Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino reaches for a degree of extreme authenticity and originality that is not commonly found in the appellation. This is low-profile wine with a big personality that proves to be very generous to those who make the time to know it. The bouquet reveals will berry, red rose, spice, earth and wild mushrooms. There is a touch of rusticity as well. In the mouth, this Brunello shows mild tannins and smooth integration. Like a friend you can count on, this is a best-buddy Brunello.
Rating: 96+ -
Wine Enthusiast
Fresh and full of finesse, this radiant red offers rose, forest floor, woodland berry, new leather and pipe tobacco scents. The palate delivers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, wild herb and white pepper notes, finishing on star anise. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity give it intensity, lift and balance. Give it time to develop to its full potential. Drink 2020–2032. Cellar Selection
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James Suckling
Aromas of cherries, strawberries and hints of flower petals. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a delicate finish. Citrus-rind undertone. A little lean. Drink or hold.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.