Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino Cosimo 2019

Palazzo is the Montalcino estate of Cosimo Loia and Antonietta Palazzo, who returned from a restaurant career in England to a twelve hectare property in Central Tuscany. This Brunello di Montalcino is made entirely from Sangiovese, here in its powerful Brunello clone, and farmed organically. Montalcino is one of the warmest and driest corners of Tuscany, and its galestro and limestone soils on free draining hillsides give full ripeness, reflected in the 15% alcohol, while the altitude and cool nights preserve acidity and aromatic detail. Yields are low and the small thick skinned berries build colour and tannin. The wine is aged for around forty months in oak barrels, the long maturation required by the appellation, during which slow oxygen exchange through the wood resolves the firm tannins, malolactic fermentation softens the acidity, and tertiary aromas of leather and tobacco develop. The colour is deep garnet. The nose shows ripe cherry, plum, dried herbs, leather and earth. The palate is full and structured, with ripe grippy tannins and a long savoury finish. Serve at 18 degrees and decant well ahead. It calls for rich roasted red meat and game.