Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2021 comes from one of Montalcino's oldest family estates, at Sant'Angelo in Colle in the south of the zone. It shows wild plum, black cherry and violet over sweet, fine tannins. It was rated 97 POINTS by Bruce Sanderson in Wine Spectator. A wonderful wine for anyone who loves fragrant, classic Brunello.
In the glass it shows a deep ruby colour, lifted floral aromas and a cool, fresh palate, with real power and structure on the finish.
This is a wine for those of us who enjoy Brunello with grace as well as depth. It's a special weekend wine, best enjoyed with great food, and one to lay down for many years.
The Lisini-Clementi family has owned land in Montalcino since the mid-1500s, and the tower of the old farmhouse at the heart of the estate dates to the 1300s.
What it tastes like
Eric Guido of Vinous described it as cool-toned and wickedly fresh, with blue and purple florals and hints of balsamic spice and pomegranate on a very long finish. Walter Speller of JancisRobinson.com rated it 17++ out of 20, found a balsamic cherry nose, polished fruit and coating tannins, and called it "classic Brunello that demands more time". Kerin O'Keefe noted wild raspberry, Marasca cherry and star anise. It's a radiant, beautifully balanced Brunello.
Style at a glance
- Body: Full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh
- Tannin: Sweet, smooth and fine
- Oak: 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks, adding a faint hint of balsamic spice
- Style: Fragrant, traditional Sant'Angelo Brunello
Food to enjoy this with
- Bistecca alla fiorentina
- Pici with wild boar ragù
- Beef braised slowly in red wine
- Roast lamb with rosemary and garlic
- Aged pecorino
- Porcini or truffle risotto: an unexpected match, as the earthy flavours bring out the wine's balsamic, savoury side
Who makes it
In the early 1700s Captain Silvio Clementi lived in Montalcino's Palazzo Pecci and bought several properties in Sant'Angelo in Colle. In 1846 Francesca Clementi married Lodovico Lisini, joining the two families, and their grandson Lodovico later planted many of the estate's vines.
After his death in 1950, his daughter Elina Lisini took charge, and she ran the estate until 2009. In 1967 she and 24 other estates founded the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino, and she served for a time as its president. Today her nephews and nieces Carlo, Lorenzo, Ludovica, Alessandro and Caterina carry the estate forward.
The estate covers about 150 hectares near Sant'Angelo in Colle, with 27 hectares of vines at 350 to 500 metres. Sangiovese is the only grape grown. The vineyards are open to sea breezes from the Maremma, giving a microclimate with lower rainfall and no fog, and the soils mix sand, clay and silt with iron-rich minerals.
Lisini thins the bunches during the growing season and sorts the grapes carefully at harvest. The Brunello then matures for 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks.
About the vintage
Eric Guido of Vinous reported frost on 7 and 8 April 2021, which cut yields and hit lower-lying vineyards on clay soils hardest. The rest of the season was warm and dry, keeping disease pressure low, and rain in late July and late August helped ripening. Cooler September nights helped the grapes keep their acidity.
He described the 2021 Brunellos as all about grace, vibrancy and purity, with an open early drinking window and the ability to develop over a decade or more.
Critic scores and ratings
- 97 POINTS – Bruce Sanderson – Wine Spectator, March 2026
- 96 POINTS – Eric Guido – Vinous, November 2025
"The expressive 2021 Brunello di Montalcino opens with an array of crushed violet and lavender tones before giving way to citrus-laced blackberries and cherries. Cool-toned and wickedly fresh, it possesses a solid core of mineral-infused wild berry fruits and blue and purple inner florals that arch throughout. Sweet tannins frame the finish beautifully as hints of balsamic spice and pomegranate linger incredibly long. The 2021 is a radiant beast in need of taming. It's hard to put this glass down."
- 94 POINTS – Monica Larner – The Wine Advocate
"I met with proprietor Carlo Lisini Baldi on a chilly January morning with the piercing Tramontana wind blowing in from the north. When I asked how long his family has been making wine in Montalcino, he replied simply, 'We've always been here.' In fact, Lisini is the third-oldest winery in Montalcino, with documented family roots dating back to the 16th century. The Lisini 2021 Brunello di Montalcino opens with pretty fruit, led by a touch of candied cherry that sits front and center, followed by lifted aromas of wild plum, sweet earth and pressed blue flower. I like the aromatic intensity and snappy, fruit-forward personality of this wine, which immediately draws you in. While the attack is generous and expressive, there is clear power and structure on the back end that give the wine depth and shape."
- 94 POINTS – Kerin O'Keefe – KerinOKeefe.com, November 2025
"The 2021 Lisini opens with enticing aromas of lavender, Mediterranean scrub, forest berry and dark spice. Full-bodied and savory, the palate features wild raspberry, Marasca cherry, star anise and bitter orange alongside smooth, enveloping tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it bright."
- 94 POINTS – James Suckling – JamesSuckling.com
- 93 POINTS – Jeb Dunnuck – JebDunnuck.com
When to drink it
Eric Guido gives a drinking window of 2028 to 2046, and Bruce Sanderson suggests 2029 to 2048, while Monica Larner expects it to start drinking from 2027. This is the sort of wine you buy a case of, to watch it develop over 20 years.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Lisini |
| Wine: |
Brunello di Montalcino |
| Vintage: |
2021 |
| Variety: |
100% Sangiovese |
| Region: |
Sant'Angelo in Colle, Montalcino, Tuscany |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Classification: |
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG |
| Alcohol: |
14.5% |
| Oak: |
36 months in large Slavonian oak casks |
| Closure: |
Cork |
| Cellaring: |
2028 to 2046 (Eric Guido, Vinous) |
Where to buy
The Lisini Brunello Di Montalcino 2021 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What grape is Lisini Brunello di Montalcino made from?
Brunello di Montalcino is made only from Sangiovese, and Sangiovese is the only grape Lisini grows.
When should I drink Lisini Brunello 2021?
Vinous suggests 2028 to 2046, so it will reward patience, though The Wine Advocate expects it to open up from 2027.
Is 2021 a good vintage for Brunello di Montalcino?
Yes. Vinous rated the 2021 Brunellos highly for their grace, vibrancy and purity, after a warm, dry season with cool September nights.
Who founded the Brunello di Montalcino Consorzio?
Elina Lisini was among the 25 estates that founded the Consorzio in 1967, and she later served as its president.
What food goes with Lisini Brunello?
It suits grilled steak, slow-braised beef, roast lamb, wild boar pasta and aged pecorino.
Where can I buy Lisini Brunello Di Montalcino 2021?
The Winery sells Lisini Brunello Di Montalcino 2021 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
