2022 San Filippo Lo Scorno Rosso di Montalcino 750 ml

Once upon a time, Rosso di Montalcino was a way for producers in the region to create easy cash flow while they waited for their high-priced bottlings to mature. Estates’ best grapes were reserved for Brunellos, and the rest went into cheaper, quicker-to-market—but often mediocre—Rossos.

Things have changed.

Rosso di Montalcino, which comes from the exact same geographical boundaries as Brunello, is better than ever right now—and the first place we look for excellent, mouthwatering examples is our top Brunello producers. That’s how we discovered the 2022 San Filippo Lo Scorno.

San Filippo is one of our Montalcino mainstays, and Lo Scorno is exactly why we look to them first when we’re craving a top-notch, early-drinking Sangiovese that doesn’t come with the Brunello price premium.

Racy, earthy, and red-fruited, finishing with a whirlwind of wild herbs and tangy acidity, it’s perfect for pairing with a big plate of orecchiette or a pizza bubbling straight out of the oven.

Since purchasing San Filippo in 2003, ex-realtor Roberto Giannelli has slowly restructured the estate’s 24 acres, replacing international varieties with Sangiovese Grosso (a close relative of Sangiovese, it’s the same grape used for Brunello) updating the winery, reducing yields, and embracing organic growing methods. Giannelli brought in legendary Tuscan enologist Paolo Caciorgna to craft the wines and develop their individual personalities.

The Lo Scorno is grown between 240 and 310 meters of elevation on clayey, calcareous soils strewn with shale and fossil fragments. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks and then given a modest 10 months in barrel, plus another four in bottle, this delectable Sangiovese shows why the Rosso di Montalcino category is gaining respect with every vintage.