Mastrojanni

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Country of Origin: Italy
Location: Montalcino, Tuscany
People: Francesco Illy, Owner | Andrea Machetti, Oenologist & CEO | Maurizio Castelli, Winemaker

Items

Mastrojanni 2020 'San Pio' (Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese) Toscana IGT Login — <1 Case
Mastrojanni 2021 'San Pio' (Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese) Toscana IGT Login — In Stock
Mastrojanni 2022 'Costa Colonne' Sant'Antimo DOC Login — In Stock
Mastrojanni (1.5 L) 2020 Rosso di Montalcino, Vigna Palazzetto, DOC Login WA 93+ In Stock
Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Login WS 93 In Stock
Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Loreto, DOCG Login WS 94 DEC 94 DEC 97 In Stock
Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Schiena d'Asino, DOCG Login WS 91 WA 95 In Stock
Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Schiena d'Asino, DOCG Login — On Order
Mastrojanni 2022 Rosso di Montalcino DOC Login — On Order

The wine estate Mastrojanni lies in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, in the south easternmost corner of Montalcino, in the Province of Siena. This is an area with a strong winemaking tradition and the homeland of Brunello. The inactive Mount Amiata lends great character to the Sangivese growing in this estate, as the soils are rich in gravel, clay, limestone and sandstone. The estate stretches over 90 hectares, 25 of which for vines, 14 for Brunello, with vineyards often over 35 years old. The height varies from 150 meters to 420 meters above sea level. The area enjoys exposure to all cardinal points, with more or less steep slopes. The average density is of 5,300 vines per hectare yielding below 5 tons per hectare.

Mastrojanni has been writing history with its wines since 1975, collecting awards from all over the world. Today, thanks to an exceptional terroir and men who have believed in it for decades, Mastrojanni has become one of the most respected Montalcino producers. They believe in what the vineyard can yield, so quantities vary vintage to vintage. If the vintage is poor, Mastrojanni has been known not to produce its Brunello, like in the years 1992 and 2002.

History of Mastrojanni: Andrea Machetti was born 50 years ago and has always lived in Montalcino. He never forgot his rural origins and at the beginning of the '80s, he first started his studies in agriculture. He first joined the Montadison Chemical Company and in 1983 he was asked to join the staff developing the new enological techniques in the new cellar at Villa Banfi. During this time he met Maurizio Castelli, a famous enologist who was the technical manager at Castiglion del Bosco – a 1200 hectares extended farm- who wanted Andrea Machetti by his side during the take over from Prenatal Company to Taliani family as vice technician and account manager to build the farm up as a winery.

The partnership between Andrea Machetti and Maurizio Castelli was a success and Castelli, who in the mean time became consultant enologist for many wineries in Montalcino. He spoke about Machetti to the Mastrojanni family as the only man capable of managing the great skills of the winery cooperating with one of the sons in the production and sales of wines. So in June 1992 he started this new adventure having the chance to apply all his knowledge and skills with all the love and passion for his territory. His philosophy perfectly fit in with the lawyer Gabriele (founder of the winery) one: "tradition first", wine comes first from the vineyard and only the maturing happens in the cellar. This is the reason why the Mastrojanni family has left him in charge to manage the vineyards, the cellar and his assistants. Often happened that the wine press would criticize him for his traditional wines but he stuck to his way without being involved with new enological trends, proud of the results recognized by the same press which criticized him.

His greatest goal has been not to introduce barriques into the cellar because he has always stated that Sangiovese has to maintain both its proper features and the ones given by the soil totally integral aging in great capacity botti. In the following years many events such as the death of the founders, the inheritance of the winery (which had in the meantime become a national and international brand) to their sons lead Andrea Machetti to manage the new Mastrojanni winery with the same old love and passion.

During these years a new neighbor arrived. Francesco Illy, always a lover of Mastrojanni wines, bought the nearby farm and started wine production. A great friendship was born. That is the reason why at the moment when first troubles started between the Mastrojanni brothers, Andrea Machetti asked Franceso Illy to acquire this small pearl. Francesco Illy became the spokesman of this proposal to his family who did not let this chance pass by acquiring through the Illy Group in September 2008, naming Andrea Machetti as CEO.

Media Links
Wine Enthusiast: Making Sense of Montalcino

Reviews

  • Mastrojanni (1.5 L) 2020 Rosso di Montalcino, Vigna Palazzetto, DOC
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 93+ (3/9/2023)
    Here's a new surprise, and a very big one at that. Available in magnum only, the Mastrojanni 2020 Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Palazzetto is symbolic of the winery's efforts to embrace the Rosso category of the appellation that has been overlooked for too long. Not anymore. Mastrojanni is not the only winery to invest in Rosso with new wines and dedicated vineyard sites. This wine has both. It shows dark cherry fruit and dried raspberry with an earthy sensation and grilled herb. Given its large bottle container, we have reason to hope for a positive bottle evolution.
  • Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Loreto, DOCG
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 94 (6/15/2023)
    An elegant red, with an attractive mix of cherry, raspberry, red flower, mineral and rosemary flavors. Juicy and vibrant, with refined, resonant tannins shoring up the long finish. This shows great balance and expression. Best from 2026 through 2045. 600 cases made, 60 imported.
  • Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Loreto, DOCG
    Decanter
    Rating: 94 (4/10/2023)
    Vigna Loreto intensifies the character of Mastrojanni's estate Brunello, like zooming in on a picture to isolate the focal point. It's flinty and stony on the nose with some cherry compote poking through. Formidably packed, the ripe core is girdled by gravelly tannins - still a bit rigid yet all is in place for a balanced evolution. With an energetic, minerally drive this is true to the 1.5-hectare vineyard's vigorous disposition while demonstrating some of the vintage's restraint.
  • Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Schiena d'Asino, DOCG
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 91 (11/30/2023)

    Supple and vibrant, this red exhibits cherry, strawberry, rose hip, sanguine and leafy flavors. Balanced overall, ending with light, chalky tannins. Ready to drink, but there's no rush. Best from 2024 through 2038.

  • Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Schiena d'Asino, DOCG
    The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 95 (12/14/2023)
    This wine is not labeled Riserva, but it could be for all practical purposes. The Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino has a dry quality of fruit, more brittle, if you will, with fallen autumn leaves, wild game, underbrush, hard salami and black pepper. Like many of the Brunellos from 2018, the primary fruit is not as bright. The tannins are finely textured, but I probably wouldn't age the 2018s as long as I would the 2019s or the 2016s. The last time this wine was made was in 2016, in fact.
  • Mastrojanni 2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Vigna Loreto, DOCG
    Decanter
    Rating: 97 (6/8/2023)

    (Best in Show) The 2018 vintage was by no means an easy one in Montalcino, as an unpredictable and jerky summer threw up an array of challenges. The results were variable, but the vintage at its best has delivered wines of considered and welcoming charm. This wine's scents are sweet, warm and open, built around a core of ripe plum. The palate is deep and secondary, meaning the plum is beginning to transmute into the mellower but less precise fruits of maturity; the tannins are prominent but well-rounded, while the acidity is more buoyant and vital than you might expect from the aromas.

  • Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: 93 (6/15/2024)

    As this develops on the palate, the purity of the fruit emerges, hallmarked by flavors of plum, rip cherry, wild herbs and iron with tobacco and bergamot accents. Solidly built, with dusty tannins vying for attention with the fruit on the lingering finish. Best from 2027 through 2042. 2,000 cases imported.