An Evening with Elisa Sesti
It was wonderful to have a long overdue tasting with Elisa Sesti in the Waud Handford cellar last week. The wines have a great following with us - we have sold them since their first vintage in 1995!
We have worked with Elisa and her father Guiseppe "Giugi" Sesti, who sadly passed away last year, and who did not initially choose a career in wine. Staying true to his venetian roots he trained as a Fresco painter, and studied music, art, and astronomy - the last of which became his profession, a true Polymath.
He met his future wife in North Wales whilst writing his first book on astronomy, and in 1975, Giugi and Sarah moved their family to Tuscany, where they purchased the abandoned ruins of the hamlet and castle of Argiano. Over the years, they painstakingly cleared the land and restored the buildings, slowly transforming the ruins of the castle. Work which is now carried on by Elisa, who has beautifully restored the breath-taking castle tower.
As well as the restoration project, Giugi was raising four children, serving as vice‑director of a local Baroque opera festival, and continuing to write books on astronomy - yet he still found time to visit local wineries and help neighbours in their vineyards and cellars. His passion for wine grew steadily, and in 1991 he planted 13 hectares of vines on the slopes surrounding the castle. The estate spans 100 hectares, with the remainder of the land consisting of woodland and olive groves. The soils, rich in oceanic sediment, had never been disturbed by modern farming or chemical‑dependent agriculture. Combined with a microclimate shaped by cooling sea breezes, the proximity of the mountains, surrounding woodland, and a gentle southern exposure, these elements make Sesti a truly unique estate in southern Montalcino - distinct in size, character, and approach from its neighbouring properties.
At the heart of their approach and philosophy is working alongside the cycles of the moon. A beautifully intuitive and patient way of working alongside nature. We tasted a selection of Brunello di Montalcino's and the Brunello Riserva 'Phenomena', which the artwork on the label captures an astronomical Phenomenon from the vintage. Elisa is now looking for the estate to be recognised as a star park.
The Wines:
Welcome Drink - Sesti Rosato 2024 - £20.99
A wine created as the family wanted something to drink in the warm Tuscan Summers, and we certainly thought a wine we would be drinking a lot this summer. A pure Sangiovese and showing those bright, crisp and refreshing notes. Freshly sliced strawberry and redcurrant, a touch of salinity and a savoury edge with a hint of sage. This is a gastronomic rose that would be perfect with seafood and aioli.
Flight 1
Sesti Rosso di Montalcino 2024 - £110.00 per 6 IB
This is very nicely balanced, fresh and expressive. Bright cherry and redcurrant flavours with some pomegranate notes. Vibrant and ideal with tomato-based pasta dishes. The wine closes with crisp, bright, and refreshing acidity. 2027 - 2032
Sesti Brunello di Montalcino 2021 - £320.00 per 6 IB | Magnums - £345.00 (3)
Deep, full, rich aromas of forest floor with some rich leathery saddle notes give an indication that this is going to be beautifully full and delicious; this is already accessible, with a lovely, elegant mouthfeel. The red fruits on the palate offer some freshness and suppleness with notes of red cherry, wild raspberry, and a darker kirsch note. Finely knitted tannins and a touch of star anise come through on the beautifully long finish. 2028 – 2038
Sesti ‘Phenomena’ Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020 - £440.00 | Magnums - £495.00 (3)
A rich powerful and opulent nose, with dark bramble and kirsch notes, and Christmas cake spices. The palate brings lively, fresh and vibrant flavours of wild strawberry, fig leaf, and logan berry, with beautifully enveloping silky tannins, and lovely hints of balsamic on the finish. This is already tasting delightful. 2028 - 2038
Flight 2
Brunello di Montalcino 2019 served from Magnum - £180.00
The fruit aromas on this absolutely dazzle and draw you in, blackcurrant, dark cherry, confit fruit and a balsamic note. The palate is beautifully woven with soft sleek tannins, a sweetness of lush red cherry, and some more perfumed bergamot and sandalwood, but beneath the pleasure right now is a tightly wound and gracious core with intricate structure that means this is going to be worth holding onto.
Brunello di Montalcino 2018 - £80.99
Only a year apart and an amazing contrast from the 2019 - more refined elegance here - with lighter, brighter, red fruit notes, red cherry, crushed rocks and rose petal give to its mineral tension, alongside a herbaceous rosemary note. The palate, lifted and refined, with tactile mineral tones and fine tannins on the finish. Classically elegant and refined.
Brunello di Montalcino 2013 - £79.99
On release this was one of the wines of the vintage. Some tertiary, ground coffee bean notes on the nose, and dried earth, but crunchy red fruit, and vibrant red cherry come through as well. Beautifully fresh and tensile on the palate, offering raspberry, red cherry and coffee for a lovely savoury finish. Beautifully deep and multi-layered with a long complex finish. Drinking superbly today and opened up as the evening went on. Decant, wait and enjoy.
Flight 3
Phenomena Riserva 2017
This opens with bright lifted floral notes of lavender, violet, dried petals, and stewed fruits, baked black plums, with cinnamon, and star anise - a lot going on. The palate has ripe red fruits, cherry, pomegranate, and bitter orange, giving a complex note, beautifully framed with integrated fine grain tannins. Lovely salinity gives a precise and long finish with an aroma of chocolate, lots of cloves, some allspice, and cherry. Round and balanced on the palate, showing lots of juicy cherry fruit which spreads out very nicely. Grippy tannins and a rich finish. Very enjoyable.
Phenomena Riserva 2016
Rich, bright, and opulent nose, with strawberry, bright cherry and summer berries drizzled with light balsamic. Layers of rosemary, worn leather jacket, black olive, and cigar box - great complexity. A powerful yet elegant wine, so much depth, but a real gentleness which keeps drawing you in. This is wonderful now and no doubt will have even more personality in 2036.
Phenomena Riserva 2000
The real surprise of the evening, from a hot vintage this was still very pretty and lithe. The nose has notes of cocoa bean and fennel seed, dark cherry fruit with some pomegranate and rhubarb notes. Spreads out very nicely with fine dusty tannins on the finish. A lot to still enjoy here.
Please get in touch if you are interested in reserving any of the new Brunello vintages - vicky@waudhandfordwines.com
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