San Polino - Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - Cru Helichrysum - 2019

97/100 points Brunello di Montalcino Cru Helichrysum from the five-star vintage 2019, complex and pure.

The Helichrysum 2019 opens with an intense aromatic profile. You smell wild Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary and of course the characteristic helichrysum (curry plant) from which the wine owes its name. In addition, floral notes of violets come to the fore, mixed with red fruit, rosehip, tobacco and a hint of leather. In the mouth, this Brunello is powerful, complex and layered. Ripe cherries, blackcurrants, plums and orange peel are supported by lively acidity and firm but silky tannins. The finish is long, with notes of cocoa, balsamic and a mineral undertone.

The vineyards are situated at an altitude of around 450 metres on a soil of galestro (schist-like clay) and chalky marl. This poor, well-draining soil contributes to the refinement and minerality of the wine.

The grapes for Helichrysum come from a selection of the best plots of San Polino, on the south-eastern slopes of Montalcino. The location offers excellent sun exposure and constant ventilation, which ensures healthy, perfectly ripe grapes. The vines were planted between 1990 and 2002 and are farmed biodynamically, entirely by hand, without the use of synthetic agents.

The 2019 vintage is considered an excellent vintage in Montalcino. The growing cycle had ideal conditions: a wet spring that built up sufficient water reserves, followed by a warm but not extreme summer with large temperature variations between day and night.

The Sangiovese Grosso grapes for this wine were hand-picked between September 28 and October 5, 2019, at the moment of optimal phenolic ripeness. After careful selection on sorting tables, the grapes are spontaneously fermented with wild yeasts in open wooden vats. Fermentation lasts about 30 days with regular pigeage (immersion of the skins). No temperature control or additives - pure nature. The wine is aged for 38 months in large Slavonian oak barrels of 3,000 to 5,000 liters, followed by at least 6 months of bottle aging. This allows the wine to maintain its purity and terroir expression, with elegant integration of wood influence.

Wine and food pairing:
Helichrysum 2019 calls for culinary accompaniment: think of game dishes, truffle pasta, matured pecorino, or a slow-cooked ossobuco. The wine comes into its own with dishes with earthy, intense flavors.

97/100 Points James Suckling

Lots of bark, forest flowers, black cherries, blackberries and baking spices in the nose. Full-bodied with layers of gorgeous tannins that coat the mouth and give an enticing silky texture that is irresistible. Juicy finish. From organically grown grapes. So beautifully already, but even better in two or three years and beyond.