Brunello di Montalcino Vigneti del Versante DOCG 2017

The Vigneti del Versante comes from the Pian dell'Orino, Pian Bassolino and Cancello Rosso plots. In Pian Bassolino, they come from both the upper and lower parts.

The vineyards all stand at an altitude of 320 - 480m above sea level. The average age of these vines is 19 years.

It therefore reflects different soil conditions. Calcareous clays, slightly decomposed marls, sandstones and flysch are the sedimentary soils that occur most frequently. In the southeast, calcareous marl is occasionally mixed with original rocks, i.e. volcanic rocks from the eruption of Monte Amiata.  

After the pre-selection in the vineyard, a complete destemming of all grapes follows. The meticulous selection of Jan Erbach's team continues on the selection table. Fermentation finally begins spontaneously and reaches a maximum of 34°C. The fermentation process lasted twelve days. The dry conditions in 2017 resulted in very thick berry skins and a correspondingly higher tannin yield. The malolactic fermentation also took place directly in the fermentation vat. Three weeks passed before the wine was racked, so that it was then allowed to mature in two Slavonian oak barrels of 20hl and 40hl capacity for 45 months.

Without filtration and at low sulphurisation, this 2017 was then drawn into the bottles.

Dense cherry red with dark core and slightly light rim

Deep and sublime, it opens the nose. Dark fruits stand next to abundant balsamic and ethereal spice in the glass. Morello cherry and blackberry vie for sensory supremacy alongside plum, mulberry and a little sloe. Black pepper, coffee beans and dark chocolate make it dark. Rosemary, juniper and liquorice give it a balanced spiciness. Damp forest soil and resinous tree bark only come to the fore with restraint, but contribute an enormously important component.

It feels like silk on the palate. Silky-smooth to elegant with a tendency to convey coolness and power. It is characterised by great elegance. The fruit is intense and dense, but very precise and not overpowering. Especially the morello cherry and sour cherry clearly characterise the fruit. Rich acidity peaks run through it again and again. This stimulates enormously and gives it a dancing effect. It shows its dark, spicy and slightly smoky traits in a well-dosed and skilful manner, especially in the finish and retronasally. This is great cinema from Jan Erbach and is unparalleled.