San Filippo Le Lucere Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2019 Red Wine

San Filippo Le Lucere Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2019 

Tuscany, Italy

97 pts. Decanter:

"San Filippo is fully exposed to the east, meaning that in 2019 the Sangiovese was harvested relatively late, from 28 September to 7 October. The wine ages for the first 13-14 months in French oak barrique and tonneaux, then is racked into 20-30 hectolitre oak vessels for about 28 months. It's full of smoky woodland aromas with graphite vibrancy and minerality, cherry kernel, intoxicating violet, and blood orange depth. There's great concentration and volume on the mid-palate, with fine, super-precise tannins and refreshing acidity. But what impresses me most is the savoury character of this Brunello that's built for the long haul."

96 pts. James Suckling:

"Black cherry, cedar and dried flowers on the nose follow through to a medium to full body with chewy tannins and a savory finish. Lots of structure. Muscular and wholesome yet there’s a softness and beauty. Better after 2027."

95 pts. Wine Spectator:

"Rich, round and juicy, this satiny and harmonious red sports cherry, plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors. Even the tannins are civilized and well-integrated, providing an overall charm. Expansive on the finish, with notes of mint, dusty mineral and spices. Best from 2026 through 2042. 800 cases made, 400 cases imported."

95 pts. Wine Advocate:

"The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino le Lucére is a darkly concentrated wine with black fruit and a very creamy side. There are aromas of coconut butter and vanilla that meet bakery aromas of croissant or pie crust. The oak renderings are significant, but I give it good cellar potential, as it fleshes out, especially because there is plenty of dark primary fruit to give it aging momentum. 95+"

FROM THE WINERY

The colour is ruby red with reflexes verging on garnet. The perfume is intense, fine and elegant, with notes of cherries preserved in alcohol, enriched with spices redolent of cinnamon and cloves. On the palate it explodes in all its fineness and elegance thanks to the dense and silky tannins. Excellent body that renders the flavour harmonious and persistent. Excellent nose-mouth correspondence.

Altitude: 270/310 metres a.s.l.

Type of soil: of Eocene origin, clayey, calcareous with shale and fossil fragments

Exposure: east and north

Planting density: from around 4.650 to 4.800 plants/hectare

Training system: unilateral cordon spur

Grape variety: Sangiovese Grosso

Rootstock: 420 A, 110 R and 775 P

Harvesting period: first ten days of October

Grape yield per hectare: 6 tons per hectare

Vinification: fermentation in stainless steel at controlled temperature

Maceration: cold pre-maceration 2 days at 10°C - 10/12 days at 26/28°C

Malolactic fermentation: in vats of cement and stainless steel

Ageing: 24/28 months in barrels and barriques

Refinement in the bottle: 10 months

Bottles produced: 15,000

Alcohol: 14%