Brunello Brilliance
17 August 2020

A drinking Brunello from a first-rate, classic vintage and one of Montalcino’s greatest young stars, Le Ragnaie’s 2013 is a wine shimmering with resplendent, top quality Sangiovese fruit character. Juicy red cherry and strawberry fruit, underpinned by a sapid undertow, this is brilliantly nervy and captivating. The wild, sweet, red berry notes are immediately enticing yet crisp, being well-harnessed by a fresh acidity and woven neatly together by a fine thread of tannins. Upright and alert, this Brunello recalls the 2008, a benchmark vintage for Le Ragnaie, but offers more stuffing and depth. 60% of the grapes for this blend come from vines at Ragnaie itself, at 550 metres above sea level, the highest vines in Montalcino, complemented by grapes coming from Petroso and Castelnuovo dell’Abate. About Le Ragnaie    Read More

When we first bought and offered the unknown Le Ragnaie wines nearly ten years ago, we touted them for great things. Now they rank alongside the most highly-respected estates in the region. Organically-farmed and made in a traditional, gentle way by Burgundy lover and owner Riccardo Campinoti, these are wines that veer towards the fresh, drinkable side of the Brunello spectrum without sacrificing character and depth of flavour. The estate is centred in the area the cellars are located and after which they are named, Le Ragnaie. This is one of the highest points in Montalcino. Other prime parcels also include the warmer Fornace of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, neighbouring Poggio di Sotto, and the new addition, Montosoli, perhaps the most well-known and highly-regarded vineyard in the whole region, sitting on Montalcino’s north side. After long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts, the wines are aged in large, used wooden Slavonian casks for 36 months.