2016 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, Il Potazzine. Tuscany, Italy (Half Bottle)

Montalcino is a hill-top town in the warm, open country in southern Tuscany, about 45 minutes down from Siena. Although the key grape is the same as for Chianti Classico further north, the style is broader and more powerful.

100% Brunello (a clone of Sangiovese) matured for 3.5 years in large (3000l +) Slavonian oak.

A small (6.5 hectare) estate at 500m altitude, just west of the town of Montalcino. Started in 1993 by oenologist Giuseppe Gorelli, who also makes the wine at nearby Castiglione Del Bosco.

“Le Potazzine Gorelli makes very distinctive expressions of Brunello that reflect a sort of secret truth about the Sangiovese grape. The effect is not completely polished, nor is it boring or predictable. This is low-profile wine with a big personality that proves to be very generous to those who make the time to know it.” Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate.