Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021

Uccelliera | Tuscany
Az. Agr. Uccelliera | Podere Uccelliera 45 | IT 53024 Castelnuovo dell'Abate

09982121 · 0,75 l · 92,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Castelnuovo dell'Abate has its own character – rougher, denser, more mineral than many other corners of the appellation. The clayey-sandy soils with their high proportion of skeleton, the altitudes between 150 and 350 metres, the lee of Monte Amiata, the cool nights from the Orcia Valley: anyone who plants vines here gets Sangiovese with attitude. Andrea Cortonesi has been planting here for almost four decades. 2021 demanded a lot from this terroir – and the winegrower – a lot. The late frost in April hit the lower vineyards hard and the harvest was around 15 per cent smaller than the previous year. A hot, dry summer followed before two rainfalls in the second half of August gave the vineyards water and the grapes their final aromatic depth. The long September nights did the rest: phenolic ripeness, without heat character, without compromising on freshness. What Uccelliera subsequently brought into the cellar was concentrated, healthy, clear and – and with that crisp fruitiness that makes Castelnuovo wines unmistakable.

Deep, bright ruby red in the glass. The nose of Uccelliera 2021 is initially closed, mineral, with hints of forest floor and smoke – then, with air: dark cherry, mint, pine needle, dried strawberry, a hint of dusty rose. Powerful, dense and vertically structured on the palate – exactly where this hill belongs. Tannins with a fine grain, firm and long-lasting. The acidity keeps everything in bright tension. Long finish that oscillates between sweet fruit and mineral reverberation and doesn't want to make up its mind. And rightly so. Decanter calls Uccelliera 2021 one of the most powerful representatives of the vintage. That's true, but power alone doesn't quite cover it. We would say precision. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shimmering ruby red with a violet lustre. Fragrant nose, raspberry and cherry as well as a hint of violets and sealing wax. Juicy and refreshing on the palate, ripe, gripping tannins, powerful, persistent finish." Falstaff

"Beguilingly complex bouquet with notes of red berries, floral components and some wood; juicy in the mouth, supporting the acidity, but perfectly integrated, beautiful polish right into the long final. Also convincing in this vintage." Vinum

"There are no single-vineyard bottlings at Uccelliera. Instead, owner Andrea Cortonesi brings together a diversity of plots from various altitudes, exposures, soils, vine age and clones for one complex sum. The 2021 divulges its balmy, southeastern origins with all the robustness and vigour one would expect, while managing to remain surprisingly poised. Nevertheless, this veers more to power than grace. A youthful wood imprint is absorbed by the fleshy, dark-toned fruit. Eucalypt, nutmeg and tarragon infuse. The bold and grainy tannins need more time to resolve." Decanter

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino shows a deep core of dark fruit and black cherry while remaining gracefully vertical and bright. Notes of spice, forest floor and sweet earth weave through the fruit, creating balance and a steady sense of richness that carries seamlessly across the palate." Wine Advocate

"Minty herbs mix with shavings of pine, dried strawberries and dusty earth as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. It displays exceptional finesse and grace, with silken waves of ripe red and blue fruits elevated by fresh acidity. Inner rose tones and a tactile mineral crunch add form toward the close. The 2021 leaves a pleasantly chewy sensation and a tart blackberry twang, tapering off with excellent length and a totally classic feel." Vinous

"A spicy and classic Brunello with vibrant aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, violets, smoky wood and licorice. Full-bodied, it shows balanced extraction, tamed velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and a super-savory, minerally finish. Juicy and long." James Suckling