Brunello di Montalcino

"It is amazing how far Pian dell’Orino has come in just a few years. Proprietors Jan Erbach and Caroline Pobitzer own what is now one of the very top estates in Montalcino, hands down. Tasting the wines from barrel is an amazing experience equaled by visits in only a handful of top domaines in the world. In this cellar, Sangiovese boasts striking finesse and crystalline purity." Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate, June 2013

Pian dell’Orino is one of the shining stars in Brunello di Montalcino. The estate is located right next door to the most famous name in Brunello history, Biondi Santi and is run by Caroline Pobitzer and Jan Hendrick Erbach, who both co-own the estate and are extremely passionate about producing the highest quality wine in the most harmonious methods possible to protect their environment.

Consequently, the estate’s six hectares of vines have been farmed completely organically for many years and are now cultivated under biodynamic principles.

Caroline and Jan run Pian dell’Orino with all of the passion for excellence and purity that one would expect from a great estate dedicated to ecological responsibility and sustainable agriculture. However, the quest for a gentle carbon footprint and a wholesome vineyard ecosystem does not take precedence over a quest for great quality in the finished wines, and every step is taken to ensure that the wines of Pian dell’Orino are as fine as can be in every given vintage.

In the vineyards of Pian dell’Orino only Sangiovese Grosso is grown and yields are kept very low, with green harvesting practiced in every vintage to reduce yields to only four bunches per vine.

Meticulous oversight in the vineyards during the entire growing season ensures that only the finest quality fruit is still on the vine at the time of harvest, and the harvest is conducted solely by hand.

Once the grapes reach the cellar they are treated as lovingly and as naturally as possible with the wines fermenting on their indigenous yeasts gently and thoroughly before being aged in a combination of larger barrels and large botti for one to several years prior to bottling, depending on the wine.

The wines of Pian dell’Orino, be they the outstanding Rosso di Montalcino that can be enjoyed immediately upon release, or the classic and hauntingly beautiful, ageworthy Brunello di Montalcino, are amongst the very finest examples of their respective appellations to be found in Montalcino and I am delighted to be able to offer them.