Who makes it?
The story of the Sesti estate reads like a Hollywood script: a medieval hilltop fortress, a castle tower built circa 1200 AD that used to communicate via drum and fire, and a jungle of overgrown ruins lovingly rescued in the mid-1970s. When renowned astronomer Giugi Sesti (the reason for the stars on the iconic labels) and his English wife Sarah discovered this UNESCO-protected gem in the heart of Brunello country, they knew they had found something celestial. Today, their daughter Elisa Sesti commands the cellar, keeping up a family tradition that apparently stretches all the way to a great-great-grandmother who was the mayor of Shrewsbury, England! While the estate spans 102 hectares of pristine Tuscan woodland and olive groves, Elisa strictly limits the vines to just nine hectares. It turns out that when your vineyards are nestled inside a historic fortress at the southern end of the Montalcino plateau, you focus on absolute quality over quantity.
How is it made?
How do you make the ultimate Tuscan Rosato? You start by pinching 100% Sangiovese grapes directly from the ultra-premium southern slopes of Montalcino, sitting pretty at 350 meters above sea level. This specific Sesti Rosato 2024 benefits from a brilliant piece of mother-nature engineering: a unique micro-climate where gentle sea breezes funnel through the surrounding woods, acting as a natural air conditioning unit to keep the grapes perfectly cool. Adhering to eco-friendly practices with maximum respect for the environment, Elisa oversees a precise winemaking process where the oceanic sediment-enriched fruit is fermented entirely in stainless steel. To preserve every ounce of its vibrant, youthful energy, the wine sees absolutely no oak aging and is bottled fresh in the spring, resulting in a strictly limited total production of just 4,500 bottles.
What does it taste like?
Hold a glass up to the light and admire the beautiful, shimmering hue of the very first rosato ever created in Montalcino. Because it is built entirely from elite Brunello di Montalcino grapes, this 2024 vintage delivers a spectacular sensory experience. The nose is greeted by enchanting perfumes typical of world-class Sangiovese, leading into a palate bursting with bright red berry flavors, crisp acidity, and a distinct, refreshing minerality born from those ancient oceanic soils. Clocking in at a perfectly balanced 13.5% ABV, it is designed to be drunk young, vibrant, and without a care in the world. Pair it with sun-drenched afternoons, dynamic antipasti platters, or a quiet moment pretending you own a 13th-century Italian castle.
