“Simple and true to form, the 2013 Rosso is mostly Sangiovese with some Merlot mixed in for extra softness. You can't complain when a great value wine like this is made available from Montalcino, one of the most celebrated wine areas in Italy. The bouquet is simple and pleasing with dark fruit, cherry and light accents of spice. The finish is simple and correct. Altesino is an estate in dynamic motion. I had not been back in a number of years and the property has seen an impressive series of positive changes during my absence. Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini runs her historic property with deft precision and a careful eye for both aesthetics and quality. The yellow-rimmed botte in her cellar are a prime example of that feminine touch. When Elisabetta purchased the property in 2002 she had just emerged victorious from a bidding war with Château Margaux. The feisty Elisabetta who owns the adjacent Caparzo property tells me: ‘I just couldn't have French neighbors.’ Her aim in terms of winemaking is to stay true to Montalcino tradition. Because she owns vineyard parcels in the four quadrants of Montalcino, she has added blending flexibility to make the wines she wants by sourcing fruit with different ripeness from the various subzones.”