Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most popular Italian red wines with connoisseurs all over the world. It is a full-bodied wine with great depth, intense aromas and a full, elegant flavour that is reminiscent of the area it comes from.
Brunello di Montalcino should be paired with succulent dishes with bold, intense and well-structured flavours and rich sauces.
The colour is deep ruby red with garnet reflections that make it so unmistakable, even at first glance. The bouquet is very sweet, with hints of fresh fruit that combine elegantly with notes of tobacco and liquorice. The structure is potent, with an excellent balance of tannins and tartness, that tantalise the palate.
To obtain these characteristics, the best Sangiovese variety grapes are used, and these are ripened, following nature's rhythms, on the hills of the Banfi estate, then fermented at controlled temperature in Horizon French oak and steel vats for at least two years.
Once you have enjoyed the refined characteristics of this wine, it comes naturally to wonder “how to pair Brunello di Montalcino”
Brunello is not an easy wine to pair, in view of its decisive taste and important structure. As we have mentioned, there are two essential rules for pairing Brunello di Montalcino:
The high tannin content may be a little harsh for more sensitive taste buds, creating an unpleasantly dry sensation: sauces and cream sauce help to reduce this feeling, creating a pleasant, refined contrast of flavours.
Choose bold dishes for a wine that is equally bold.
Starting with appetizers, the best pairing comes from mature cheeses, and cheese from the Val D’Orcia such as Pecorino di Pienza aged in Barrels are perfect: the ideal combination when it comes to savouring the full flavour of true Tuscany.
All recipes made with mushrooms or truffles go perfectly with Brunello di Montalcino, even if the most recommended is with pappardelle pasta and a wild boar ragu or with pici, another typical handmade pasta from Tuscany.
As far as meat is concerned, this is a demanding wine: it is best with red meat and game, prepared with bold sauces with strong aromas.
A typical dish from Tuscan cuisine that pairs well with Brunello di Montalcino is, for example, peposo, a super-tender stew that is cooked for almost three years in a copper pot with its thick, enveloping sauce. Alternatively, this wine is absolutely sublime with roast meats.
Game-based recipes that pair well with Brunello di Montalcino doubtless include duck, seared and served on a reduction of onions and balsamic vinegar.
How to pair Brunello di Montalcino with sweet foods This exclusive red is not exactly a wine to serve with desserts, but its decisive flavour can be enhanced by pairing it with biscuits and dark chocolate with a liqueur filling.
Another important rule concerns serving temperature and the type of glass to use for Brunello di Montalcino.
Since this is a very full-bodied wine, it should be opened well before serving and also decanted into a crystal glass carafe before it is taken to the table; if it is a vintage Brunello, the oxygen in the air will re-awaken the qualities and aromas that have been slumbering during its long period in the bottle.
The ideal temperature is 16-18°C, while the recommended glass should have a wide, rounded shape to welcome all of the fragrances that come together in its unmistakable bouquet.
