Brunello di Montalcino “Ugolforte” DOCG 2020 (BIO)

Tenuta San Giorgio | Tuscany
Collemassari S.p.A. s.a. | Via Di Porta Pinciana 6 | IT 00187 Roma

29642220 · 0,75 l · 60,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

In the 12th century, a man named Ugolforte led the rebellion of the citizens of Montalcino against the superior power of Siena. A bandit for some, a freedom fighter for others – his name has survived the centuries in the stories told in the hills. Today it is on the label of a Brunello that carries this indomitable spirit. Tenuta San Giorgio is located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, in the south-east of Montalcino, just a few kilometres from the thousand-year-old Abbey of Sant'Antimo. Founded in 1982 – in the same year that Grattamacco bottled its first vintage – the winery joined the ColleMassari group of the Tipa-Bertarelli family in 2016. Since then, it has shared the terroir with the legendary Poggio di Sotto: the same slopes, the same winds, the same philosophy. 28 hectares of Sangiovese on south-eastern slopes between 300 and 450 metres, embedded in 110 hectares of forest, which protects biodiversity and shapes the microclimate. The soils read like a geological poem: clay, galestro, tuff, red earth, white biancane, the proud Calanchi – and Monte Amiata, the extinct volcano, watches over everything.

Under the direction of Luca Marrone – yes, the same as in Bolgheri – san Giorgio returned to the traditional Brunello style: large Slavonian oak barrels instead of barriques, spontaneous fermentation, long maturation, minimal intervention. The result is a wine with a velvety structure and Mediterranean depth: sour cherry, wild herbs, a hint of tobacco and liquorice, supported by fine tannins and lively acidity. Certified organic, of course.

And then there is this one thing: Tenuta San Giorgio has been the official wine supplier of the Pontifical Swiss Guard since 2010. St George, patron saint of warriors, symbol of the victory of good over evil – he links the Guard with the winery that bears his name. Ugolforte, the rebel, now in the Vatican. He would probably have liked it. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright garnet red with brightening edges. Complex on the nose, heart cherries with dried plums, leather, some tobacco box, cedar wood. Very harmonious in the mouth, fine tannins, good drinking flow, pleasantly velvety finish." Falstaff

"Spicy notes of earth, hot tar, leather and graphite dominate the nose, enlivened by ripe raspberries. On the palate, cherries and strawberries emphasise the raspberry element, while some bitter citrus provides balance. A generous amount of acidity cascades over polished tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte from organic farming offers plenty of spice and savoury elements with sweet tannins, powerful fruit and cinnamon stick. The bouquet focuses mainly on blackcurrant and cherry, and the mouthfeel is generous with a lean transition to the mid-palate." Wine Advocate

"A first glance at the Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte 2020 reveals a youthful, shy, yet seductive performance. Grilled herbs, crushed rocks, dried blackberries, cherries and cloves make up its beguiling bouquet. Despite its intensity on the nose, this wine is light and cool on the inside, with an abundance of tart primary fruit that floods the senses with youthful concentration. Structured and powerful, the 2020 finishes with dramatic length, leaving a tart cranberry aftertaste and angular tannins that tug at the palate." Vinous

"Citrus notes on the nose, cinnamon and sweet violets. Fresh and full-bodied on the palate with complex, spicy flavours, velvety and ripe tannins and good fruit concentration. Dark and complex aftertaste." James Suckling