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2017 Brunello di Montalcino
SestiThe Sesti family, our longest-standing partner in Montalcino, is lucky enough to have settled five decades ago in one of the area’s most ideal microclimates for making wine. High on a hill, at 1,000 feet of elevation, the family’s Castello di Argiano and the surrounding vines benefit from frequent cooling ocean breezes and the rains they bring, all of which balance out the hot summer days. The “good air of Argiano,” as it is called around here, has been a known fact passed down through oral tradition for many, many generations of civilization.
“We were blessed,” says Elisa Sesti, “with two rainfalls during the summer of 2017, which were so localized that they didn’t reach as far as four kilometers from us. This was a present from the Gods. This is a vintage whose quality was determined by localized microclimates and the work of the winemaker.”
With a regal perfume that is both sweet and savory, a ripe berry fruit accented by balmy herbs and earthy wafts of incense, this enthralling Brunello is already approachable, but will reward you if you set aside a few bottles to open over the next ten years.
—Tom Wolf
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Sangiovese |
Appellation: | Brunello di Montalcino |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Tuscany |
Producer: | Sesti |
Winemaker: | Elisa Sesti |
Vineyard: | 20 years, 3.9 ha total Brunello |
Soil: | Oceanic sediment |
Aging: | Thirty-nine months of élevage in 30-hectoliter oak botti |
Farming: | Biodynamic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
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About The Producer
Sesti
About The Region
Tuscany
Perhaps no region is tied to Italy’s reputation as a producer of fine wine as much as Tuscany. Since Etruscan times, viticulture has played a prominent role in this idyllic land of rolling hills, and the Tuscan winemaking tradition remains as strong as ever today. With a favorable Mediterranean climate, an undulating topography offering countless altitudes and expositions, and a wealth of poor, well-draining soils, conditions are ideal for crafting high-quality wines. Add to that the rich gastronomical tradition—Tuscany is home to some of the country’s finest game, pastas, salumi, and cheeses—and you have the blueprint for a world-class wine region.
This is Sangiovese territory; in fact, it is arguably the only place in the world where Sangiovese reaches a truly regal expression. In spite of a rocky history with fluctuations in quality, traditionally produced Chianti has reclaimed its status as one of the country’s most reliable, food-friendly reds, while the rapid rise of Brunello di Montalcino shows the grape’s potential for grandiose, opulent reds allying power and finesse. Traditionally-minded growers have stuck to using only indigenous grape varieties and employing techniques like aging in massive wooden casks known as botti, creating wines of terroir that shine at the Tuscan table.
Tuscan wines have had a place in our portfolio since Kermit’s first visit in 1977. While the names of the estates have changed, the spirit of those first unfiltered Chiantis he imported live on through our current selections.
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312
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