Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023

Wine description for Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023 by Salicutti

Colour & appearance

A fairly transparent cherry red, bright and lively in the glass – even the appearance reveals that finesse takes precedence over density here.

Nose

Enchantingly sensual yet utterly pure: cherries and cherry stones, rosehip, pomegranate and a dash of blood orange. Behind them, nuts, some oak and cedar wood, violets, warm yeast and the scent of sun-drenched forest floor with undergrowth. A classic, unadorned Sangiovese aroma that does not need to be loud to convince.

Palate

Depth meets airy freshness. The wine feels supple and silky, composed, self-assured without any showiness. The fruit is ripe, juicy and clearly red-fruited, carried by a slightly sweet tannin with structure and a lively acidity. Juice, length, drinkability – a clear voice.

Finish

Long, fresh and precise on the finish, with cherry and fine spice that linger for quite a while.

Terroir & origin

The grapes come exclusively from Brunello vineyards – predominantly Sorgente, along with Piaggione and Teatro. These sites rest on 60 to 80 million-year-old calcareous marlstone, around 35 kilometres from the Tyrrhenian Sea. In 1996, Podere Salicutti was the first organically certified estate in Montalcino; today Sabine and Felix Eichbauer run it according to Demeter guidelines, with the Demeter logo on the label. Monica Larner of Wine Advocate called the house the “Holy Grail of Sangiovese purity”.

Grape variety & vinification

Pure Sangiovese at yields of around 40 hl/ha. Spontaneously fermented in cement tanks at up to 28 °C, around 35 days on the skins, then two years’ ageing in Mittelberger botti (10 hl) followed by bottle maturation.

Food recommendations

A wine for the table: pappardelle with game ragù, bistecca alla fiorentina, duck breast with cherry jus or pecorino at various stages of maturity. Also a delight with a simple pizza topped with finocchiona.

Special features

The “Rosso” is the Eichbauers’ understatement wine: declassified Brunello in the best sense, democratic in price, aristocratic in origin. Anyone wishing to get to know Montalcino without the seriousness of a Riserva should start here.