Carpineto makes this in Montalcino, the hill town south of Siena where Brunello has been grown since the 1800s. The 2018 vintage was a cooler, slower year in Tuscany, and the wines came out finer and more savoury than in the hot years.
- Sangiovese, the only grape permitted in Brunello.
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany.
- 2018, a cooler vintage in the region.
- Full body, high tannin, high acidity, dry.
- 14% alcohol, 750ml.
How it is made
Brunello di Montalcino must be 100% Sangiovese, and the DOCG rules require at least two years in oak and four months in bottle before release. The zone is small, a ring of hills around one town, warmer and drier than Chianti to the north. That extra sun is what gives Brunello its weight.
How it tastes
Red cherry and dried herbs first, then leather and tobacco as it opens. The tannins are firm and the acidity is high, so the fruit stays lifted rather than heavy. A robust wine with a long, earthy finish.
Good to know
Montalcino was a poor hill town until the 1960s, when a handful of growers proved its Sangiovese could age for decades. Brunello became one of Italy's first DOCG wines in 1980. The name comes from the local word for the brownish colour the grapes turn as they ripen.
Contains alcohol.
