Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 'Lupi e Sirene' Podere Le Ripi 2015

The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva “Lupi e Sirene” from the Podere Le Ripi winery is a red of great intensity and elegance produced in the southern part of the municipality of Montalcino, in Tuscany. This label is made from pure Sangiovese grapes sourced from old bush-trained vines at over 350 meters above sea level on soils characterized by rich limestone and clay. The winery spans 54 hectares, of which 31 are under vine, and is currently owned by Francesco Illy, a coffee entrepreneur who has ventured into winemaking to achieve excellence, starting the conversion to organic farming, completed in 2014, and adopting the principles of biodynamic agriculture.

The “Lupi e Sirene” Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is produced from carefully selected grapes that are hand-harvested generally in the first decade of October. The clusters brought to the winery are destemmed and gently pressed before undergoing alcoholic fermentation, using exclusively indigenous yeasts, in oak vats with frequent pump-overs and a skin maceration of about 35 days. The process then continues with the racking with pressing of the skins, after which the wine remains in aging in large oak barrels for at least 36 months, before moving to cement tanks where it rests for another 12 months before being bottled. The maturation continues for an additional 12 months in bottle before being released on the market.

The Brunello di Montalcino “Lupi e Sirene” Riserva from Podere Le Ripi presents itself with a bright ruby red color, with slight garnet reflections. On the nose, intense aromas of ripe fruit emerge, including sour cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry, raspberry, and plum, floral notes of violet and dried flowers, hints of oriental spices and underbrush, finishing with balsamic hints, coffee, and noble woods. On the palate, it is rich, opulent, structured, and complex, characterized by very dense and smooth tannins and a beautiful freshness, at times saline, that refreshes the palate giving verticality to the sip. This Riserva from Podere Le Ripi is a Brunello of undeniable quality, harmonious, refined, and balanced, made as it once was with artisanal methods.