Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino 2019

The Loia family acquired Palazzo in 1983, restoring the original 18th century farmhouse and committing to close control of the whole cycle from vineyard to cellar. Brunello di Montalcino is made entirely from Sangiovese, here the Montalcino clone known as Brunello, grown on the warm, well drained hillside soils south of Siena where galestro and clay give the grape its structure and depth. The Montalcino climate is warmer and drier than the rest of Tuscany, which ripens Sangiovese fully while the elevation keeps the acidity bright. The wine is aged for 36 months in foudres, large neutral casks that allow gentle, sustained oxygen exchange to soften the grape's considerable tannin and develop savoury, tertiary complexity without adding oak flavour. Expect a garnet colour, a nose of dark cherry, dried plum, leather, tobacco, dried herbs and earth, and a full bodied palate with firm, fine grained tannin, bright acidity and a long, savoury finish marked by liquorice. Serve at 18 degrees and decant at least an hour ahead. It is a wine for roast and grilled red meat, and will reward cellaring.