Chiusa Grossa - Brunello Di Montalcino 2018
Chiusa Grossa is a small estate in Montalcino, located on the southern slope of the appellation, in the Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate area. The property, led by Bruno Biscotto, follows an artisanal and confidential approach, with a very limited production focused on Sangiovese. In this Tuscan landscape marked by hills, woods, clay soils, and the influences of Monte Amiata, the Brunello takes on a dimension that is both sunny, structured, and deeply territorial. The estate operates on a deliberately small scale, which enhances the rare and sought-after character of its bottles. This Brunello di Montalcino 2018 is produced in only 666 copies, an exceptionally limited volume for the appellation. It thus expresses a very intimate vision of Montalcino, far from standardized or mass-produced cuvées. It is a wine of patience, character, and terroir, intended for lovers of powerful, evolving, and deeply Tuscan Sangiovese.
The Brunello di Montalcino 2018 cuvée is made exclusively from Sangiovese, the noble and mandatory grape variety of the appellation. The grapes come from Castelnuovo dell’Abate, on the southern slope of Montalcino, at about 400 meters altitude. This area benefits from generous sunshine but also from natural ventilation that allows the grape to maintain balance despite ripeness. The soil, predominantly clayey and sandy, gives the wine a solid structure, depth of flavor, and a characteristic earthy expression. After careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard, the clusters are destemmed and then fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature with indigenous yeasts. The maceration of two to three weeks allows extraction of color, tannins, and complexity without losing the identity of the Sangiovese. Aging for 36 months in 500-liter French oak barrels, followed by 12 months in bottle, gives the wine its stature, patina, and aging potential.
In the glass, Chiusa Grossa Brunello di Montalcino 2018 reveals a deep ruby color, already slightly evolved, with garnet reflections. The nose evokes black cherry, Morello cherry, ripe plum, and candied red fruits, accompanied by notes of tobacco, fine leather, sweet spices, and undergrowth. The palate is ample, warm, and structured, supported by the natural power of the vintage and a high degree perfectly integrated into a generous body. The tannins are present, serious, still firm, but the long aging gives them a rounder texture and a sensation of depth. The finish extends the wine with nuances of ripe fruits, dry herbs, Tuscan earth, and noble wood. This Brunello will ideally accompany a bistecca alla fiorentina, roasted lamb, stewed game, pappardelle with wild boar, porcini risotto, or aged pecorino. Serve around 17 to 18°C, after careful aeration, to allow the full complexity of this rare and intense Brunello to open up.
Grape variety: 100% Sangiovese
