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2022 Rosso di Montalcino
J.G. Benda
John Benda has only recently burst onto the scene in Montalcino, but he has already made a big splash. Following a radical career shift that saw him go from banking in London to following his dream of crafting world-class Sangiovese in Tuscany, he has established himself in the space of just a few years as one of the most exciting growers in Montalcino.
His secrets? Ideal vineyard placement, with small, rocky parcels isolated in the woods at the area’s highest point, and a maniacal dedication to the study and practice of viticulture and winemaking. Only John’s second release to date, this Rosso is saturated with vivid, youthful, and exceedingly pure cherry fruit underlain by a stimulating vein of freshness. A stylish Rosso imbued with the heart and soul John puts into his craft, it belongs in every Sangiovese lover’s cellar.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sangiovese |
Appellation: | Rosso di Montalcino |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Tuscany |
Producer: | J.G. Benda |
Winemaker: | John Benda |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1998, 2006; 1.85 ha |
Soil: | Limestone, sandstone, galestro |
Aging: | Aged for 20 months in 25 hL French and Slavonian oak botti |
Farming: | Biodynamic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
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About The Producer
J.G. Benda
After developing a passion for fine wines and the stories behind them, London-born John Benda quit his job in finance and rededicated himself to learning all about wine. He made the leap and moved to Montalcino, where he spent two years learning the ins and outs of Brunello production. He then purchased an 18-hectare plot of untouched forest containing two 1-ha vineyard plots. It is truly an exceptional terroir, isolated deep in the woods at the highest point of the Brunello zone on soils rich in sand, limestone, and rocky galestro.
With his partner Zoë, John restructured the vineyards and introduced biodynamic methodologies.They spend every possible moment working their vines by hand in an effort to produce top-quality fruit, then use low-intervention, traditional methods in the cellar. John and Zoë produce energetic Sangiovese of incredible purity and vibrancy from their vineyards high in the woods. This young Montalcino prodigy is already making waves, and it is evident that J.G. Benda has a bright future crafting stunning wines from a lost corner of Tuscany.
About The Region
Tuscany
Perhaps no region is tied to Italy’s reputation as a producer of fine wine as much as Tuscany. Since Etruscan times, viticulture has played a prominent role in this idyllic land of rolling hills, and the Tuscan winemaking tradition remains as strong as ever today. With a favorable Mediterranean climate, an undulating topography offering countless altitudes and expositions, and a wealth of poor, well-draining soils, conditions are ideal for crafting high-quality wines. Add to that the rich gastronomical tradition—Tuscany is home to some of the country’s finest game, pastas, salumi, and cheeses—and you have the blueprint for a world-class wine region.
This is Sangiovese territory; in fact, it is arguably the only place in the world where Sangiovese reaches a truly regal expression. In spite of a rocky history with fluctuations in quality, traditionally produced Chianti has reclaimed its status as one of the country’s most reliable, food-friendly reds, while the rapid rise of Brunello di Montalcino shows the grape’s potential for grandiose, opulent reds allying power and finesse. Traditionally-minded growers have stuck to using only indigenous grape varieties and employing techniques like aging in massive wooden casks known as botti, creating wines of terroir that shine at the Tuscan table.
Tuscan wines have had a place in our portfolio since Kermit’s first visit in 1977. While the names of the estates have changed, the spirit of those first unfiltered Chiantis he imported live on through our current selections.
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Vintage Chart Mentality

Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch