Southeast of Montalcino, where the rolling hills descend gently toward Monte Amiata, a young estate with an ancient spirit has taken root. Aminta (link) – the name sounds like a verse, soft yet clear.
Here, landscape, history, and family converge in a quiet dialogue. For those who listen closely, the glass reveals more than wine: a signature shaped by light, stone, and time.
Famiglia Cecchi and the Birth of a New Estate
With the creation of Aminta, the Tuscan Famiglia Cecchi – a name woven into the fabric of Italian wine since 1893 – opens a new chapter in its long history.
After decades of experience in areas such as Chianti Classico, the Maremma, and Montepulciano, the family chose in 2018 to return to the origins of Sangiovese – to Montalcino. In Castelnuovo dell’Abate, in the southeastern part of the appellation, they found a land of rare identity, which they decided to explore with sensitivity and restraint. Thus was born Aminta, a deliberately small and essential project that unites the place’s character with the Cecchi family’s touch. We can nevertheless regret that the family’s website (link) does not mention Aminta, acquired in 2019.
The Name – Between History and Poetry
The name Aminta carries a double meaning. It pays homage to Anita Sardelli, mother of Andrea Cecchi, while also evoking the nearby Monte Amiata, whose protective presence shapes the region’s climate.
It also nods to poetry: L’Aminta, Torquato Tasso’s pastoral play, speaks of harmony, nature, and purity – the very same ideals that guide this estate.
Aminta is also a play written by Torquato Tasso, known as Le Tasse, in 1573, performed during a festival in the gardens of the court of Ferrara. The actors and audience were nobles living at court, capable of understanding the subtle allusions the poet made to this lifestyle, in contrast to the idyllic life of shepherds. But here we digress, as there is no correlation between this Aminta and that of the Cecchi family.
Location and Terroir
Aminta covers about six hectares of vineyards, lying between 250 and 400 meters above sea level. The estate is divided into three parcels – Pian Bossolino, Cantina, and Caselle – each with distinct soils and microclimates.
The geology is strikingly diverse: galestro, pietra forte, and messinian sands form the foundation of these vineyards, fostering wines of depth and mineral tension.
The nearby Monte Amiata acts as a climatic shield, moderating extreme weather and ensuring even ripening – an essential factor in the warmer vintages of recent years.
Grape and Philosophy
Aminta’s entire surface of six hectares is devoted exclusively to Sangiovese Grosso. From the very beginning, the estate has followed a philosophy of restraint — low yields, meticulous selection, and a focus on purity rather than volume. While the Brunello di Montalcino regulations permit up to 8 tonnes of grapes per hectare, Aminta’s 2020 debut vintage yielded only around 3,000 bottles. Even allowing for young vines not yet in full production, this corresponds to 15–25 hectolitres per hectare, a level more in line with fine Burgundy than with most Tuscan estates.
Each parcel is harvested by hand and vinified separately. Fermentation takes place in small, temperature-controlled vessels, with gentle extraction aimed at preserving aromatic precision and the natural texture of Sangiovese. Maturation occurs in large Slavonian oak casks, respecting the classical Brunello style and favouring transparency over oak influence.
Only the most complete and expressive lots are selected for the Brunello di Montalcino, while other components — including the produce of younger vines – are bottled separately as Rosso di Montalcino, offering a more immediate interpretation of the same terroir.
This rigorous, small-scale approach marks a decisive departure from the Cecchi family’s traditional large-volume profile and positions Aminta as a project of genuine ambition and integrity within the Montalcino landscape. Last but not least, Aminta is less a new label than an interpretation of place – Montalcino rendered in a quiet, mineral, and precise voice.
The Wines
Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023
The second label – limited to 3,100 bottles – offers a glimpse of Aminta’s stylistic direction. Light and fragrant, it displays delicate and balanced notes of red berries, violets and a hint of earth in an uncomplicated, inviting format. On the palate, it is refined, with delicate tannins and crystalline freshness. The acidity is juicy and the finish subtly spicy. An all-round fresh and fruity wine for early enjoyment, yet with surprising depth and seriousness. 17-17.25/20 (89-90/100).
Brunello di Montalcino 2020, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
The estate’s debut – exactly 3’120 numbered bottles – comes from a classically balanced vintage. The wine reveals subtle and harmonious aromas of ripe dark cherries and raspberries, a hint of tobacco, a touch of fennel, a hint of blood orange, dried herbs and warm stone in a delicious, refined bouquet. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet elegant, almost graceful, deep, clear and finely structured, displaying the balanced tension typical of the south-eastern slopes of Montalcino. The acidity comes through very well, yet is very well integrated and provides freshness. Long, spicy finish.
A Brunello whose complexity should not be underestimated, captivating with its elegance rather than its power and showing promising longevity. 18-18.25/20 (93-94/100).
Strategy and Future Vision
With Aminta (link), the Famiglia Cecchi doesn’t seek size, but expression. The project is rooted in authenticity and long-term commitment – small quantities, controlled quality, and thoughtful distribution. Future releases are expected to include single-vineyard bottlings, highlighting the estate’s geological diversity.
That’s it
With Aminta, the Cecchi family returns to familiar ground, reimagined through a modern lens. The first vintage already shows remarkable finesse – a Brunello that combines the depth of the southeast with the poise of classic tradition.
If this path continues, Aminta could soon stand among the most compelling newcomers in Montalcino: small in scale, clear in intent, and unwavering in style.
