2017 Fanti San Filippo - Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucere

San Filippo is a Sangiovese-focused estate situated in the northern reaches of Montalcino, near the storied vineyards of Biondi Santi's Il Greppo. Founded in 1972, with its first Brunello released in 1977, the property was later acquired and restored by Roberto Giannelli, who now works alongside winemaker Paolo Caciorgna. The estate spans twenty-two hectares, eleven planted mostly to Sangiovese, with a small olive grove rounding out the property.

Le Lucere is drawn from a single 3.5-hectare parcel planted in 1996 on the eastern-facing slope below Salvioni and La Cerbaiona, a site whose elevation and orientation help preserve freshness even in warm vintages. Farmed organically, the fruit undergoes gentle handling and a relatively short maceration before aging for two years in a combination of large Slavonian oak casks and smaller barrels, yielding roughly thirteen thousand bottles annually.

The 2017 shows ruby red color with garnet reflections and an elegant, layered nose of alcohol-soaked cherries, cinnamon, clove, and dried thyme, lifted by a note of blood orange and a whisper of smoky woodland. The palate is dense and velvety, framed by refined, racy tannins and predominantly floral flavors carrying through a long finish. Pair it with grilled lamb or aged pecorino.