As we approach Benvenuto Brunello, which will take place from 15 to 18 February in the Cloister of Sant'Agostino in Montalcino, we would like to share with you some thoughts regarding the new vintages.
Cupano will show Brunello di Montalcino 2014 and Rosso di Montalcino 2016, while we'll have to wait until late September to introduce the 2016 Ombrone.
We're just back from Rencontres Henri Jayer, where many prominent wine personalities, such as Aubert de Villaine, Jacky Rigaux, Jean-Michel Deiss, Patrick Baudouin, Jo Pithon, Claude et Lydia Bourguignon, Loïc Pasquet, Jacques Puisais, Gabriel Lepousez, Gerard Margeon, Bruno Clavelier, Pascal Agrapart, Yann Chave, broadly appreciated our newcomers for their terroir-driven character and énergie.
2014 was a challenging vintage: because of the unusual humidity recorded, we had to clean the grapes on a regular basis in the vineyard and make a strong selection on the sorting table. We took some risks in order to gain maturity and once again our terroir, with its stony soil and great exposure, gave proof of its faculty in a tough year. Further, our defoliation practices let the grapes dry off more quickly and found an ally in the breeze, leaving less room to grape diseases.
The yield was quite low - approximately 30 hectoliters per hectare - but we're proud to present Brunello in all its vintages, showing potential for long aging even in a lighter and more complicated millésime. The result is a creamy, delicate wine with hints of green tea, well-integrated tannins, great acidity and length.
Rosso di Montalcino 2016 - which was bottled two months ago, right before Christmas - comes out from a sunny, rich année with a generous structure, a wine gouleyant, very pleasant to drink, complex, which will get better and better in the bottle.
See you in Montalcino!
