Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750mL

On this 6ha vineyard, 15 year-old cordon spur-trained Sangiovese Grosso vines are planted at a density of 4,500 plants/ha. The grapes are harvested by hand in the last week of September, are then crushed and transferred to tank by gravity. The Brunello endures 18 days maceration / fermentation period (29C) with natural yeasts and frequent punch-down of the cap during the first week to promote extraction. The wine is then racked 2/3 times until March, when it is transferred to oak. The aging process takes 3 years in 20HL Allier and Slavonian botte followed by 2 years in bottle. 14,000 bottles produced.

Le Chiuse Brunello is a clear wine, bright garnet red in colour. It has an intense persistent fragrance, pure and full-bodied. Various fragrances can be recognize, from forest fruits to light vanilla. To the taste the wine is smooth and elegant, dry with an excellent persistent of aroma. It ages well, improving with time. It should be served at a temperature of 18-20°C, the bottle having been left in a warm place for at least 24 hours and uncorked several hours before serving. Every vintage has its own determining characteristics and features. In the best vintages, 20% of the production is seat to age in our cellars for a further year thereby becoming “Reserve”.” –Simonetta Valiani

Grape Varietals:

100% Sangiovese Grosso

Colour:

Deep strong ruby red with bright garnet hues. Brilliant.

Bouquet:

Leather and flint in the background delight the typical hints of Marasca cherry and violet, which are precise and really intense. Later hints of tobacco and caramel come out and make this wine complex and fascinating.

Flavour:

Greatly structured, sapid and fresh. Its great balance makes this wine very charming and elegant. Its fascinating tannic net balances the considerable alcoholic strength. The result is an important and balanced wine with a long and persistent end.

Food Pairings: 

Perfect with every roasted meat and game, braised beef, aged cheeses and all the tasty dishes.

98 Points - Forbes, Tom Hyland, July 20, 2020. "Aromas of morel cherry, thyme and dried red flowers. Medium-full with excellent concentration, this offers an abundance of cherry fruit, medium-weight, refined tannins, well integrated wood notes and excellent persistence. This has ideal ripeness, yet the fruit does not overpower. Lengthy, elegant finish with very good acidity and subtle notes of brown herbs (oregano, nutmeg). Give another year or two to allow for more characteristics to show, with peak drinking in 12-15 years."

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast, Kerin O'Keefe, May 7, 2020. "Aromas of woodland berry, new leather, blue flower and a baby powder shape the enticing nose on this fragrant red. Juicy and bright, the polished, delicious palate doles out crushed raspberry, cherry compote and baking spice alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced while a licorice note graces the finish."

95 Points - Vinous, Eric Guido, May 7, 2020. "The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino seems reluctant at this early stage, yet presents a savory expression of Sangiovese, with dusty black cherries backed by an almost-rustic mix of leather, crushed stone and animal musk. On the palate, silky textures meld into with woodland berry and earth tones, along with notes of tobacco, savory herbs and saline-minerals. Vibrant acids add energy and sweetness to the fruit, along with a mouthwatering quality, as youthful tannins collect on the senses and slowly dry out its profile. The finish is long, structured, and firmly rooted in the earth. Constantly evolving in the glass, the is a real powerhouse Brunello."

95 Points - Wine Spectator Insider, Bruce Sanderson, March 18, 2020."A beam of black cherry and black currant fruit is at the heart of this red. Supple and balanced, this stays long and complex on the finish, as earth, iron and sanguine notes emerge. A dense swath of tannins lines the finish. Best from 2022 through 2040." (June 2020 Issue)

95 Points - The Wine Advocate, Monica Larner, January 31, 2020. "The Le Chuise 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens to a slightly shy and timid bouquet. My feeling is that this reticent quality will serve the wine very well as it continues the course of its aging. The bouquet shows mild fruit with some potting soil, leather, tar and licorice. This Brunello from Le Chiuse is definitely characterized by a savory side as well with a pretty point of saltiness that you don't commonly find in its peers. This is a true beauty—the wine is elegant, shiny and glossy from the inside out. Fruit comes from an eight-hectare parcel with vines that are 26 years old. Some 15,000 bottles will be released in February 2020."