La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2011
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James
Suckling
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James Suckling
Another ripe 2011 with dried-berry and toffee aromas and flavors. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish.
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Purchased by Mr. Mauro Pacini in 1983 and upgraded with the most advanced winemaking installations, Fattoria la Lecciaia is a wine estate that combines a young, dynamic approach to the wine business, while strictly adhering to the antique traditions of Brunello di Montalcino. Located in "località Vallafrico" and surrounded by the vineyards of some of the most iconic estates of the area, the estate is in the center of the original micro-terroir where the world-famous Brunello di Montalcino was first produced. Fattoria La Lecciaia is a beautiful property of 60 hectares surrounded by the vineyards of some of the oldest and most renowned estates of Montalcino. The estate has 15 hectares of vineyards, of which 12 are registered for the production of Brunello di Montalcino. The rest of the property is under olives groves and woodlands. The unique terroir of this small but world-famous micro-area in the appellation of Montalcino, naturally enhances the scents and the elegance of Sangiovese grapes, allowing Fattoria la Lecciaia to produce the most quintessential "Brunello di Montalcino" wines: classic and intense, suited for long ageing.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.