IL MARRONETO - 2026 RELEASE
This release comprises only three wines: Il Marroneto Brunello annata 2021, Madonna delle Grazie 2021 and Brunello Madonna delle Grazie Riserva 2020. This Riserva is only the second release since the inaugural 2013 vintage.
Il Marroneto chose not to produce any Rosso from the 2023 vintage because it was such a difficult year marked by heavy rain. The outbreak of Peronospora (downy mildew) reduced the yield so much that Alessandro and Iacopo Mori decided not to bottle any, a respectable, quality-conscious decision. I tasted the 2023 Brunellos, which are still in the making, and Alessandro and Iacopo still need to decide if they will release any.
The momentary sadness and disappointment of no 2023 Rossos Ignaccio and Selezione Iacopo will be compensated by the enormous quality of the 2021 Brunellos and the 2020 Riserva. It is such a joy to represent this fantastic producer. These wines should be in your cellar. We are proud to be the exclusive agent for the Hong Kong market.
Managing Director Corney & Barrow Asia
January 2026
THE STORY
“Marroneto is a small family-owned estate, but it represents my entire life”- Alessandro Mori, owner.
The Il Marroneto cantina and its iconic Madonna delle Grazie vineyard sit just outside the town of Montalcino. One accesses the winery by driving through a stone archway that acts like a gateway to a different age as you pass from the fortified old town to a steep hill covered by forest and planted with vineyards. This is a paradisiacal scenery for any wine lover.
The Mori family purchased the Il Marroneto estate in 1974, as a weekend family retreat to flee away from the intense city life of Siena. There was a vine on the property, used to make wine for mass (or so the legend says). Friends of the family encouraged them to plant more vines, convinced of the potential of the land And so, in 1975, they planted the first three hectares It was further expanded in 1979 then 1984 and again more recently to reach nine hectares across three sites. The Moris were advised in the early years by two illustrious Sangiovese and Italian wine legends, Mario Cortevesio until 1985 and then by Giulio Gambelli until 1994.
Alessandro Mori, who owns and runs the winery with his son Iacopo (who joined full-time in 2019), was a lawyer in a bank before becoming a full-time winemaker in 1994 This is when the quality of the production at Il Marroneto took a real upturn.
THE ESTATE,
THE VITICULTURE & THE WINEMAKING
The estate’s range consists of four wines. Two Rossos di Montalcino DOC (cuvées Ignaccio and Selezione Iacopo) and two Brunellos di Montalcino DOCG (the annata called Marroneto and the Madonna delle Grazie). There is a fifth wine rarely produced, a Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, and only bottled in magnum format. This year, the estate is releasing the 2020 Riserva, of which only 1,500 magnums were made.
The vineyard surrounding the winery is the source for the Madonna delle Grazie wines. There are another four hectares further down the hill, where the fruit for the Brunello and Ignaccio Rosso is grown. The estate’s plots are in Montosoli, an area rated by many as the best district of the appellation, located on a steep hill to the north of Montalcino town. There is a third vineyard in the southern corner of the Brunello area, destined for the Rosso.
The viticulture and winemaking are as natural and hands-off as possible. The winery still has no aircon system, so the temperature inside gently fluctuates with the seasons. The Moris tend to the vineyard in a traditional and environmentally friendly manner. They braid the vine shoots on trellises during the growing season (a technique called accapannamentoin Italian). They work on the canopy according to the rain and sun patterns to avoid disease or sunburn. They till the soil just once in autumn to increase natural organic matter Before harvest, they remove imperfect bunches of grapes to control yield and help reach complete ripeness.
Harvest is carried out by hand with fruit placed in small crates. The fermentation is conducted with natural yeast and fully destemmed berries, in open wood fermenters without any temperature control. They pump over several times a day for the rossos and the Brunello annata, but leave the Madonna alone. The berries for the latter are so concentrated that the winemaker is extremely gentle with the extraction Instead, they seek an infusion. The wines are then racked and stored in large botti for the patient ageing process and regular tastings. The botti are cleaned four times per year and are only replaced when deemed unfit for purpose-the oldest botti still in use is from 1974!
THE VINTAGES
“The 2021 Brunellos… are vibrantly fruit-forward, with highly expressive bouquets and crisp, crunchy textures. Their concentration and depth create a saturating tension that’s beautifully balanced by lively acidity, the saving grace for this warm vintage ” Eric Guido, Vinous
The 2021 growing season was not marked by any nerve-racking challenges. Whilst Covid-19 was still active, Europe had moved away from confinement, so vineyard teams were busy in the field. Iacopo Mori told me he was amazed by the wine's precision, despite warm temperatures and no rain for three months (from June to August). Vines surprisingly didn’t shut down due to the high temperatures and hydric stress The hot weather of mid-August was rapidly countered by timely rain at the end of the month Only spring frost affected the yield as there was an absence of any notable disease. Iacopo highlighted that 2019 to 2022 were fantastic vintages because of no serious outbreak of any fungus or pest. In general, the ripening period was a little shorter than in 2016 or 2020. Not at Il Marroneto; harvest happened on the 27 September, allowing ample ripening period for the bunches. The Moris brought a healthy harvest to the winery, smaller than average yet with good maturity and good acidity to produce energetic wines. 2021 is a notable vintage, more homogenous across the region and wine tiers than 2020, where it was winemakers who made the difference. Iacopo rates this vintage highly; he had a large smile on his face when he was describing the season. That must be a good sign.
THE WINES
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG MARRONETO 2021
It is one of these vintages when the wine jumps out of the glass to catch your olfactory senses. There is so much energy in 2021. Yet it is all about elegance behind this abundance of generosity. Dark fruit aromas come first followed by the pretty and crunchy aromas of the great Sangiovese wines. Bright cherry aromas, balanced acidity, soft tannins and a dense palate It is fleshy more than thick And already so inviting. There is the signature sweetness of the Mori wines followed by sharpness and precision.
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5+
Recommended drinking from 2027-2033+
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG MADONNA DELLA GRAZIE 2021
This is the cuvée for introspection. I wrote in conclusion of my tasting notes that the Madonna is a world unto itself. I tasted during previous visits and while in cask when the thickness of young age is very present. Whilst ageing in the quiet cellar, the wine tightens, the aromas come into focus, very much like a frame in the camera mirror while the photographer adjusts the lens The colour is deep and dense The wine is corseted, lacey, not shy or subdued but containing itself. Aromas of ripe red and black fruits progressively leave room for floral and citrus notes adding freshness to a dense palate. Concentration and complexity define this wine. The depth is unique and the weight is seductive. It is already a joy to drink (in a large glass…) but it will reward patience and cellaring.
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5-19
Recommended drinking from 2027-2036+
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG
RISERVA MADONNA DELLA GRAZIE 2020
The Madonna delle Grazie 2020 is a unique wine. It is a single-barrel selection from the Madonna vineyard and aged for over 54 months before being bottled. It is the second release of its kind after the 2013 vintage, and worth noting that Alessandro only bottles it in magnum format. It has a spectacular concentration of aromas and flavours. The texture is velvety and broad. It is a wine of volume and depth. Ripe black fruits dominate, but are never cooked or stewed. It displays the classic Sangiovese aromas of lively and crunchy fruits complemented by rich black fruit flavours, intense sweet spices, soft tannins and lifting tropical citrus fruits. It is a captivating wine.
Corney & Barrow Score 19.5
Recommended drinking from 2025-2037+
HONG KONG
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