When seeking a traditionally made Sangiovese from this premium DOCG in Tuscany, you have to put Sassetti Livio Pertimali at the top of the list. This is a bonafide blue-chip Italian collectible that has somehow remained reasonably priced and can be enjoyed in the very near future or put to sleep in your cellar for the next decade. For serious Tuscan collectors, stocking the legendary vintners of the Montosoli hill—including icons like Altesino, Baricci, and Caparzo—is a non-negotiable requirement for a complete cellar.  

The 2020 vintage followed in the footsteps of 2018 as a year where nature demanded a sacrifice; due to difficult spring frosts, the estate again elected not to bottle a "Riserva." Instead, they diverted every drop of that high-elevation, top-tier juice into this "Normale" bottling. This savvy move means you are essentially receiving a "Declassified Riserva" that carries the concentrated power and complexity typically reserved for a bottle twice its price.

The critics have been quick to validate this "super-charged" bottling, with the 2020 earning a 94-point score from Eric Guido at Vinous, who praised its "balanced inner sweetness" and "tremendous length," alongside equally high praise and a 94-point score from James Suckling. It’s a masterful performance from an estate that has been a cornerstone of the region since Livio Sassetti helped found the Brunello consortium in 1967.

The 2020 is classic Sassetti through and through: balsamic-tinged black cherries and plums combine with minty herbs and hints of undergrowth to create a seductive, silken texture. It is an invigorating, aromatic, and powerful style that remains one of the most affordable Italian collectibles on the market today. Simply put, when the Riserva fruit is "hiding" in the Normale, the quality far exceeds the price point!

Critical Acclaim:

94 Points, James Suckling: 

• “A fresh and crunchy red with plums and berries, as well as some orange peel. It’s medium-bodied, firm and crisp with good balance. I like the way it’s not trying to do too much. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two.”

94 Points, Vinous Media: 

• “Balsamic-tinged black cherries and plums combine with minty herbs and hints of undergrowth as the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known in the glass. It possesses a balanced inner sweetness, deep mineral aromas and silken textures that create a seductive impression. It finishes with tremendous length and potency, leaving nuances of licorice and spiced citrus. Edgy tannins resonate yet don't get in the way of the 2020s' giving personality. - By Eric Guido, November 2023”