chapter in this estate’s extraordinary legacy. This vintage carries all the hallmarks of classic Cerbaiona: a deep core of red fruit, lifted floral tones, radiant minerality, and a structural finesse that promises graceful aging for decades to come. As ever, it is a wine that speaks softly but leaves a lasting impression. A true icon in the making—and a bottle that reminds us why we’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with Cerbaiona for more than a quarter century.

Perry Porricelli

Founder

The Benchmark Brunello, Vintage After Vintage

The 2020 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino is an exquisite expression of refined winemaking rooted in terroir and tradition. Sourced entirely from Sangiovese Grosso vines planted across three small vineyard parcels (established in 1978, 1983, and 2000) on Cerbaiona’s northeast-facing hillsides near Montalcino, the vineyards benefit from clay-limestone (galestro) and sand-rich soils at around 350–400 meters above sea level. Since 2015, the estate has been farmed organically under its new ownership, with dense planting (approximately 3,600 vines/hectare) and selected Sangiovese clones to maximize expression of the site. Hand-harvested grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation in open- topped wooden or vitrified concrete vats using native yeasts, with gentle extraction via manual punch-downs and minimal remontage. After fermenting and completing malolactic conversion, the wine matured for an extended period—over two years—in large Slavonian oak casks of 10, 17, and 20 hectoliters. The result is a Brunello of remarkable balance and nuance: deep garnet in color with layered aromas of red berries, forest floor, and sweet spices; a palate that marries power and elegance with fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity; all underscored by a mineral tone and poised for long-term

evolution.

Regula Price $224.99

Special 6 bottle price $194.99

90 bottles available – The Special Bottle Price is available only till Thursday Sept 4 or until supplies last

Wines will be ready for shipment first week of November. Current 15% Tariff is already included.

These Cerbaiona vintages Brunelli straight from our temperature controlled cellar trace an illuminating arc: the legendary gravitas of 2006, the balanced solidity of 2009, the aromatic finesse of 2013, and the poised brilliance of 2016. Each embodies a different facet of Montalcino’s legendary Sangiovese, grounded in the estate’s artisanal tradition and deep terroir. And each is practically impossible to find with sound provenance and in these conditions. Please act fast as the few bottles will not remain for long.

The 2006 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino is often celebrated as a near-mythical expression, glowing with layers of dark cherries, plums, wild herbs, menthol, and exotic spices, all unfolding in a structure described as both weighty and remarkably refined. Scoring an impressive 98 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, it is a wine built for the cellar—powerful yet elegant—with a finish that critics call “eternal”.

Special Price $399.99 3 btls available

The 2009 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino stands as a beautifully expressive example of Sangiovese at its most refined. Pouring a luminous ruby-red, the wine opens with a vivid bouquet that radiates bright fruit—think lush forest berries—before unfolding into elegant layers of violet, intense chocolate, clove, cinnamon, and subtle metallic undertones of iron. On the palate, it is juicy yet refined, endowed with aristocratic complexity, vibrant tannins, and an exceptionally long, lingering finish.

This vintage’s strengths lie in its balance and expressive depth—a Brunello that feels both powerful and elegantly seamless. It is supple enough for early drinking yet clearly built for graceful aging. With polished tannins and refined structural balance, it's a wine designed to deliver pleasure both now and for many years to come.

Special Price $369.99 7 btls available

The 2013 Cerbaiona Brunello earns our utmost respect for its aromatic clarity and aristocratic complexity. it offers a luminous ruby hue and a bouquet redolent of violet, chocolate, cloves, cinnamon, and ferrous minerals. On the palate, it’s refined, succulent, and supported by lively tannins and deep persistence. This is a wine that delivers elegance with depth, ready to impress now and continue developing beautifully and out of magnum it is surely to last into the next century.

Special Price $469.99 1 magnum available

Finally, the 2016 vintage stands as one of the most celebrated Brunellos in recent memory—earning the prestigious “5-star” classification from the Brunello consortium. The Cerbaiona 2016 is pure, intense, and precisely balanced. Revealing wild berries, blue flowers, and moist earth, it offers a lingering, polished finish and promises graceful evolution over the next. The 2016 is a classic—the kind of vintage that lives long and well and will be talked about for decades to come.

Special Price $269.99 4 btls available

All bottles are in out Temperature controlled cellar ready for collection