They say good things take time. It was seven years ago now that Langton’s Head of International Buying Jesper Kjaersgaard was first invited to try the wines of Tenuta Buon Tempo. Set amongst the preternaturally green hills of southernmost Montalcino, back then, it was an Estate in its early infancy. The Tenuta Buon Tempo winemakers were still reckoning with the fairytale terroir of Castelnuovo dell’Abate. The potential was there, Jesper thought when he tasted the wines, but it wasn’t yet fully realised. Now, their time has come.

‘I first tried the wines of Tenuta Buon Tempo seven years ago when they were very much trying to figure out how to best nurture the newly bought vineyards,’ remembers Jesper. ‘Since then, winemakers Alberto and Filippo have gained much knowledge and understanding of the soils.’

In 2012, Swedish oenophile Per Landin and his partner Janet Lansill decided it was time to take their respect for Italian red to the next level. With existing holdings in Bordeaux, the pair acquired the lands that would become Tenuta Buon Tempo (‘Good Times Estate’). Here were 26 hectares of abandoned land that needed patience and providence. Nurture the land, they believed, and it will nurture you in return. This was no get-rich-quick scheme, but a passion project steeped in constant experimentation, eking out the best way to work with the blessed terroir. Now, after years of quiet toil, their ship has come in. These are some remarkable reds.

Tenuta Buon Tempo holds a total of 28 hectares, of which 14 are vineyards. Production is entirely devoted to Sangiovese Grosso. Of the 14 hectares, just five are devoted to the production of Brunello and Brunello Riserva. The remainder grow fruit for the Estate’s Rosso di Montalcino and any special bottlings. When the estate was first established, 26 hectares of holdings had gone to seed. Since then, the team’s philosophy has been to rejuvenate and nourish the land for wines that best express Montalcino’s virtues.

The thoughtfully rendered expressions don’t necessarily adhere to the accepted definition of a ‘good time’ wines but, oh, they provide good times in spades. From the everyday elegance of the Rosso di Montalcino, to the esoteric charms of La Furba, and the sophisticated top tier Riserva, there’s so much to delight and discover. Brimming with the power and refinement so beloved by Montalcino disciples, these are wines that put the expression of terroir at their very core.

Since the beginning, Landin and the team have had great ambitions for Tenuta Buon Tempo. By 2030, they aim to achieve sustainability, measured as the confluence of minimal environmental impact, social solidarity, and economic efficiency in wine production and distribution. Now is certainly the ideal moment to get involved, says Jesper.

‘When I looked at the 2016 vintage at last year's Vinitaly, it was almost a shock as to how the quality had improved. The 2016s are hands down the greatest wines this estate has produced, and looking at 2017 and 2018 only confirms that this young estate is one to watch in the future.’

Good times are surely ahead.

Tenuta Buon Tempo Brunello Rosso di Montalcino DOC

With this wine, Tenuta Buon Tempo seeks to express the special terroir of Montalcino in an everyday drinking Rosso. An evocative introduction to the range, this wine is made with approachability and instant drinkability in mind (although it can be held for short to medium term ageing). It’s full of juicy verve. Intensely aromatic, red-fruited, a little tannic, and with a refreshing rush of acidity thrown in.

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