Brunello di Montalcino “Vigna del Lago” DOCG 2021 · 6 bottles in OWC

Val di Suga | Tuscany
Bertani Domains s.a. a r.l. | Via Roma 117 | IT 60031 Castelplanio

09053221 · 1,5 l · 226,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping3 units available

A lake next to the vineyard – this is not a metaphor, this is geography. Vigna del Lago is located in the north-west of Montalcino, at 280 metres above sea level, and the small lake that gives the vineyard its name softens the otherwise continental climate of this exposure: harsh winters, very hot summers, pronounced day-night temperature fluctuations. The soil is clay – heavy, watery and cool. A combination that forces the Sangiovese Grosso to take deep root, mature slowly and develop elegance rather than mass. The vine material is the densest in the entire Val di Suga portfolio: 7,500 vines per hectare – a figure reminiscent of the planting densities in Burgundy. Double spur cordon, careful foliage management, yield reduction through thinning out. Hand-picking into crates takes place exclusively in the early hours of the morning. In the cellar: fermentation for eight to twelve days, maceration for a further two to three weeks. Maturation in 40-hectolitre Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months, then concrete, then bottle. No barrique, no wood pressure – pure site. 2021 was a lucky vintage for Vigna del Lago. The late frost in April reduced the harvest – and concentrated the best. No extreme summer, no stress.

A light, bright ruby red colour in the glass, almost transparent, with a delicate garnet rim. The nose is of aristocratic precision: ginger, cherry, orange peel, dried flowers – fine and multi-layered, without ever being noisy. Silky and medium-bodied on the palate, with a salty finish and tannins that lead rather than grip. Long, precise, quiet. With years in the bottle, citrus flavours and dried flowers will complete the picture. Vigna del Lago is the quiet aristocrat among the Brunelli of Val di Suga – and perhaps the most fascinating. SUPERIORE.DE

"Brilliant ruby colour, slightly brightening rim. Finely characterised nose with pronounced notes of fresh raspberries and sour cherries, some violets. Round and extremely supple on the palate, lots of sweet melting, convincing with beautifully ripe fruit, firm pressure." Falstaff

"Elegant Brunello with notes of sour cherries, lilac, tobacco and leather; the texture is balanced between fine-grained tannins and invigorating acidity, the finish is long and fruity. Combines polish and elegance." Vinum

"Restrained wine with an earthy mineral edge to the balsamic, pomegranate and red-cherry aromas. Medium-bodied, it’s slightly stern on the palate with crisp acidity, firm and velvety tannins and a chalkier finish." James Suckling

"The identities of Val di Suga’s three single-vineyard bottlings were well honed during Andrea Lonardi MW’s tenure. On cool clay soil in Montalcino’s continental northern stretch, Vigna del Lago is particularly evocative of place in 2021. This elegantly weighted beauty is all about tension and precision. Youthfully restrained, it suggests sorrel, heather and flint. The palate expresses itself vertically with blood orange and red cherry, hemmed in by tight, stony tannins. Alpine herbs lend savoury accents." Decanter

"Masses of crushed violet and lavender tones give way to pine shavings and cherry sauce as the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Del Lago opens in the glass. This is a more lifted and graceful interpretation of Vigna Del Lago, featuring round textures and fresh wild berry fruits elevated by a core of tantalizing acidity. A cascade of inner florals lingers as the 2021 tapers off with edgy tannins, yet the palate remains refreshed." Vinous

"The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Lago offers added depth and texture thanks to fruit sourced from a warmer, lower-elevation site at 280 meters above sea level. The fruit profile leans toward the purple and blue spectrum, delivering a touch more heft and a velvety yet firm mouthfeel, with a tannic line at the back and a flash of hard minerality that keeps everything in check." Wine Advocate