Italy · Tuscany

Cerbaiona

Cerbaiona is one of Brunello di Montalcino's most revered micro-estates, producing a single Brunello from just over 3 hectares of Sangiovese Grosso vines on the northeastern slopes of Montalcino. Founded by Diego Molinari in the early 1970s and later passed to his son, the estate produces under 10,000 bottles annually, making it one of the appellation's rarest wines on the market. With an auction average of $327 per bottle and a top price of $2,032, Cerbaiona ranks among the most valuable Brunello producers in the secondary market. The 2010 vintage — widely regarded as the finest Brunello harvest in a generation — anchors the estate's auction activity and commands significant premiums. Cerbaiona's winemaking is uncompromisingly traditional: long maceration with indigenous yeasts, aging in large Slavonian oak casks for approximately three and a half years, and bottle aging before release. The resulting wines show exceptional aromatic precision, combining the mineral graphite character of the northeastern terroir with extraordinary longevity. Critical scores from Wine Advocate and Vinous have consistently landed in the 95–99 range for top vintages, cementing collector interest. The estate's tiny production means auction availability is limited, and prices have trended upward over the past decade as collectors recognize Cerbaiona as a Brunello benchmark.