Gianni Brunelli - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - Le Chiuse di Sotto - 2020

Ruby red wine with garnet glints. In the glass, the 2020 Brunello presents an enchanting bouquet of ripe cherries, wild berries and dried rose petals, complemented by notes of licorice, tobacco, leather and subtle spices. As the wine opens, earthy scents and a hint of balsamic also emerge.

Flavors
The taste is powerful yet refined, with a perfect balance between fruit, acidity and tannins. Juicy cherries, plums and blackcurrants dominate the palate, supported by spices, cedar and a hint of bitter chocolate. The structure is firm, with an elegant freshness and a long, silky finish.

Vineyards
The grapes for this wine come from two plots:

Le Chiuse di Sotto – just north of Montalcino, at an altitude of 200 metres

Podernovone – south of Montalcino, at an altitude of 350 metres

This geographical spread gives the wine complexity, as the grapes come from both cooler and warmer zones.

When planted
The oldest vines in Le Chiuse di Sotto were planted in 1989, while Podernovone has been further developed in the years since with carefully selected clones of Sangiovese Grosso.

Soil type
The soil in Le Chiuse di Sotto consists of heavy clay and limestone, which gives the wine strength and structure. Podernovone, on the other hand, has poor, stony galestro soil, which contributes finesse and aromatic complexity.

Harvest year 2020
The year 2020 was challenging but ultimately successful in Montalcino. A mild winter, a relatively cool and wet spring and a warm, dry summer produced perfectly ripe grapes with good acidity. Rain in early September helped to round off the ripening without losing freshness.

When were the grapes picked?
The harvest took place between September 20 and 30, 2020, with a manual selection of only the healthiest and ripest bunches.

Winemaking process
After harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and softly pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Maceration lasts for about 25 days, with regular pumping overs for optimum extraction of colour, flavour and tannins.

Maturation
The wine is then aged for 30 months in large Slavonian oak barrels (botte) of 25 and 30 hl, followed by a period of bottle ageing in the estate's cellars. This traditional approach emphasises the elegance and purity of the Sangiovese grape.

Wine and food combination
This Brunello is a perfect companion for game dishes, slow-cooked beef, mushroom risotto and old cheeses. Also delicious with a truffle dish or grilled rack of lamb. For the enthusiast: also a meditation wine of quality on its own.

95/100 Points Parker

The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is balanced, finely textured and shows smooth consistency over the palate. There is a lot of life in this vibrant Brunello. Red and purple fruits segue to sweet earth and iris root. I especially love the mouthfeel achieved here. It's that combination of richness and extreme silkiness that sets it apart.

95/100 Points James Suckling

Balsamic and complex profile to this wine. The nose exudes dried flowers, licorice, raspberries and redcurrants. Very crisp and juicy, with full body and bony, chalky tannins due to its youth. Yet, it's sweet and balanced at the finish. This needs a bit of time for better integration, yet it's a gourmet wine with very good substance for the long haul. Best after 2025.