SANGIOVESE 100%
The Brunello di Montalcino, DOCG since 1980, is produced in Tuscany about 40 km south of Siena, in the area of Montalcino. The wine takes its name from this Unesco World Heritage Site. The Montalcino area is made up of about 24,000 hectares, although only 15% of these are dedicated to grape cultivation. The great Sangiovese variety, from which Brunello of Montalcino is made, is very sensitive to the land on which it is grown. Here in Montalcino several different geological typologies intersect, such as clay, tuff, and so-called original rocks, limestone and marl. These last two are found at the higher elevations.
The higher location of the plants, together with a rich mosaic of variables, have determined the character of this Brunello, since its origin. The plants in the territory of Montalcino grow at elevations that range from about 120 to 650 meters above sea level. The cultivation area can be divided into four sub-zones, oriented according to the cardinal directions. The most utilized method of vine training is that of spurred cordon. The Mediterranean climate tends to be dry, although some inflections of the continental climate are present. The nearby Monte Amiata often helps mitigate meteorological events of great intensity.
In the cantina, the Brunello di Montalcino typically brings together several plots located in different areas of the cultivation zone to guarantee a wine not too homogeneous nor too distinguished by a single cru. Recently however, numerous agencies have developed a concept of viticulture that privileges wines obtained from a single vineyard, beyond the average geographical placement. The aging of the Brunello di Montalcino takes place in wood for at least two years during which the producer may choose the dimensions of the barrels. This is followed by 4 months in the bottle. In order to earn the distinction of riserva, the wine must be age for six years, subject to a period of at least two years of maturation in wood.
2012 VINTAGE
To clarify; this was a very good vintage in which a cold winter and a very hot summer - though rainy before the harvest - yielded very clear outcomes. The great result was uniform on all the slopes, even where the southern part has always been more temperate and the plants already accustomed to the intense summer heat. Even if it is likened to another recent and very good vintage, that of 2010, the record still goes to 2012, by virtue of a lower characteristic mass that is amply compensated by a great finesse and elegance.
96/100 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Pianrosso 2012
CIACCI PICCOLOMINI D’ARAGONA Aromas of red - red like the strawberry and sour cherry that dominate on the nose, recurring precisely in the mouth, taking off with a sweet and slightly round dimension that recalls strawberry, and then tapering off on the tonality of pomegranate and rhubarb. A spicy complexity with a touch of star anise. Powdery tannins.
