Padelletti Brunello di Montalcino 2018

As many of you know, I lean towards the traditionalist style of winemaking in most cases, and this Brunello offers a classic example from the 16th century cellars of the Padelletti family. This is simply a shining star among Brunello wineries. In her book on Brunello, Kerin O'Keefe writes "In Montalcino, there are traditionalists and there is Padelletti."

Made from organically grown grapes in some of the highest sites in the DOCG, this is a classic old school wine without being rustic in the least. Indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation; maceration time is about four weeks for the Brunello and the wine is then aged in large Slavonian and French barrels ('botti') for thirty months. The result is classy, fine, and elegant, yet quite deep and complex as well. Drink with a decanting or better yet cellar for 3-5 years and drink for a decade after that.