Brunello di Montalcino DOCG AD1441 2019

This Brunello di Montalcino comes from the Castello di Tricerchi, built in 1441 on the Via Francigena by a noble Sienese family, north of Montalcino, some fifty kilometres south of Siena. Of an estate covering four hundred hectares, only thirteen are planted with vines. The AD1441 cuvée comes from the Vigna del Castello and Vigna del Velo plots, facing north and north-west at around 290 metres above sea level, on clay-limestone soils mixed with sand. Their freshness and wide temperature swings favour slow ripening.

The best Sangiovese Grosso grapes are hand-selected during the harvest in early October. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with long maceration on the skins. The wine is then aged for at least thirty-six months in large oak vats (foudres) of fifteen to twenty hectolitres, then rests for several months in bottle before release. Produced in very limited quantities, this cuvée is made only in great vintages.

This wine reveals notes of ripe cherry, morello cherry, blackberry, orange peel, violet, leather, forest floor, liquorice and sweet spices. The ruby colour with garnet glints heralds a deep, complex nose. The highly structured palate unfolds present but well-integrated tannins, lively acidity and a very long finish, the promise of fine development in the cellar.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!