Podere Le Ripi

Do not expect the typical Syrah, because this wine will surprise you with its liveliness and freshness, although it has the spiciness and drinkability typical of Syrah. The name (love and madness) expresses all the love for this grape, but also the courage to grow it in the Montalcino area. Despite its unusual nature, this wine is a real crowd pleaser and one of the winery's trademarks.

Deep ruby red with violet reflections, on the nose black fruits, forest floor, pine wood with a hint of white rose and jasmine. At the palate a distinctive texture with well integrated tannins, paired with a great minerality, in the respectable aftertaste a delicate bitter note. SUPERIORE.DE

Located on the western side of Montalcino's hills, the vineyard is so secluded that one can fully enjoy the starry sky undisturbed. So it is not surprising that this supple, very classic Brunello bears the name "Heaven of Ulysses". As is well known, Odysseus had the ability to navigate through the seas without a compass and by simply looking at the stars.

According to oenologist Sebastian Nasello, 2016 is the best vintage of this Brunello the winery has ever produced. Deep dark ruby with light inclusions. On the nose, a potpourri of scents that unfold almost endlessly, bringing forth floral notes of light roses and white flowers in addition to black and red fruits. On the palate, power, spice and a freshness that exactly reflects the top vintage and, together with the well-proportioned tannins, foreshadows a harmonious and exciting development! SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, intense ruby with a slight garnet shimmer. Multi-layered nose with notes of ripe plums and lily flowers, in the background of fresh leather and dried porcini mushrooms. Lots of polished tannin on the palate, juicy cherry on the final." Falstaff

"Lustrous mid ruby. Complex, spice-laden nose with touches of fruit cake, orange skin and aged balsamic vinegar. Tangy, still tight, dark cherry and cranberry palate with firm tannins that keep clinging to the fruit. Very long, seductive and succulent." Jancis Robinson

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Cielo d'Ulisse is a jovial and rich wine. The bouquet mixes the purest expression of clove that I've ever encountered in a wine, with black cherries, sage and mocha to create an autumnal feel. It's silky in texture, with fleshy red and black fruits balanced by savory exotic spices and vibrant acidity. You can feel its grippy tannins mounting, and yet there's so much primary intensity here that they hardly get in the way; and while the finish may be structured, it's also juicy and flat-out delicious, with hints of cherry pit and sweet herbs lingering long." Vinous

"Ripe-berry, cedar, dried-flower and dried orange-peel aromas follow through to a full body, yet it's very tight and reserved with very fine, intense tannins that give focus and length to the wine. Really long and focused. Hints of dried mushroom and citrus rind at the end. Best ever." James Suckling

"Podere le Ripi farms vines on both the eastern and the western flanks of the appellation. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Cielo d'Ulisse comes from the warmer, western flank in a spot not too far away from Camigliano with vines planted in 1990. This offers dark cherry fruit at its core with sweet spice, cedar smoke and pretty herbal renderings. You get lots of deep, complex and dark fruit rendering nonetheless. The personality of this wine is soft, rich and fruity." Robert Parker

"New leather, truffle, ripe berry and camphor aromas form the nose along with a whiff of pressed rose and game. Full bodied and delicious, the enveloping palate doles out mouthfuls of cherry marinated in spirits, crushed raspberry, licorice and hints of seasoned meats alongside velvety tannins. It's concentrated but also boasts an almost weightless elegance." Wine Enthusiast

The grapes for Le Ripi's top Brunello come from a 4 ha vineyard near Castelnuovo dell'Abate on the east side of Montalcino, not far from the Lupi e Sirene vineyard.

Amore e Magia inspires first of all by the beauty in the glass: a deep ruby with violet, fuchsia accents. On the nose, a very clear, concise bouquet with a disarming openness that immediately captivates. We detect candied fruits, raspberries, roasted nuts and Christmas spices, then notes of leather. The first impression on the palate is rather silky and floral, the fine salinity and the wonderfully integrated acidity provide vital freshness and the solidly woven tannin builds energetically, flanking every sip until the dramatic, extremely multi-layered final. A great wine from an equally great vintage! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, intense ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Very intense and complex nose with pronounced notes of ripe plums and wild raspberries, plus some leather and dried porcini mushrooms. Shows wonderfully silky, polished tannin on the palate, builds for a long time, juicy fruit, firm pressure on the final, extremely juicy, still presents itself very young." Falstaff

"Healthy mid ruby. Captivating savoury spice and mineral nose. Succulent, suave cherry palate with rich powdery tannins. Plenty of fruit of real depth but at the same time has a lightness of touch about it." Jancis Robinson

"A focused, polished red with dark-berry, cherry, walnut and dried-flower aromas and flavors. Medium to full body and firm, caressing tannins. Lovely finesse and polish to this. Dusty texture. Needs a year or two to soften, but already pretty." James Suckling

"Aromas of underbrush, leather, baked plum and camphor meld together on this full-boded red. On the fleshy, already approachable palate, enveloping, fine-grained tannins surround raspberry jam, vanilla, tobacco and licorice. Tangy acidity keeps it balanced." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Amore e Magia is more backward and darkly intense than usual. Black currants, cherry, smoky minerals, incense and savory herbs all come together to form a beguiling display. It's velvety in texture with a display of polished purple-tinged fruits, which travels across the palate with admirable density, leaving minerals and a saturation of fine tannins in its wake. Youthfully monolithic and folded in upon itself, the Amore e Magia finishes on structure with only echoes of tart berries, plum and tobacco in the background. This is not for the faint of heart or Sangiovese purist, yet it is balanced for the cellar and overdelivers in every other way. It bears mentioning that this was tasted over two days and held firm to these notes." Vinous

"From a vineyard site not too far away from the winery near Castelnuovo dell'Abate on the eastern and cooler side of the appellation, this wine was once a Rosso di Montalcino recently upgraded to Brunello status. With vines planted in 2000, the fruit now renders the complexity and depth to represent this celebrated Tuscan appellation. This is a tight and compact wine, with a nervous quality of fruit that will unwind and settle with more bottle age. This vineyard site produces fruit poised for long-term aging, and these 2016 results follow that mandate. There is a lot of crisp fruit, sour cherry and cranberry in this tonic, lively Brunello." Robert Parker

The grapes for Le Ripi's top Brunello come from a 4 ha vineyard near Castelnuovo dell'Abate on the east side of Montalcino, not far from the Lupi e Sirene vineyard.

Amore e Magia inspires first of all by the beauty in the glass: a deep ruby with violet, fuchsia accents. On the nose, a very clear, concise bouquet with a disarming openness that immediately captivates. We detect candied fruits, raspberries, roasted nuts and Christmas spices, then notes of leather. The first impression on the palate is rather silky and floral, the fine salinity and the wonderfully integrated acidity provide vital freshness and the solidly woven tannin builds energetically, flanking every sip until the dramatic, extremely multi-layered final. A great wine from an equally great vintage! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, intense ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Very intense and complex nose with pronounced notes of ripe plums and wild raspberries, plus some leather and dried porcini mushrooms. Shows wonderfully silky, polished tannin on the palate, builds for a long time, juicy fruit, firm pressure on the final, extremely juicy, still presents itself very young." Falstaff

"Healthy mid ruby. Captivating savoury spice and mineral nose. Succulent, suave cherry palate with rich powdery tannins. Plenty of fruit of real depth but at the same time has a lightness of touch about it." Jancis Robinson

"A focused, polished red with dark-berry, cherry, walnut and dried-flower aromas and flavors. Medium to full body and firm, caressing tannins. Lovely finesse and polish to this. Dusty texture. Needs a year or two to soften, but already pretty." James Suckling

"Aromas of underbrush, leather, baked plum and camphor meld together on this full-boded red. On the fleshy, already approachable palate, enveloping, fine-grained tannins surround raspberry jam, vanilla, tobacco and licorice. Tangy acidity keeps it balanced." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Amore e Magia is more backward and darkly intense than usual. Black currants, cherry, smoky minerals, incense and savory herbs all come together to form a beguiling display. It's velvety in texture with a display of polished purple-tinged fruits, which travels across the palate with admirable density, leaving minerals and a saturation of fine tannins in its wake. Youthfully monolithic and folded in upon itself, the Amore e Magia finishes on structure with only echoes of tart berries, plum and tobacco in the background. This is not for the faint of heart or Sangiovese purist, yet it is balanced for the cellar and overdelivers in every other way. It bears mentioning that this was tasted over two days and held firm to these notes." Vinous

"From a vineyard site not too far away from the winery near Castelnuovo dell'Abate on the eastern and cooler side of the appellation, this wine was once a Rosso di Montalcino recently upgraded to Brunello status. With vines planted in 2000, the fruit now renders the complexity and depth to represent this celebrated Tuscan appellation. This is a tight and compact wine, with a nervous quality of fruit that will unwind and settle with more bottle age. This vineyard site produces fruit poised for long-term aging, and these 2016 results follow that mandate. There is a lot of crisp fruit, sour cherry and cranberry in this tonic, lively Brunello." Robert Parker

The label of Riserva Lupi e Sirene (Wolves and Mermaids) recalls the good old days when Podere le Ripi was so remote that the howling of wolves was the only sound to be heard at night.

Bright delicate ruby red that beautifully interprets the typical transparency of Brunello and Sangiovese Grosso. Fine bouquet of small red fruits skillfully surrounded by earthy and mineral notes. On the palate, it offers a fascinating purity and energy without ever being intemperate. Its linear body is so fluid and polished that it captures the attention of all the senses for a very long time. Lupi e Sirene is the most elegant and refined of the winery's impressive Brunello roster. SUPERIORE.DE

"Brilliant, intense ruby garnet. Memorable nose with lush notes of ripe plum, raspberry and pickled cherry, plus some cardamom. Turns an impressive wheel on the palate, warm and intense, offering a bouquet of appealing ripe red fruit, opens with present, very well-integrated tannin, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Intoxicating aromas of dried violets, potpourri and lemon peel, evolving into porcini mushrooms and toasted oak. It's full-bodied with depth and purity of fruit on the palate. Lots of plum, blueberry and citrus peel. Delicious chocolatey and firm tannins." James Suckling

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Lupi e Sirene Riserva is a high-energy, spicy and lifted expression of the vintage. Bright cherry and strawberry notes are complemented by hints of sage, mint, cinnamon and white smoke. There are depths of silky texture contrasting brisk acids, while ripe red berries blend with tactile minerality to create a juicy expression, one which really plays with the senses. An air of balsamic and coffee grinds on the finish is the only revealing hint of oak, as this tapers off to fine tannins and echoes of black licorice. It’s a thrill-ride of a Brunello Riserva." Vinous

"With alberello or bush-trained vines, the Podere le Ripi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Lupi e Sirene is the estate's benchmark vineyard located on the crest of a hill just beyond the winery. The philosophy follows that of Mastrojanni's celebrated Vigna Schiena d'Asino, to which this wine shares some fraternal DNA. It shows a savory, leathery, earthy, mushroomy and animal-like character (in a positive way) with dark fruit, spice and cedar smoke. Like the other wines in this portfolio, aging takes it through large oak casks for three years, capped by nine months in cement. That last phase does an excellent job of pulling out the elegance and balance of the wine." Robert Parker