Rosso di Montalcino

Italy
Tuscany
2021

100% Sangiovese. Fonterenza's classic Rosso di Montalcino comes from their hilly, contiguous 4.2 hectares of vines in Poggio San Polo, just southeast of Montalcino. All of it qualifies as Brunello turf technically, but the legal constraints on Brunello production were very tight when the Padovani sisters started Fonterenza in the late 1990s; only around one hectare's worth of fruit can be used for Brunello, so the rest goes into this Rosso and one other red, their IGT Alberello.

The farming has been incredibly meticulous and biodynamic from the start and has been certified as such for years. The vines are planted on a diverse range of crumbly marl and schistous clay soils. The parcels that go into the Rosso (and Alberello) are north-facing. The bunches are harvested and destemmed by hand, gently pressed and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts and a minute bit of sulfur in open-top oak vats. The maceration is around 15-20 days. The wine is aged in various sizes of Slavonian oak botti for 24 to 30 months. It is bottled without filtration or additional sulfur.

90 points
"The medium red 2021 Rosso Di Montalcino is expressive and leaps from the glass with bright red berries, cinnamon, dusty earth, and fresh flowers. The palate is inviting and juicy upfront, with a medium-bodied feel and a clean finish. It's a highly charming Rosso to drink now or over the next 4-5 years."
Audrey Frick,
Jeb Dunnuck
February 2025
92 points
"The 2021 Rosso di Montalcino is intense, showcasing its high-elevation Sangiovese fruit, as masses of crushed cherry and wild berries combine with pepper-tinged rose and grounding hints of worn leather. Despite its concentration, this is racy and energetic, with a core of bright acidity that enlivens its red berry fruits. The 2021 leaves a web of sweet tannins yet the mouth waters for more as a cascade of inner florals and hints of licorice linger on. Certainly enjoyable today, but I’d rather revisit the 2021 after another year in bottle."
Eric Guido,
Vinous Media
September 2024

SKU/Code: 
DB0238-21
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Sangiovese
Farming Type: 
Biodynamic