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Le Chiuse is a small family estate on the north side of Montalcino, on the Montosoli slope. Its nine hectares of Sangiovese were part of the Biondi Santi family's land. Simonetta Valiani, a granddaughter of Tancredi Biondi Santi, has bottled the wine under her own label since the 1990s. Her first Brunello was the 1992, and her son Lorenzo makes the wine today. North-facing ground ripens late, so the wines lean firm rather than plump. Tastings are by appointment on weekdays, and three rooms sit among the vines.
Tuscany
The land here belonged to the Biondi Santi family from the late 1700s. That is the family that gave Montalcino its name for long-lived red wine. Simonetta Valiani's uncle Franco farmed Le Chiuse and made the wine here until 1990.
Simonetta, a granddaughter of Tancredi Biondi Santi, took the estate on fully in the decade that followed and began bottling under her own label. Her first Brunello was the 1992. She works with her husband Nicolo Magnelli and their son Lorenzo, who makes the wine today.
Seven hectares sit on the north-east face of the Montosoli hill around the cellar, at roughly 300 metres. Another two lie to the south east, nearer the town. North-facing ground warms slowly, so the grapes come in later and the wines lean firm rather than plump. It is all Sangiovese Grosso, the strain Montalcino uses for DOCG Brunello.
North Montalcino is the cooler side of the hill. Grapes ripen later there than on the warm southern slopes. The wines tend to come out tighter and more upright, with sharper red fruit, and they usually want a few more years before they open.
The cellar keeps to the old way. Wild yeasts, wine moved by gravity rather than pumps, and long ageing in big Slavonian oak casks instead of small barrels. Big casks give the wine air without giving it much oak flavour, which is the point.
Le Chiuse makes a Brunello di Montalcino, a Riserva called Diecianni, and a Rosso di Montalcino for earlier drinking. There is also a sparkling wine, Stellare, and a red IGT named Sferracavalli after the lane the cellar stands on.
You can come and taste, but only by appointment, Monday to Friday between eight and five. The estate also lets three rooms among the vines. They are called Rosmarino, Salvia and Cappella.
Nothing here can be booked online yet. The experiences below are documented by our editors. The estate's contact details are in Practical info.
Tasting
The cellar is open Monday to Friday, eight in the morning to five in the afternoon, and takes visitors by appointment only. Ring or email first. No price is published.
Not bookable online yet
Accommodation
The estate lets three rooms on the property, called Rosmarino, Salvia and Cappella. Availability and prices are handled on the estate's own site.
Not bookable online yet
Not seeing the estate you want? Estates without an online listing are reachable directly, and their phone and email are in Plan your visit.
Azienda Agraria Le Chiuse's current bottle selection is led by Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The clearest grape signal comes from Sangiovese.
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2 wines 
Tastings
Accommodation
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