Over the years, Le Ragnaie (pronounced: leh rah-NYAH-yeh) has been our North Star for soul-stirring Sangiovese—pure, transparent, and deeply expressive. From their Rosso to their single-site Brunellos, the Campinotis consistently hit another octave.
Riccardo and Jennifer Campinoti have quickly ascended the ranks, crafting traditionally made Sangiovese from some of the highest organic vineyards in Montalcino. We alerted members to the release of the 2019 Brunello Normale White Label. Now, we’re unlocking the cellar for VIP Members to access their limited, rarely seen single-site bottling: Passo del Lume Spento—the highest elevation vineyard in all of Montalcino.
Located in the “Altezza” sub-region (Italian for “high elevation”), this site benefits from cooler temperatures and longer growing seasons, yielding Sangiovese with vibrant acidity and aromatic finesse. It’s no coincidence that Gaja and Antinori have recently acquired property in this very zone—a clear signal that the future of Brunello lies in the heights.
The 2020 vintage is being hailed as a return to elegance and terroir transparency—especially for high-altitude vineyards like this one. With dual 97-point scores from Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck, this bottling is a masterclass in cool-climate Sangiovese.
Move over ultra-ripe Brunello—this is Sangiovese that radiates with chiseled minerality, silken texture, and vibrant acidity. It’s a cellar-worthy gem for those who crave finesse over extract. If you’re balking at $250+ Super Tuscans like Sassicaia or Ornellaia, this is your insider alternative.
At 13.5% ABV, it’s moderate by modern Montalcino standards. In the glass: luminous, deep garnet with orange reflections. Aromatics explode—red cherry, black plum, blood orange peel, wet roses, autumn leaves, warm spices, leather, wild mushroom stock, and dried meat. Medium-plus body, energetic structure, and impeccable balance. Drink now or age for a decade. Molte grazie!
Press Accolades:
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck:
“ … generous and pretty on the nose, with well-detailed aromas of wild raspberries, cranberries, rosemary, fresh earth, floral incense, and pine needles. It has an elegant and woodsy profile, with medium to full-bodied richness, a fantastic detailed and chiseled structure, a compact feel with defined ripe tannins, refreshing, even, balanced acidity, and a mouthwatering mineral-noted finish.”
97 Points, Wine Advocate:
“The Le Ragnaie 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Passo del Lume Spento is a very special wine that opens a whole conversation regarding elevation and cool-climate Sangiovese. Heavyweights Gaja and Marchesi Antinori have recently acquired vineyards in the same area. The area has sandstone soils with views that extend to the Tyrrhenian Sea on a clear day. The vines were planted in 2012. However, the key remains elevation and freshness. Passo del Lume Spento reveals an almost fragile bouquet of wild berry fruit and blue flowers. It also delivers the freshness and structure for cellar aging.”
