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Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Toscana, Italy
Renieri farms organically on volcanic soils in the south of Montalcino, crafting this Rosso with precision and character. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and matured in large barrels, allowing Sangiovese’s purity to take centre stage. Aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, dried rose and wild herbs lead the nose. The palate is energetic and juicy, with supple tannins and a savoury, mineral core that lifts the finish. A wonderful snapshot of the estate’s Brunello pedigree in a more immediate, food-friendly form. Pair with roasted meats, tomato pastas or Tuscan bean stew. Bright, authentic and quietly complex.
The Producer
Marco Bacci’s hand is also behind this rising star. He purchased the estate in 2001 and soon planted more than 100 hectares of which approximately 30 are Sangiovese and the remainder includes parcels of Petit Verdot, Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. The estate’s greatest natural asset is, however, the exposure: it faces due east and the grapes, planted on steep slopes, profit from the cooler morning sun. The new winery was completed in 2003 and uses gravity feed coupled with an array of the latest in stainless steel and temperature control.
Interestingly, there is not a barrique or tonneau in sight: The Rosso is aged exclusively in steel and the Brunello in botte. The Rosso is a seriously impressive expression of Sangiovese with a refreshingly pure nose of cold tea, tomato, mulberry, Morello cherry and forest floor. The Brunello is very elegant and has scooped a perfect 100 points twice; the price reflects this. These are elegant, authoritative and seductive wines with huge levels of extract, plenty of structure, and very finely sculpted fruit. Scented, complex, layered, tight: they will develop over the next decade into some of the DOCG’s finest wines. Do not miss them.