Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Vintage Report
After a fluctuating growing season that required attentive vineyard supervision, particularly in certain areas, this year’s was a fine harvest indeed. The superb quality of the grapes on Frescobaldi’s various estates was a reward for careful the work and good management decisions throughout the season. In vineyards characterised by deep, well-drained soils, special attention was given to the vines with a generous leaf pulling process and as a result, the grapes are in very good condition. A mild spring and cool summer months pushed veraison back to the first week in August, with harvest starting 15 days later than average in recent years.
Tasting Notes
This Riserva appears an appealing garnet-rimmed ruby, luminous and rich. Emphatic notes of dark-fleshed fruit are the first to emerge on the nose, including wild blackberry, redcurrant, plum, and blueberry, followed by toastier impressions of vanilla, sweet tobacco leaf, and roasted espresso bean. Capping this aromatic mosaic are lightly pungent nuances of balsam and eucalyptus oil. It enters the mouth warm and velvet-smooth, then reveals fine-grained, elegant tannins already well-integrated into the structure, bolstered by a zesty acidity. The finish, near endless, shows subtle fruit, and contributes to the fine overall balance of all of the wine’s components.
Technical Information
Variety: 100% Sangiovese
Yield/Hectare: 25 hl/ha (1,464 Tons/Acres)
Harvest period: First week of september
Vineyard practices: By hand, with cluster selection
Fermentation vats: Stainless steel
Fermentation temperature: < 30° C (86° Fahrenheit)
Alcohol by volume: 14%
Length of fermentation: 10 days
Length of maceration on the skins: 30 days
Malolactic fermentation: Immediately following alcoholic fermentation
Maturation method: Slavonian oak botti and French oak barrels
Length of maturation: 5 years, in accord with production code: at least 2 years in barrel, at least 1 year in "botte", and at least 1 year in bottle
Bottle formats: 0,375 lt., 0,75 lt., 1,5 lt., 3 lt.