Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016

Ashen earth and smoke give way to black cherries, wild herb, violet and incense, exotic spices as this Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. The palate is flooded with rich, velvety textures and a dense display of mineral-tinged dark fruits, all offset by a stunning mix of vibrant acidity and sour citrus tones. Poised and medium bodied, vibrant and savory, featuring juicy red cherry, orange zest and star anise accompanied by taut, polished tannins. Wonderful length. Shows intensity and polish.

This wine is made of 100% Sangiovese Grosso, mostly from the prestigious hill of Montosoli to the north of Montalcino located 250-300 metres above sea level on land dating back to the Eocene period characterized by calcareous, marl, argillaceous and conglomerate rocks. The vines are planted with south-west exposition and the grapes are picked by hand. An intense extraction with frequent pumping over is performed, followed by long maceration on the skins then aged 30 months in Slavonian oak barrels selected by Stockinger, then six months in bottle. Approximately 2500 cases are produced each year.

The vineyards are farmed according to organic protocols, though they are not certified. All fermentations are spontaneous, and all aging is done in Stockinger casks from 20-5 hectoliters in size. Approximately 3000 cases, mostly of Brunello, are produced each year. In rare vintages, a single vineyard Montosoli Riserva is made, but it’s only happened six times in the last twenty years. Otherwise, the Brunello is a blend of fruit from the Montosoli and Casanuova holdings.

Since the medieval times, this area has been prized for vineyards, and in fact Ian d’Agata refers to it as grand cru in his book Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs. Casanuova delle Cerbaie own 1.5 hectares in Montosoli’s sweet spot, and its vines were planted in 1999. The winery was founded in the late 1970s, but  since 2008 has been owned by an American connoisseur with a passion for classically styled Montalcino wines.