Perhaps no wine so uniquely defines Tuscany like Sangiovese grown in the world famous appellation of Brunello di Montalcino. Today’s wine is a classic example that boasts pristine fruit and perfumed florals rivaling the finesse and elegance of Burgundy for a price as delightful as the wine itself.
In the current market, Brunello is crafted in one of two distinct styles. One is made in an overtly modern style that is picked late then bolstered with so much oak that this heavy-handed, jammy rendition of Sangiovese is almost unrecognizable. The other face of Brunello is derived from a traditional style that delivers the pure and honest personality of Sangiovese with pitch-perfect balance and the clear voice of the celebrated appellation’s terroir. It doesn’t take much deducting to know which style is my personal favorite. Today’s 2009 Ramoni Brunello di Montalcino captures the clarity, finesse and balance that we all crave from traditional examples of this acclaimed appellation. You would be hard pressed to find better price-to-quality from Brunello, and this wine is ready to drink now.
Perched atop an 1850-foot precipice rests the medieval village of Montalcino. Decorated with picturesque villas and historic architecture, the charmed locale is framed by hillsides of patchwork quilts composed of many of Italy’s most sought-after vineyards. This is home to Brunello di Montalcino DOCG where the Sangiovese varietal delivers its most complex expression. Situated around an hour south of Florence, the sun-drenched, arid landscape of Brunello di Montalcino is home to one of the most highly allocated DOCGs in all of Italy. Brunello di Montalcino is strictly regulated by the Italian government in an effort to maintain the highest standards of quality. By law, the wine must originate from limited yield, 100% Sangiovese, known locally as Brunello, and undergo a minimum of two years in oak, an additional four months in bottle and is not released for a total of 5 years following its harvest. This Ramoni Brunello captures the beauty of the stunning appellation in every sip.
Federico Marconi grew up just outside of Florence in Siena. He started a serious wine industry career with his friend, and now partner, Gianni Fabri, at Fabri’s former family estate, Le Presi. Frederico Marconi moonlights as a musician in a local Ramones cover band, hence the name, Ramoni. His other true passion is winemaking and his love and artistic dedication certainly translate into the glass. Derived from entirely organic certified vineyards, the hand-harvested fruit is crafted traditionally then aged for 42 months in massive, un-toasted Slovenian oak barrels, or botte. The result is a pure, floral and complex expression of Brunello with a quality that greatly over-delivers for the price.
This Brunello displays a garnet red core that quickly moves to orange and amber highlights on the rim, showing its six years of maturity. The nose is floral, vibrant and savory all at once. Opening with aromas of slightly dried red plum, red cherry and preserved strawberry, the nose expands to reveal notes of dried leather, red tobacco leaf, fennel, tomato leaf and crushed rock, which is framed by subtle hints of well-integrated oak. The wine is medium-plus in body and delivers a palate with silky texture, soft tannins and layered, complex flavors that mirror the nose. The wine is open, delicious now, and ready to enjoy out of the gate which only requires a thirty minute decant. Serve at cellar temperature in Burgundy stems versus the typical Bordeaux stem to experience the wide array of floral aromatics. The wine will enter a peak around 45 minutes open and will delight throughout the night. For those with patience, this wine will hit a new spot of complexity in 3-4 years in the cellar so you will be greatly rewarded. For a classic pairing like you would have locally serve alongside this
classic Tuscan pairing of Bistecca alla Fiorentina on a crisp winter evening.
