Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Sorgente 2018

In 1994, Francesco Leanza reclaimed the land that is now known as Podere Salicutti. He planted the vines on the slope around the cantina, the heart of the estate. Salicutti's latifundia cover a total of 11 hectares of land, divided into 4.5 hectares of vines, an olive grove and woodland. In 2015, Sabine and Felix Eichbauer took over the farm and consistently continue Leanza's organic claim - with a critically-reflective eye on the influence of man and cultivation techniques. Podere Salicutti is the first organically certified winery in Montalcino. The vines, planted in 1994, stand in soils that have never been in contact with conventional sprays.

The 1.5 hectare Cru Sorgente lies at 450 metres behind the cantina. It has heavy clay and sandy soils as well as stony Galestro soils, which always makes the grapes ripen a little later. Situated above an underground water source, there is little hydric stress and the heavy soils produce fresh, multi-faceted wines with comparatively lower alcohol fine tannin structure. Sorgentes' delay in ripening is a clear benefit in terms of climate warming.

Dark ruby red, radiant and clear.

The picture-book nose of the 2018 Sorgente from Podere Salicutti is dominated by a huge basket of fully ripe cherries. Flanked by subtle toasty notes, some dark chocolate and noble woods like sandalwood and cedar, it forms an aromatic melange with mild spices like mace, juniper berries and fresh bay leaf and filigree, ethereal top notes. Multi-layered and complex, it unfolds layer by layer in the glass like an unzipped Win-Zip file.

Clear as a bell and precise, it is aromatically carried by the broadly curved acidity bow and immediately attests to what phase is Trinkzug! Juicy and animating with ripe, tightly woven and mouth-watering tannins, this Brunello flows over the palate more like a white wine and puts an end to the cosy cliché of the contemplative fireside cup, because red wine must also have drinkability. Red-fruited, joyful and light-hearted.