Cupano at ProWein & Vinitaly 2019

Come see us in Düsseldorf and Verona!

Hall 13 / F33, with our German importer Wein Am Limit

Hall 9 / B8 n.57 in the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino area

To fix an appointment: cupano@cupano.it

Rencontres Henri Jayer 2019

Since 2004 Lionel has been attending «Les Rencontres Henri Jayer - Vignerons, Gourmets et Terroirs du Monde», which take place every year between late January and February at Château de Gilly-les-Cîteaux, Mecca of Cistercian viticulture, gathering about 50 vignerons devotee to the philosophy of terroir. 

Many prominent wine personalities, such as Aubert de Villaine, Lalou Bize-Leroy, Marcel and Jean-Michel Deiss, Anselme Selosse, Leonard and Olivier Humbrecht, Stéphane Derenoncourt, Philippe Charlopin, Loïc Paquet, Thibault Liger-Belair, Bruno Clavelier, Pascal Agrapart, Jean-Laurent Vacheron attend Les Rencontres. 

These meetings were founded in 1993 by the legendary Burgundian winemaker Henri Jayer and his friend Jacky Rigaux, Professor emeritus at University of Burgundy and renowned connaisseur of the terroir. Their purpose is to carry on the ideas and the legacy of a true Maître du Vin. 

This year's theme is: «La mémoire du vin». 

Here's a souvenir of last year's Rencontres.

M. Rigaux discovered Cupano back in 2004, when he talked about our Rosso di Montalcino 2002 on Elitewine:

Ornella Tondini, from Italy, and Frenchman Lionel Cousin purchased the 86.5-acre Cupano estate (35 ha) in 1996. The new owners felt that the east-facing hills, on which there had been no vine since philloxera hit the Montalcino region in the 19th century, held a promising potential. The bare land had never been subject to modern agricultural practices, which can often be harsh due to the use of chemicals, so the new proprietors decided to use biological methods from the very beginning. No pesticide, herbicide or fertilizers have ever been used on the Cupano Estate. Tondini and Cousin originally planted 5.45 acres (2.2 ha) of Sangiovese, a 1.23-acre parcel (0.5 ha) of Cabernet Sauvignon and almost 1 acre (0.4ha)of Merlot on the east and west hillsides. The geology of the Cupano vineyard is very diverse and made of rocky, clayey/sandy, and semi-sandy soils. The winery, which was built in 2004 to have as little impact on the environment as possible, could process grapes from up to 17 acres (7 ha) of vineyard and Tondini and Cousin do not plan to increase the size of the Cupano vineyard above that. The owners control the yield, strictly select the grapes and use only berries that have reached full physiological maturity. Refusing to follow modern winemaking practices, they do not use industrial yeasts. The first wines from the Azienda Agricola Cupano are exceptionally pure”.

Rosso di Montalcino 2002

This wine is 100% Sangiovese, with a 15 months élevage in Burgundy barrels (1/2 new, 1/2 one year old). The crimson colour is shiny and limpid. The first nose is elegant and powerful with spice aromas of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and pepper harmoniously intermixed with a delicate oaky note. The aeration reveals black fruit scents of bilberry and blackberry and delicate floral notes. The attack is both consistent and supple with a good acidity, which highlights the minerality of the wine. Despite the young age of the vine, the aromatic persistence is very good. This is the signature of a truly great terroir: great texture, beautiful minerality, great length, and gorgeous balance.

In 2006 Les Rencontres Henri Jayer led to Le Terroir et Le Vigneron, presenting all the wine makers' point of view about terroir, its prominence and richness. Here's what Lionel wrote about this topic.

Cupano on Vogue Japan

A new Brunello from a creator who studied with the god of Burgundy. 

Vogue Japan puts Cupano among the 4 wineries to visit in Montalcino, together with Biondi Santi, Mastrojanni & Castiglion del Bosco.

Full article here.

Come see us at Merano Wine Festival, 9-12 November 2018

Cupano will be present, like every year, at Merano Wine Festival, that will take place in the charming Meran Kurhaus from 9 to 13 November.

On Friday, November 9 we'll be in the Pavillon des Fleurs - table number 60 - for bio&dynamica.

Then, from Saturday to Monday, you will find us at Table 180 in the Rotunde where you will have the chance to taste a vertical of our Brunello di Montalcino (2007 Riserva, 2008 Riserva, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014 in preview), Rosso di Montalcino 2015, Ombrone 2015 and our fortified wine, Mutato di Cupano.

Furthermore, our Brunello 2013 figures out as the only Brunello in the running for the Platinum Award. Among more than 5000 wines tasted, just 54 of them collected more than 93 points and aim to the highest reward. Our Brunello stands alongside Le Macchiole Paleo 2015, Tenuta di Trinoro Palazzi 2016, Montevertine Pergole Torte 2015, Tua Rita Giusto di Notri 2015, Ornellaia 2015, Conterno Fantino Barolo Ginestra 2015, San Leonardo 2013, Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2014 and a few others - here's the full list.

Some points about 2018 harvest

This year we had a just enough winter, with little snow and some frosts at night, a natural panacea for the vines. Spring was very rainy, in a few weeks we reached almost two third of the average annual precipitation: we worked the soil in order to let the water in and we had to fight against mildew until the end of June, forced to make more treatments than usual but always far below the limits imposed by the organic rules.

In order to reduce the sugars in the grapes and to have a better ventilation between the vines, we started taking off the leaves on the northern side at the middle of June. For the same reason we waited until early July before topping the branches, to prevent an excessive reboot of the femminelle.

After the veraison we frequently thinned the grapes to restore the balance of the plants and to have more concentration in the fruits, for a yield of 45 quintals per hectare.

The harvest started on September 12 with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, then Sangiovese on September 17, 18, 21, ending with Cabernet Sauvignon on the 26th. The weather was extremely clear and sunny, leading to a slow maturation without a substantial gain of sugars that allowed us to choose the right time to crop.

With all the wines under 15 alcohol degrees, the natural fermentations were gently carried on through soft remontages et délestages. Elegance and finesse are common characteristics of the vintage, that will be transferred in the barriques approximately in January.

Our Brunello di Montalcino 2013 in the running for Merano WineFestival Platinum Award

The Merano WineFestival tasting commitee - The WineHunter - led by Helmuth Köcher tried our new vintages for the annual selection of the fair, which will be held from 9 to 13 November in the beautiful Kurhaus.

Rosso di Montalcino and Ombrone 2015 got the Red Award (88-89.99 points), while our Brunello 2013 figures out as the only Brunello in the running for the Platinum Award. Among more than 5000 wines tasted, just 54 of them collected more than 93 points and aim to the highest reward. Our Brunello stands alongside Le Macchiole Paleo 2015, Tenuta di Trinoro Palazzi 2016, Montevertine Pergole Torte 2015, Tua Rita Giusto di Notri 2015, Ornellaia 2015, Conterno Fantino Barolo Ginestra 2015, San Leonardo 2013, Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2014 and a few others - here's the full list.

We already received the Platinum Award in 2015 with Brunello Riserva 2009, while our Brunello di Montalcino 2002 was at the top of all the wines poured at the Festival back in 2007 with 99 points!

Cupano Rosso di Montalcino 2015 and Brunello di Montalcino 2013 among the best for Weinwisser

Our Rosso di Montalcino 2015 gets 17.5 points and figures out on top of the list of the vintages 2015 and 2016 tasted by the German magazine WeinWisser, together with Salicutti, Poggio di Sotto and Siro Pacenti.

On the other hand our 2013 Brunello stands in the top 15 of the millésime. Here's what they wrote about it:

Süss, duftig und gereift, mit delikater, flüchtiger Note und leichtem Anflug von Holz im Geruch. Feiner, delikater Auftakt im Mund, sehr elegant und mit feiner Säu- repräsenz, breit gefächert, süsslich und weit ausholend im Mund. Ein klassischer, hochreifer, finessenreich komponierter und zarter Brunello mit viel Spiel und saftiger Delikatesse. Ausgezeichnete Nachhaltigkeit und kraftvolle Struktur. 18+/20 –2040

Cupano Brunello 2013 among the top 10 of the vintage for Walter Speller, Jancis Robinson

Our Brunello di Montalcino 2013 gets 17.5 points and comes out among the top 10 of the new vintage for Walter Speller from Jancis Robinson, together with Salvioni, Conti Costanti, Pieve Santa Restituta, Podere Salicutti, Poggio di Sotto, Le Ragnaie, Canalicchio di Sopra, Gianni Brunelli and Sesti.

Here's what Speller writes abour our new millésime:

«Fresh cherry nose with creamy hints. Expressive red-fruit palate with posh oak notes. Fragrant, long and only just medium bodied. Exotic perfumed fruit on the finish with plenty of tannins, but balanced. Lots of oak and yet finely integrated with the cherry fruit».

Full article here.

Cupano at ProWein & Vinitaly

Come see us in Düsseldorf and Verona!

Hall 13 / F33, with our German importer Wein Am Limit

Hall 9 / B8 n.57 in the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino area

To fix an appointment: cupano@cupano.it

Brunello Week, Copenhagen

From Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 we'll be in Copenhagen to celebrate the Brunello Week at L'Enoteca di Mr. Brunello, together with Andrea Costanti, Celestino Pecci, Solaria, Talenti and Tassi.

Gildo & Jennifer will be hosting winemakers' dinners and tastings in their charming restaurant.

Further informations here.

Benvenuto Brunello 2018 - Toronto & Montréal

For the first time Cupano will attend the Canadian tour of Benvenuto Brunello, on Monday 5 at The Carlu in Toronto and on Wednesday 7 au Marché Bonsecours de Montréal.

We'll be showing Brunello 2013, 2011, 2009, 2008, Rosso di Montalcino 2014 and Ombrone 2014.

Benvenuto Brunello 2018: Cupano among the best for Gambero Rosso, Intravino and Vinodabere

After a very crowded and successful Benvenuto Brunello, we wanted to share with you a few articles and reports of the event.

We resulted among the best for Gambero Rosso, Intravino and Vinodabere #1/#2.

Rencontres Henri Jayer 2018

Since 2004 Lionel has been attending «Les Rencontres Henri Jayer - Vignerons, Gourmets et Terroirs du Monde», which take place every year between late January and February at Château de Gilly-les-Cîteaux, Mecca of Cistercian viticulture, gathering about 50 vignerons devotee to the philosophy of terroir. 

Many prominent wine personalities, such as Aubert de Villaine, Lalou Bize-Leroy, Marcel and Jean-Michel Deiss, Anselme Selosse, Leonard and Olivier Humbrecht, Stéphane Derenoncourt, Philippe Charlopin, Loïc Paquet, Thibault Liger-Belair, Bruno Clavelier, Pascal Agrapart, Jean-Laurent Vacheron attend Les Rencontres. 

These meetings were founded in 1993 by the legendary Burgundian winemaker Henri Jayer and his friend Jacky Rigaux, Professor emeritus at University of Burgundy and renowned connaisseur of the terroir. Their purpose is to carry on the ideas and the legacy of a true Maître du Vin. 

This year's theme is: «La taille et la greffe au service de la pérennité de la vigne? Quel avenir pour la vigne non greffée?». 

Here's a souvenir of last year's Rencontres.

M. Rigaux discovered Cupano back in 2004, when he talked about our Rosso di Montalcino 2002 on Elitewine:

Ornella Tondini, from Italy, and Frenchman Lionel Cousin purchased the 86.5-acre Cupano estate (35 ha) in 1996. The new owners felt that the east-facing hills, on which there had been no vine since philloxera hit the Montalcino region in the 19th century, held a promising potential. The bare land had never been subject to modern agricultural practices, which can often be harsh due to the use of chemicals, so the new proprietors decided to use biological methods from the very beginning. No pesticide, herbicide or fertilizers have ever been used on the Cupano Estate. Tondini and Cousin originally planted 5.45 acres (2.2 ha) of Sangiovese, a 1.23-acre parcel (0.5 ha) of Cabernet Sauvignon and almost 1 acre (0.4ha)of Merlot on the east and west hillsides. The geology of the Cupano vineyard is very diverse and made of rocky, clayey/sandy, and semi-sandy soils. The winery, which was built in 2004 to have as little impact on the environment as possible, could process grapes from up to 17 acres (7 ha) of vineyard and Tondini and Cousin do not plan to increase the size of the Cupano vineyard above that. The owners control the yield, strictly select the grapes and use only berries that have reached full physiological maturity. Refusing to follow modern winemaking practices, they do not use industrial yeasts. The first wines from the Azienda Agricola Cupano are exceptionally pure”.

Rosso di Montalcino 2002

This wine is 100% Sangiovese, with a 15 months élevage in Burgundy barrels (1/2 new, 1/2 one year old). The crimson colour is shiny and limpid. The first nose is elegant and powerful with spice aromas of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and pepper harmoniously intermixed with a delicate oaky note. The aeration reveals black fruit scents of bilberry and blackberry and delicate floral notes. The attack is both consistent and supple with a good acidity, which highlights the minerality of the wine. Despite the young age of the vine, the aromatic persistence is very good. This is the signature of a truly great terroir: great texture, beautiful minerality, great length, and gorgeous balance.

In 2006 Les Rencontres Henri Jayer led to Le Terroir et Le Vigneron, presenting all the wine makers' point of view about terroir, its prominence and richness. Here's what Lionel wrote about this topic.

Brunello Riserva 2009 among the 25 best wines of 2017 for Andreas Larsson

Our Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2009 figures out among the 25 best wines of 2017 tasted by Andreas Larsson, 2007 Best Sommelier of the World, for Tasted 100% Blind.

In his words, the list is made of «world class wines which possesse complexity, nuance, terroir expression, age worthiness, concentration and length».

Here's what Larsson wrote about our millésime:

«Medium deep ruby red with a lighter tawny rim. Pure but developed nose with sweet red fruit, dark cherry, fine spices, tobacco and some oak. The palate is concentrated but nicely rounded, rather a burgundian texture, with really fine purity, ripe tannin, clove, pepper and vanilla notes, with a lovely texture, plenty of ripeness but a fresh backbone and very long finish, stylishly crafted with elegance and complexity».

Full list: 

Château Troplong Mondot 2015 

Red Clos Fourtet 2015 

Château Trotte Vieille 2015  

Château Dassault 2015

Red Matervini - Antes Andes 2014 

Finca Sobreno - Ildefonso 2011

Bodega Numanthia - Termanthia 2012

Miguel Torres - Grans Muralles 2010

Montes - Alpha M Super Premium 2012

Lapostolle - Clos Apalta 2013

Wine & Soul - Pintas 2014

Bodegas Chandon - Terrazas de Los Andes Single Vineyard Las Compuertas 2013

Parusso - Bussia 2012

Delas frères - La Landonne 2015

Yann Chave 2015

Domaine des Remizières - Cuvée Emilie 2015

Cupano - Riserva 2009

Bodegas Tradición - Palo Cortado Tradicion Vors 30 Años NV

Neumeister - Saziani 2013

Holdvolgy - Culture 6 Puttonyos Aszu 2009

Bollinger - R.D. 2002

Piper Heidsieck - Cuvée Rare 1998

Schloss Gobelsburg - Ried Lamm 1oTW 2015

Erwin Sabathi - Ried Possnitzberg Alte Reben Chardonnay Große STK Lage 2015

Guy Charlemagne - Mesnillésime 2008

Big Bottle Party 2017 | Hotel Louis C. Jacob, Hamburg

Cupano will take part to the prestigious Big Bottle Party at 5-star Hotel Louis C. Jacob in Hamburg on November 12.

For this event - organized by the Best Sommelier of Germany Torsten Junker - we will pour two Imperial bottles (6L) of Brunello 2008 and Brunello Riserva 2007.

Many prominent producers and Michelin starred chefs will attend the Party. 

Further informations here.

Come see us at Merano Wine Festival, 10-14 November 2017

Cupano will be present, like every year, at Merano Wine Festival, that will take place in the charming Meran Kurhaus from 10 to 14 November.

Come see us at Table 176 - Tuscany, Rotunda - Foyer, where you will have the chance to taste a vertical of our Brunello di Montalcino (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 in preview), Rosso di Montalcino 2014, Ombrone 2014 and our fortified wine, Mutato di Cupano.

Here's a picture of our Brunello 2012 showcased at the prestigious Runggaldier Tracht Tradition Style in Meran together with Le Macchiole, Duemani, Arnaldo Caprai.

These bottles have been selected among the 60 wines aiming to Merano WineFestival Platinum Award, which will be granted during the fair. Full list here.

BaroloBrunello 2017 | Milano, 18-19 November

Cupano will participate to BaroloBrunello 2017 at Officine del Volo, Milano, on 18-19 November, alongside Damilano, Giacomo Borgogno & Figli, Mauro Veglio, Il Marroneto, Podere Salicutti, Poggio di Sotto and many others.

We will show a vertical of our Brunello di Montalcino (2012, 2009, 2008, 2007 Riserva) and Rosso di Montalcino 2014.

Tickets here.

Brunello 2012 on John Fodera's Tuscan Vines

John Fodera of Tuscan Vines about our latest Brunello vintage:

«The 2012 Cupano Brunello di Montalcino is an absolute masterpiece. My tasting sheet begins simply with the word “wow”. There is stunning purity here. The deep ruby color impresses and portrays aromas that lead to crushed red plum and wild cherry, flinty wet stones, sweet tobacco leaf, cedar, fennel and exotic baking spices. On the palate, this is smoooooth. Not a rough edge to be found. Integrated tannins are like a silky baby’s behind. Full bodied and fruit driven from fore to aft, the traces of complexity are in the powdery, minerally aspects of this wine which gets tinged with cocoa powder, eucalyptus and cypress. An absolute joy».  

Full report here: http://johnfodera.com/brunello-2012-part-2-complete-tasting-report/

Some points about 2017 Harvest

Lionel inspecting the vineyard before the harvest

Having faced a very special année, we can be quite confident before the fermentations.

The grapes were healthy when we picked them, generous, plump, they had well tolerated the drought. The only problem they had was the very unusual African heat of the year, which could change the regular parameters.

The alcohol content was very high but we managed to stay within 15°, mixing different parcels with various age and exposure of the vines.

Concerning the Sangiovese, the old vines, with their stony soil, were pretty much sensitive to the heat but they came out with a good tannic structure, alors que tannicity is not the thing of 2017 vintage. The new vines, for their part, were planted on an alfalfa-treated land, which fostered a deep rooting and brought consistent nitrogen. The fact of having some cooler vines despite of the canicule played an essential role: we made a choix de récolte in order to redress the balance by blending different lots, which allows us to have a natural fermentation.

Another decisive choice we made was a very soft cluster thinning, because we thought the sun itself would have made this kind of sampling. We didn't take much grapes off in Spring, so there wasn't a huge drop in terms of quantity.

We try to be respectful of our standards, without losing the peculiar characteristics of our wines, even in tough vintages like this.

Harvest 2017 Photo Stream