Brunello di Montalcino “Vecchie Vigne” DOCG 2020

Siro Pacenti | Tuscany
Siro Pacenti | Loc. Pelagrilli | IT 53024 Montalcino

09662120 · 0,75 l · 128,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

There are vineyards that were planted by a father and vineyards that were planted by a grandfather. Vecchie Vigne has both. The oldest parcels of Pelagrilli – planted in 1970 by Siro Pacenti himself, still in production – make up one half of the wine. The other comes from partial plots in Piancornello, which Giancarlo's maternal grandfather planted in the 1960s and which the family acquired in 1990. Two locations, two climates, two soils: the sandy loam of Pelagrilli with its cooling westerly winds in the north; the pebbly soils over hard bedrock and Mediterranean warmth of Piancornello in the south. Siro Pacenti thus holds almost a fifth of all the Sangiovese Grosso vines over forty years old in the entire appellation. Giancarlo Pacenti applies the same philosophy to Vecchie Vigne as he does to all his wines – only with a different approach to the starting point. The berry selection is a two-stage process: optical sorter and hand-picking before and after vinification. No compromises. Fermentation in steel, then 24 months in customised French barriques, two months in concrete tanks, 22 months bottle ageing.

2020 brought a warm, bright summer that gave the Sangiovese from both sites full ripeness. The flavour is dark and lush without losing control: ripe black cherry, plum, cedar wood, a hint of rosemary smoke and tobacco – carried by a powerful, multi-layered body. The tannins are firm and present, but with a silky texture; the length of the finish is extraordinary. A Vecchie Vigne that does not hide its story, but rather reveals it in an appetising way. SUPERIORE.DE

"Combines a wonderful potpourri of red forest fruit, floral and balsamic notes on the nose; the texture is powerful and yet with finesse, carried by a crisp acidity, with plenty of fruit and spice on the finish. A seducer." Vinum

"Elegant, bright ruby red colour. On the nose, milk chocolate, precious wood, some lovage, also reminiscent of bloody tones. On the palate with very grippy tannins, powerful, very tightly woven, brooding and pithy, comes in several layers, long, monumental wine that still wants to age." Falstaff

"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne is tightly wound and closed, with an intense mix of savoury herbs, cedar shavings, ground cloves and blood oranges forming its bouquet. The palate is velvety smooth and deep, but surprisingly lively, with an abundance of spiced cherries and wild berries complemented by a hint of sour citrus. The structure is evident in the finish, which is incredibly long and tannic, yet fresh, leaving a tart blackberry note and violet floral notes. It combines balance and power in an extremely attractive way." Vinous

"A dark, distinctive version that leans towards blackcurrants and blackberries with fine concentration and structure. Notes of iron, earth, eucalyptus and Mediterranean scrub complement the fruit and are an anomaly for this vintage. Feels almost more like 2019 than 2020." Wine Spectator

"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne, made from the estate's oldest vines and aged in French barriques, has a spicy note with cardamom or cinnamon over a powerful bouquet that is darkly enriched with all kinds of black and purple fruits. A hint of eucalyptus or rosemary emphasises the medicinal side of this wine. On the palate, this vintage is certainly a little more accessible, but the house style is characterised by concentration and a powerful tannic structure that allows for long ageing. The tannins have a hint of dust or chalk." Wine Advocate

"Marasca on the nose, accompanied by notes of marjoram and rhubarb, with a hint of clementine peel. The sip is dense and crisp, savoury, with a fruity hint." Luca Gardini