Brunello di Montalcino Bosco - 2018
Stella di Campalto
- Region
- Italy 禄 Toscana 禄 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Stella di Campalto
- Vintage
- 2018
- Grapes
- Sangiovese
- Alcohol
- 14
- Sugar
- 0.6
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- 1 bottles
- Find at
Ratings
This is pure bliss. Initially restrained, but after spending more than 40 minutes with a single glass, it opened up beautifully with a nuanced bouquet of cherry confiture, dark chocolate candies filled with liqueur and cherry, alongside notes of chorizo, leather, underbrush, and red flowers. Simply beautiful!
On the palate, it鈥檚 both intense and delicate. The tannins are a bit dry, but the structure and balance are superb. The acidity isn't high, yet the wine doesn鈥檛 lack freshness. The aftertaste is long, warm, delicate, and flavourful, with milk chocolate, raspberries, and a hint of peonies in the finish.
It鈥檚 a charmer鈥攁 delicious wine you want to consume in big quantities, yet its character makes you appreciate it slowly, avoiding the rush. Despite its intensity, it still feels airy and pillowy.
Stella di Campalto
Stella di Campalto is a remarkable winemaker known for her dedication to organic and biodynamic viticulture at her family winery. She took over winemaking and viticulture in 1992, and by 1996, she had transitioned to certified organic farming. Biodynamic practices were introduced in 2002, with certification following in 2005. The estate is situated at the southeastern corner of the Montalcino zone and includes about 6 hectares of vineyards, with the rest of the 13-hectare property composed of olive groves and woodlands.
The estate itself, San Giuseppe, was originally established in 1910 but lay abandoned for decades until Stella di Campalto's family purchased it in the early 1990s. With no prior experience in winemaking, Stella embarked on a journey to revive the land, living under rustic conditions while she cultivated the vineyards and built the winery from scratch. Stella's approach to winemaking is deeply personal, with a strong connection to the land, which is reflected in the unique personalities of her wines.
Located near Monte Amiata in Tuscany, the land was initially not considered very desirable. However, its isolation became an asset, providing a unique terroir characterized by 12 different types of soil, ranging from quartz to volcanic black earth, contributing to the complexity of her wines. The vineyards benefit from their south and west-facing position towards the sea, above the Ombrone River, which is ideal for viticulture.
Stella employs various biodynamic practices, such as planting 25 different types of grains among the vines to maintain soil vitality and using traditional biodynamic treatments. Her approach to vine pruning is non-invasive, allowing the vines to reach their natural equilibrium. The winery itself is built into the hillside, allowing for a gravity-flow system that gently handles the grapes, and she employs spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, keeping each vineyard block separate to maintain their individual characters.
Grapes release their skins, in their element. Three extra years of aging鈥攕implicity happens. Let it go: press, macerate, mutate, elevate. Into the cellar, from earth to oak. An alchemical pause, perfectly poised. It takes time, an eternity: surprises happen when you stop looking, and wait.
Stella di Campalto initially produced only Rosso di Montalcino, gaining recognition for creating wines with distinct identities, which she refers to as "identity" wines. She often ages her wines longer than the DOCG requirements, blending them only when they are ready, in a process she likens to matchmaking. Her wines are known for their authenticity and elegance, with bright ruby red colours and complex yet delicate aromas, reminiscent more of Burgundy than Bordeaux.