Brunello di Montalcino

In 1999 I was taken by a friend of mine to visit Castello di Argiano, a vineyard south of Montalcino. There I met Giugi Sesti, an international expert in astrology who had bought the hamlet in the mid 1970’s and started on a crusade to restore it to its former glory. On his way he had planted sangiovese vines.

In his office which was a beautiful old chapel he had a telescope. Giugi was one of the first to make wine by the moon and stars. Today known as biodynamic winemaking.

I came away the proud owner of 2 barrels of 1997 Sesti Brunello. For the next 4 years I did the same and this was the start of The Winemakers Club.
Giugi bottled the wine to his label and it was sold to wine merchants in England and became a famous Brunello.

Imagine my delight 20 years later at being able to make my own Brunello.
Unique because it is partly matured in ceramic eggs manufactured in Italy by Clayver, Porcellanea and Sirio.

The wine was aged in a large oak cask for 30 months (by law Brunello must be aged at least for two years in oak cask followed by 15 months in a concrete egg)

Mid ruby with orange tinges. Quite sweet and dense on the nose and a little tingly/peppery. Liquorice notes and a hint of old leather.

Sappy cherry fruit that is more fluid than the nose would have you expect. Long, with bags of cherry tannins. Lots of personality as well as freshness. A little unpolished. (WS) 14.5%