Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Piaggione 2020 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Piaggione 2020 1500ml Magnum by Salicutti

Character

Francesco Leanza runs Salicutti as one of Montalcino’s most purist estates. The Piaggione from the magnum bottle embodies the classical school of Brunello: unfiltered, unfined and vinified with minimal intervention. This release from the challenging 2020 vintage showcases the characteristic tension between elegance and structure that defines Salicutti’s signature. The magnum format moreover promises an even more harmonious development over the coming decades.

Terroir & Origin

Salicutti’s vineyards lie in the south-east of Montalcino, at approximately 320 metres elevation. The Piaggione comes from one of the estate’s finest vineyard sites, where galestro-rich soils combined with clay and limestone provide mineral depth. The year 2020 brought forth a concentrated yet balanced vintage despite pandemic challenges. The cooler autumn nights preserved the freshness and precision so crucial to Salicutti’s identity.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Sangiovese Grosso, the local clone of the variety that finds its noblest expression in Montalcino. Leanza works with spontaneous fermentation and deliberately eschews oenological corrections. Ageing takes place traditionally in large wooden casks (botti), allowing the wine time to integrate its tannin structure without masking the fruit. The house philosophy: let the wine speak, not the cellar. At 14.5% alcohol, the 2020 shows power, yet never heaviness.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A Brunello of this style demands Tuscan cuisine in its most honest form: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Cinghiale in Umido (braised wild boar) or Pici all’Aglione. Excellent also with aged Pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano. The wine’s structure harmonises perfectly with braised beef cheeks or lamb leg with rosemary.