Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 Ragnaie

The Le Ragnaie 2015 Brunello di Montalcino doles out impressive intensity and depth. This is a tour de force expression of Sangiovese that travels the entire continuum of Sangiovese, starting with wild cherry and unfolding to later reveal pressed blue flowers, spice and potting soil. This is textbook Brunello on all levels, and I am happily excited by this particular vintage. Fruit for this wine is sourced from four unique sites, all located in different parts of the appellation. This explains the wine's pan-Brunello appeal. The 2015 growing season brings out personality and aromatic abundance with slightly softer and more approachable contours. The acidity feels tame in 2015. Continuing with that thought, I would recommend this wine for near- and medium-term drinking because it performs so nicely now, straight out of the gate. Some 30,000 bottles were made. This wine will released in February 2020.

The exciting news from Le Ragnaie is the release of a new wine, made entirely with fruit from Montosoli. Otherwise, about half of the estate vineyards are located in the higher-elevation parts of the appellation. These locations usually show lots of acidic freshness, but you get less of that in this warm 2015 vintage. This estate has been farming organically sine 2005.

Amazing aromas of decadent fruit, spice and meat. Mushrooms, too. Full body and ripe, caressing tannins that fan out on the palate. Goes on for minutes. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2021.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is laced remarkably pretty display of zesty bright cherry, offset by savory herbs and spice, as dusty minerals and dried florals add further depths. On the palate, silky textures give way to ripe cherry and spice, as saline-minerals and juicy acids add tension, while a hint of fine tannins slowly saturate, yet the 2015 never loses its vibrant persona. The finish is long, resonating with n dried cherry and cranberry over a coating of mineral-laced tannins. This is such a precise Brunello. I’m a huge fan.