Introducing J.G. Benda
by Anthony Lynch
We couldn’t be happier to present the very first release from one of Montalcino's most exciting new projects. John Benda grew up in Rome but spent most of his life in London, where he made a career in finance. He developed a deep passion for fine wines, and boldly changed course and rededicated himself to winemaking. Drawn to the wild landscapes of Tuscany, he moved to Montalcino, where he spent years learning the ins and outs of Brunello production. An opportunity then presented itself, and John pounced: at auction he purchased a large plot of untouched forest containing two one-hectare vineyards. It is an exceptional terroir, isolated deep in the woods at the highest point of the Brunello zone on soils rich in sand, limestone, and rocky galestro.
John and his partner, Zoë, have toiled tirelessly to restructure the vineyards, introducing biodynamic methodologies that have turned these small parcels into vibrant oases. They spend every possible moment working their vines by hand in an effort to produce top-quality fruit, then use low-intervention, traditional methods in the cellar, including natural fermentations, aging in large botti, and bottling unfiltered with minimal sulfur.
J. G. Benda’s first release is an energetic Sangiovese of incredible purity and vibrancy from these remote vineyards high in the woods. The deep perfume of flowers, turned earth, and vivid berry fruit, along with the elegant, satiny tannin, make this a truly special Rosso radiating class and finesse. You won’t want to miss this inaugural red from a young Montalcino prodigy.
2021 Rosso di Montalcino
Italy | Tuscany
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