Photo courtesy of Padelletti

97pt Traditional Brunello
As Old As Biondi-Santi But A Fraction Of The Price

The Padelletti family traces their roots in Montalcino back to the 13th Century and their winemaking heritage clearly back to 1572. In 1952, the Padelletti family, headed by Dr. Carlo Augusto Padelletti, co-founded the Cantina Sociale and entrusted their vineyards Rigaccini and Paradisi to this co-op under the supervision and control of Dr. Tancredi Biondi of Biondi-Santi. At the start of WWII, Cantina Sociale was dissolved, and the vineyards, unfortunately devastated by the war and phylloxera, were returned back to the Padelletti family.

Post WWII is when the investment and replanting of Montalcino occurred, bringing Sangiovese to dominance, and the commercial establishment of Brunello di Montalcino was solidified worldwide. With the passing of Dr. Carlo Augusto, the Padelletti estate was divided among his sons. Guido Padelletti was left with 6 hectares of the Rigaccinni vineyards, which today serve as the source and backbone of Padelletti Brunello di Montalcino. The estate today still uses only one fifth of the harvested grapes to make roughly 8,000 bottles of Brunello per year, while continuing to sell grapes to other producers. 

The Rigaccini vineyard is located north of the village of Montalcino and the Padelletti's vines are from one sole plot called Rigaccini Secondo at 400 to 430 meters above sea level, making this vineyard one of the highest in the region. Vine age for the Brunello is roughly 30 to 50 years old, with the younger vines being used for Rosso. 

In Kerin O'Keefe's book on Brunello di Montalcino she writes:
"In Montalcino, there are traditionalists and there is Padelletti. This is one of Montalcino’s oldest families; documents demonstrate they already had vineyards in 1570…Claudia Susanna Padelletti runs the firm today, after working for years in the banking industry. Her vines, on average twenty-five years old, are located at the family’s Rigaccini podere to the northeast of the town, at the foot of Montalcino’s hill…Vineyard altitude is 400 meters above sea level, guaranteeing sharp day and night temperature changes that generate fine and focused aromas, while calcium-rich clay soil lends full but elegant aromas."

For decades, Padelletti wines were rarely found outside the region and we were ecstatic to begin working with them a few years ago when export resumed with the 2011 and 2012 vintages. 

Cheers,
Jeremy

P.S. I would place Padelletti as one of the triumvirate of affordable high quality traditionalists that includes Lisni and Col d’Orcia.