Le Chiuse
レ・キウーゼ
Biondi-Santi's original vineyard, now a biodynamic Brunello benchmark.
Le Chiuse is a small, historic estate on the north-eastern hillside of Montosoli, just north of Montalcino, with vineyards long tied to the Biondi-Santi family — from the late 18th century until the 1990s these plots supplied grapes for Biondi-Santi's celebrated Riserva. Current owner Simonetta Valiani, granddaughter of Tancredi Biondi-Santi, began estate-bottling under the Le Chiuse label in 1993 with her husband Nicolo Magnelli, and the winery is now run together with their son and winemaker Lorenzo Magnelli. The estate's 7 hectares of Sangiovese Grosso are planted via massal selection from the historic BBS11 clone originally chosen by Tancredi Biondi-Santi for Il Greppo, farmed organically (certified since 2005) and biodynamically, with low yields of roughly 50-55 quintals per hectare. Winemaking follows a strictly traditional path: indigenous-yeast fermentation, gravity-flow vinification, and extended aging in large Slavonian oak casks. Annual production is about 30,000 bottles across Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, the Riserva 'Diecianni' (aged a full decade in the cellar before release, roughly 4,000 bottles), and a metodo classico sparkling wine, Stellare. The estate's Brunello di Montalcino 2016 was ranked No. 5 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2021 with a 98-point score.
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Who Is This For?
For traditionalists who seek Brunello with authentic Biondi-Santi lineage, organic/biodynamic farming, and the patience to age wines in large old-format oak rather than new barrique.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Le Chiuse connected to the Biondi-Santi family?
- Yes. The Le Chiuse vineyards on the Montosoli hillside supplied grapes to Biondi-Santi's Riserva from the late 18th century onward, and owner Simonetta Valiani is a granddaughter of Tancredi Biondi-Santi. She began bottling wine under the Le Chiuse label herself in 1993.
- Is Le Chiuse organic or biodynamic?
- Le Chiuse farms organically, with certification since 2005, and follows biodynamic practices across its 7 hectares of Sangiovese Grosso, keeping yields low at around 50-55 quintals per hectare.
- What is Le Chiuse's Riserva 'Diecianni'?
- Diecianni is Le Chiuse's flagship Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, made only in the best vintages from roughly 4,000 bottles and held in the cellar for a full ten years before release.
- How is Le Chiuse's Brunello made?
- It follows a strictly traditional method: fermentation with indigenous yeasts, gravity-flow vinification, and extended aging in large Slavonian oak casks rather than small new-oak barriques.
- How has Le Chiuse's Brunello been received critically?
- Its 2016 Brunello di Montalcino was ranked No. 5 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2021 and scored 98 points, among the highest recognitions for a Montalcino producer that year.