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.
Unlike many Rosso di Montalcino (often comprising inferior barrels of Brunello) this is a site-specific bottling treated every step along the way with all the love and care of Riccardo’s Brunello offerings. The vineyard is situated in Castelnuovo dell’Abate on a steep hillside with Mastrojanni’s Vigna Schiena d’Asino on one side and Poggio di Sotto on the other. The grapes are handpicked and gently crushed, juice on skins for 40 days while undergoing a long, cool fermentation in concrete. It is then racked to large Slavonian botti where it rests quietly on gross lees for 24 months. This Rosso comprises ”Brunello designated fruit ‘that is a touch more open and expressive so it can be enjoyed younger.
2020 was an excellent growing season in Tuscany producing ripe, balanced fruit with structure to age.
100% sangiovese fruit, hand-harvested at low yields of just 65 Hl per hectare. Temperature controlled fermentation (31C) occurs with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks with a total of 30 days with maceration, followed by the malo-lactic fermentation. Ageing is carried out in large Slavonian oak botti for 24 months. The wine is lightly filtered but not fined prior to bottling.
Pale cherry red in colour with a concentrated yet pure bouquet of red and black cherry fruit with notes of spice and minerality. What a fine sangiovese offering ! Fragrance, richly textural palate with density of fruit, detail fine elegant, ripe tannins and a long dry finish.
Review of 2020:
91 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “Aged in large oak casks for two years, the Le Ragnaie 2019 Rosso di Montalcino hits the market a bit later than its peers, allowing for some faint, age-related complexity to form on the bouquet. This pretty wine delivers dark cherry, plum, spice, smoke and dark cola. There is a savory side also with earthy mineral tones and rusty metal. The bouquet is tart and bright, and the mouthfeel is fresh, simple and linear.”
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