2019 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

 ABOUT THIS WINE

The fruit for this wine comes from four unique sites at different altitudes, all in different parts of the appellation. Le Ragnaies Brunello is a tour de force of Sangiovese that runs the entire continuum of Sangiovese. It begins auspiciously with wild cherry, later unfolding pressed blue flowers, spices and potting soil. In addition to these typical tones, there are also cherry, cassis and other classic Sangiovese aromas, followed by notes of dried mint and Mediterranean herbs in the impressive final. The lasting impression of this very special Brunello is its brilliance and purity, which inspire us every year, especially in the wines of Le Ragnaie. This wine sees 36 months in Slavonian oak.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Le Ragnaie is known for its elegant, terroir-driven wines that stand out in this Tuscan powerhouse category. The owner and winemaker, Riccardo Campinoti, acquired the property in 2002 and has expanded the estate to include 28 hectares covering three distinct parcels within Montalcino. The parcels Le Ragnaie and Petroso both are centered around the village of Montalcino and have the region’s highest elevation vineyards and oldest winemaking history, respectively. Additionally, the vineyards La Fornace Loreto and La Cava lie in the southern portion of Montalcino within Castelnuovo dell’Abate, adjacent to the iconic Poggio di Sotto.

Le Ragnaie makes complex, traditional wines from Sangiovese Grosso, Riccardo’s wines exhibit elegance and finesse from by farming some of the highest altitude vineyards in Montalcino. All four Brunello wines are fermented in concrete without selected yeast followed by a long maceration up to 90 days and three years in large Slavonian oak botti. All wines are bottled unfiltered and certified organic in the vineyards and cellar.

When asked about his winemaking, Riccardo describes himself firmly as a Traditionalist. He believes in long maturations, light-handed winemaking, elegant tannin extraction, refined concentration and aging in large Slavonian oak barrels. He pays close attention to yields so as to not create heavy handed wines, allowing the terroir of each site to be fully expressed.