Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino 2015

Description

“To be clear, the extremely high quality level of all the Brunellos made at this estate in any given year qualifies Le Ragnaie as one of Montalcino’s top six or seven wine estates. Virtually anything that gets bottled at this winery is a standout wine, and that’s information worth knowing… “ Vinous Media, Ian D’Agata in his article Brunello di Montalcino Sleek 13s, Surprising Riserva 12s.

Le Ragnaie winery is the property of Riccardo Campinoti and his wife Jennifer, who with the collaboration of their indispensable team of workers, pay meticulous attention to each and every phase of the winemaking process, striving to produce the best possible wines at every level. Le Ragnaie extends over 28 hectares in Montalcino, in the Province of Siena, in south western Tuscany.

One third of Le Ragnaie’s vineyards are planted at the highest altitude of any across the entire Montalcino appellation (600 metres). As one of the highest points, the area became famous amongst bird catchers, and hence the traditional bird catcher’s net featured on the label. The vineyards are farmed according to the guidelines for Organic Agriculture.

The Le Ragnaie vineyards are divided into three distinct parcels within Montalcino which allows Riccardo and Jennifer to produce three diverse ‘terroirs’ of Brunello: Le Ragnaie: The vineyard is located in the central zone of Montalcino, at the highest elevation of any in Montalcino. Petroso: The vineyard is located along the Scarnacuoia Rd below the village of Montalcino, in the oldest winemaking part of the area. Castelnuovo dell’Abate: The vineyard is located in the southern sector of Montalcino in front of the Amiata Mountain.

100% Sangiovese sourced from estate vineyards in Le Ragnaie, Petroso, Loreto, Fornace and Cava. The fruit is hand-harvested at low yields of just 45 Hl per hectare. Temperature controlled fermentation (31C) occurs with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks with a total of 40 days with maceration, followed by the malo-lactic fermentation. Ageing is carried out in cement tanks and large Slavonian oak botti of 25Hl in size for 36 months. The wine is lightly filtered but not fined prior to bottling.

Pale brick red in colour with a dense, generous bouquet of dark cherry fruit with notes of savoury spice and intense minerality with fine yet very elegant, ripe tannins and a long dry finish.

James Suckling on the 2015 vintage .. “So many of the wines we tasted showed a beautiful depth of fruit and endless length. They are dense and rich wines, structured with masses of tannins yet finely textured and comprehensive in the mouth. The tannins seem to melt into the wine…There’s also a transparency and brightness to the best of 2015 that gives the reds a chance to beautifully communicate their respective terroirs and styles. This was particularly true in estate-specific and single-vineyard Brunellos. Winemakers are extremely excited about the year and comment that the advances in viticulture and winemaking have given their 2015 wines much more balance and precision. The growing season was very hot but rains in May and July helped alleviate some of the heat stress, and the harvest in September was dry and warm. “

96 points James Suckling .. “Amazing aromas of decadent fruit, spice and meat. Mushrooms, too. Full body and ripe, caressing tannins that fan out on the palate. Goes on for minutes. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2021.”

Eric Guido from Vinous Media in his article “2015 Brunello: The Vintage we have been waiting for? – April 2020.”

Le Ragnaie I still remember the first time I tasted a Brunello from Le Ragnaie. It was in 2009 at the “Italian Wine Masters” tasting in New York City, where I met Riccardo Campinoti and tasted his 2005 Brunello di Montalcino. I was amazed from the first tilt of the glass. This was nothing like any other wine at the event. At that time, finding such a pure expression of Sangiovese in Montalcino was not easy, yet in front of me was a wine of pure berry, florals, Tuscan spice, and minerals – lots and lots of minerals. It was love at first sight.

“Classic to the core, le Ragnaie’s Brunello di Montalcino lifts from the glass with a savory, layered display of forest berry, offset by smoky minerals, alpine-inspired herbs, dark soil tones, tobacco and a hint of animal musk. On the palate, silky textures flesh out across the senses with notes of ripe cherry, sweet spice, and a buzz of bright acids. The finish is long, fresh, nearly salty, incredibly satisfying, and with energy to burn as pretty red fruits, spice, and sweet inner florals linger long. This may not be a Le Ragnaie for the ages, but it sure is a wonderfully balanced and enjoyable Brunello today that will thrill lovers of Sangiovese. 94 points. Drink 2020 – 2032″

94 points, Ian d’Agata, Vinous Media, From “Montalcino – The Great 2015 Brunellos & More.” April 2020.
“Luminous red-ruby. Beautifully expressive notes hints at red cherry, coffee, herbs and sweet spices. Then at once graceful and powerful, with outstanding acid-tannin balance and sweet spices complicating the ripe red cherry fruit flavors. Closes long and youthfully chewy, with above average density and a multilayered complexity that makes this one of very top classico Brunellos of the vintage. Drink 2023-2033.”

93+ points, The Wine Advocate, Monica Larner “Drink 2021-2033 – The Le Ragnaie 2015 Brunello di Montalcino doles out impressive intensity and depth. This is a tour de force expression of Sangiovese that travels the entire continuum of Sangiovese, starting with wild cherry and unfolding to later reveal pressed blue flowers, spice and potting soil. This is textbook Brunello on all levels, and I am happily excited by this particular vintage. Fruit for this wine is sourced from four unique sites, all located in different parts of the appellation. This explains the wine’s pan-Brunello appeal. The 2015 growing season brings out personality and aromatic abundance with slightly softer and more approachable contours. The acidity feels tame in 2015. Continuing with that thought, I would recommend this wine for near- and medium-term drinking because it performs so nicely now, straight out of the gate.”

RRP $194  VERY LIMITED ALLOCATION Only $149.99