Le Ragnaie Rosso di Montalcino 2022

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.

About this wine:  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.

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.

The 2022 is here!   Fragrant and fresh with black cherries, balsamic, herbs and spices. Medium-bodied, it is round and smooth on the palate, to a lengthy, bitter cherry finish. Elegant now, it will continue to gain in complexity with a few years in the cellar.

93 points, Eric Guido, Vinous Media “The 2022 Rosso di Montalcino combines crushed blackberries and cherries with savory herbs, pine shavings and nuances of salt-cured meat. The palate is beautifully refined, with silken textures, savory red fruits and crunchy mineral tones. Brisk acidity punctuates it beautifully as the 2022 tapers off with a saline flourish and tart blackberry resonance. Leave it to Le Ragnaie to find such elegance and balance in a warm, dry vintage.”