Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Sorgente 2020

A Brunello built on drive and clarity. On the nose, a basket of fully ripe cherries, underpinned by mild spice notes and framed by black cardamom, juniper and bay leaf, joined by toasty oak spice, a touch of smoke, sandalwood and vetiver. Layered and constantly evolving: this wine calls for large glasses.

The Sorgente vineyard covers 1.5 hectares at 450 metres, directly behind the cantina. Heavy clay and sandy soils meet stony galestro, underlain by a base of marl 60 to 80 million years old, calcareous marl soils. An underground spring keeps water stress low, while the heavy soils delay grape ripening — a valuable asset amid climate warming. The Tyrrhenian Sea lies 35 kilometres away.

Pure Sangiovese. Cellar master Gianni Fabbri vinifies only this variety at Salicutti, producing 15,000 to 20,000 bottles a year from 4.5 hectares of vineyard. Every grape is hand-selected. The wine has 14.5% ABV and is vinified dry.

A supremely juicy entry with crystal-clear cherry, expansive and precise, framed by fine-grained tannins. Tightly knit, they feel almost powdery and evoke dark chocolate, coffee crema and light toasty notes. Ripe acidity stays in the background, driving the wine's fast-paced finish.

Podere Salicutti became Montalcino's first certified organic winery in 1996. Since 2022, Sabine and Felix Eichbauer have farmed entirely biodynamically under Demeter guidelines, with the Demeter logo featured on the label; the estate is a member of the respekt-BIODYN association. Donkeys graze among the olive trees, chickens forage between the vine rows. The vines planted in 1994 grow in soils that have never come into contact with conventional sprays.