Tasting notes – Aromas and flavors
Color: Deep ruby red with garnet nuances.
Aroma: An intense and layered bouquet of ripe black cherries, wild strawberries, raspberries, and dark berries. Over time, refined aromas of violets, dried roses, licorice, Mediterranean herbs, and mint emerge. Subtle notes of cedar, tobacco, forest floor, and spicy spices add further complexity.
Flavor: Full-bodied and concentrated, with a beautiful combination of ripe dark fruit, fresh acidity, and firm yet ripe tannins. The wine opens with juicy cherries, blackberries, and plums, followed by nuances of licorice, spices, and minerality. Despite its power, the wine retains remarkable freshness and elegance.
Finish: Long, intense, and refined, with lingering fruit, savory minerality, and subtle spice. The tannins give the wine a firm structure and indicate excellent aging potential.
The Uccelliera 2021 is a Brunello with a distinctive personality: powerful without becoming heavy, rich without losing its freshness.
Andrea Cortonesi – The independent winemaker behind Uccelliera
The story of Uccelliera is inextricably linked to Andrea Cortonesi, a winemaker known for his independent character, determination, and deep commitment to the land where his grapes grow.
Andrea grew up in a farming family and learned the work in the vineyards from an early age. In 1986, he purchased the historic Uccelliera estate near Castelnuovo dell'Abate, southeast of Montalcino.
His philosophy is rooted in respect for nature and the character of his vineyards. He does not strive for a standardized wine style, but wants each vintage to express itself as authentically as possible.
His Brunellos stand out for their combination of ripeness, concentration, power, and remarkable aromatic refinement. This distinctive style has earned Uccelliera an excellent international reputation.
A special relationship with BrunoloVini since 2010
Our relationship with Andrea Cortonesi dates back to 2010. Over the years, we have come to know Uccelliera as a producer who remains true to his convictions and pays exceptional attention to the quality of his wines.
We value Andrea not only for the high scores his Brunellos receive almost every year, but above all for his personality, passion, and unwavering commitment to quality.
That we can once again offer the Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2021 is therefore particularly meaningful to us. It is a wine from a producer we have known for many years and whose character and quality we particularly appreciate.
Vineyards and terroir – Castelnuovo dell'Abate
The Uccelliera vineyards are located in the southeastern part of Montalcino, around Castelnuovo dell'Abate, not far from the famous Abbey of Sant'Antimo.
This area is known for its relatively warm location and the opportunity to allow Sangiovese to ripen optimally. The elevation differences between the various plots also create variation in microclimate, ripening, and aromatic development.
For the 2021 Brunello, Andrea Cortonesi selected grapes from approximately 11 hectares of vineyards, located between 150 and 350 meters above sea level.
Soil type: A combination of calcareous clay, sand, marl, and mineral-rich, stony soils. This variation contributes to the wine's complexity and structure.
Planting years: 1975, 1988, 1998, and 2000. The different ages of the vines create an interesting combination of concentration, ripe fruit, and refinement.
Planting density: Approximately 3,000 to 5,700 vines per hectare, depending on the plot.
The vineyards are cultivated with respect for the soil, grape variety, and the specific conditions of each harvest year.
What makes this Brunello special is that Andrea combines grapes from several plots. The warmer, lower-lying vineyards provide ripeness and power, while the higher plots contribute freshness, aromatic tension, and balance.
2021 Harvest – Power, freshness, and precision
2021 is considered one of the interesting classic Brunello vintages in recent years.
The growing season began with a relatively cold winter, followed by an early spring. In early April, night frost caused localized damage to young shoots, but the vineyards were able to recover during the remainder of the growing season.
The summer was warm and exceptionally dry. Fortunately, extreme heatwaves were largely avoided, and temperature differences between day and night helped preserve fresh acidity and promote good aromatic development.
During the final stage of ripening, the grapes benefited from favorable weather conditions.
At Uccelliera, the manual harvest began on September 20, 2021. The grapes were carefully selected and brought to the winery in optimal condition.
The result is a Brunello with a remarkable combination of concentration, aromatic precision, fresh acidity, and ripe tannins.
This makes 2021 particularly suitable for wine lovers seeking a powerful Brunello who also value elegance and the potential for long-term development in the bottle.
Winemaking process and aging
Andrea Cortonesi combines traditional winemaking with carefully applied modern techniques, focusing on preserving the natural character of the Sangiovese.
After the manual harvest, the grapes are destemmed. Dry ice is used during processing to limit oxidation and protect the grapes' aromatic properties.
The grapes are held at a low temperature for approximately seven to eight days, after which alcoholic fermentation begins spontaneously using the natural yeasts present.
Vinification: Alcoholic fermentation lasts approximately 25 to 30 days, during which the temperature is controlled and the must is regularly pumped over. This carefully extracts color, aromas, and tannins from the grape skins.
After alcoholic fermentation, malolactic conversion takes place in stainless steel tanks.
Barrel aging: The wine ages for at least 24 months in oak barrels of various sizes, sourced from both Slavonia and France.
Bottle aging: After barrel aging, the wine undergoes at least six more months of refinement in the bottle before being released to the market.
This method gives the Brunello its structure, depth, and complex aromas, while preserving the characteristic fruit and freshness of the Sangiovese.
Drinking window and aging potential
The Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2021 has an excellent structure for long-term development in the bottle.
The combination of concentrated fruit, fresh acidity, and firm tannins gives this wine the ability to continue developing in complexity for many years.
- 2026–2027: Young and powerful, with pronounced fruit, fresh acidity, and still clearly present tannins. Decant thoroughly if possible.
- 2028–2035: The wine develops greater harmony, with fruit, spices, and the first aromas of aging coming together beautifully.
- 2035–2046: Further development of complex aromas of leather, tobacco, forest floor, dried flowers, and spices, depending on storage conditions.
Recommended drinking window: 2028–2046.
For those who wish to drink the wine young, we recommend opening the bottle approximately two hours beforehand and decanting carefully if necessary.
Serving temperature: 17–18°C.
Wine and food pairings
Thanks to its rich structure, refined acidity, and spicy complexity, this Brunello is an excellent accompaniment to hearty and flavorful dishes.
It is particularly suited to:
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina: The classic Tuscan T-bone steak, with the tannins and fresh acidity pairing beautifully with the grilled meat.
- Pappardelle al cinghiale: Wide pasta with slowly cooked wild boar ragù, a traditional Tuscan combination.
- Rack of lamb with rosemary: The spicy notes in the wine pair excellently with the aromatic lamb.
- Roast venison or other game: Especially with a sauce made from mushrooms, truffles, or red wine.
- Aged Pecorino Toscano: The bold flavors and salty character of this cheese pair beautifully with the rich fruit of the Brunello.
Even without food, this wine is particularly suitable for enjoying slowly and following its development in the glass.
Why choose Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2021?
The Uccelliera 2021 is a wine for lovers seeking a Brunello with character and personality.
It is not a light, easily made Sangiovese, but a serious Brunello that brings together ripe fruit, power, structure, and freshness.
What sets this wine apart is the combination of the relatively warm terroir of Castelnuovo dell'Abate, the use of several vineyard plots, and Andrea Cortonesi's distinctive winemaking style.
International reviews once again confirm the high standard of this producer.
Wine critic reviews
96/100 points – James Suckling
Highlights the wine's classic, spicy character, with wild strawberries, raspberries, violets, and licorice. He also praises the balanced tannins, refreshing acidity, and long, mineral finish.
96/100 points – Jeb Dunnuck
Describes an aromatically refined Brunello with cherries, cranberry, anise, and roses, among other notes, supported by lively acidity and impressive length.
96/100 points – Wine Spectator
Appreciates the combination of plums, cherries, leather, earthy notes, and a compact, firm structure. According to the review, the wine has a powerful foundation of ripe fruit and a long finish.
95/100 points – Vinous (Eric Guido)
Highlights the remarkable finesse of this vintage, with aromas of mint, dried strawberries, roses, and refined minerality.
94/100 points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Monica Larner)
Praises the deep fruit concentration, freshness, and balance between dark fruit, spices, and earthy notes.
Brunolo's choice – An exceptional Brunello from a trusted producer
At BrunoloVini, we do not select our wines solely on the basis of points or international reviews. We believe it is just as important to know the people behind the wines and to understand what makes their wines special.
Andrea Cortonesi is a fine example. Our relationship with Uccelliera began back in 2010. We consider it particularly valuable to be able to include his Brunello in our portfolio again after so many years.
The 2021 vintage perfectly demonstrates why we value his wines so highly: a powerful, characterful Brunello with its own identity, impressive depth, and excellent aging potential.
An authentic Brunello from a winemaker who remains true to his own convictions. Heartily recommended by BrunoloVini.
Brief summary
The Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021 is a powerful, complex, and refined Brunello from the independent winemaker Andrea Cortonesi. Ripe cherries, dark berries, violets, Tuscan herbs, and mineral notes combine with fresh acidity and a long finish. With international reviews of up to 96/100 points and excellent aging potential, this is an impressive wine from the exceptional 2021 harvest year. BrunoloVini has maintained a personal relationship with Andrea since 2010 and is delighted to be able to offer his Brunello again.
