Brunello di Montalcino, Vecchie Vigne, 2017
The Vecchie Vigne Brunello comes from a single plot of vines around the winery, averaging 50 years of age. After the main Brunello, the VV offers up more bullace, forest fruit and red plum, leading to a more serious and tannic profile on the whole that marks it out as a vin de garde. While less expressive initially, the fruit is crisp and the tannins firm, so it just needs a little time to unwind. It is a wine with a great track record for ageing.
critic reviews
The V. V. stands for old vines. With fruit from 50-year-old plants, the Le Ragnaie 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. is one of three black-label special selections made by this estate. Instead of a Riserva program, Le Ragnaie focuses on territorial identity and single-vineyard expressions. This pretty wine shows the distinctive concentration that comes from the old vines, but that is also a result of the hot growing season. Dark fruit, rose, spice and baked clay emerge from this medium to full-bodied Brunello. Production is 3,800 bottles.
The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie VV is vivid with wild herbs, crushed stone and dusty strawberry in a display that is airy and sweetly spiced. Ripe cherry-berry fruits flesh out on the palate as inner florals arch across the medium-bodied framework. There’s a fantastic salty mineral and acid mix that saturates over time, giving way to a coating of primary concentration and fine tannins that linger long. The 2017 maintains excellent balance and freshness for the vintage, yet it will require patience to be fully appreciated.