2018 Fattoria La Lecciaia - Brunello di Montalcino HALF BOTTLE (375ml)

Fattoria La Lecciaia has been run by Mauro Pacini since he purchased the estate in 1983, blending a modern, forward-looking approach to winemaking with strict adherence to Brunello tradition. The sixty-hectare property sits in the locality of Vallafrico, in the historic heart of the zone where Brunello di Montalcino first took shape, surrounded by some of the appellation's most storied neighboring estates. Of its fifteen hectares under vine, twelve are registered specifically for Brunello production, with the remainder of the land given over to olive groves and woodland.

This wine is made entirely from the Brunello clone of Sangiovese, grown on the estate's well-drained hillside soils. Brunello di Montalcino carries a legal minimum of four years of aging before release, and this bottling exceeds that baseline, spending roughly three and a half years in large oak casks followed by at least four months resting in bottle. The result is a wine built with high alcohol and structure meant for the long haul.

In the glass it shows red plum, brown spice, and crushed rock alongside violet florals, with dried cherry and hints of licorice on the palate. The texture is silky, carried by firm tannins into a long finish. It suits wild game, roasted venison, or a piece of aged sheep's milk cheese.