Description
South of Siena in the southernmost part of the Chianti zone is the
medieval village of Montalcino. The commune named for it covers
60,000 acres defined on all sides by rivers: the Orcia to the south,
the Asso to the east, and the Ombrone curving around the north and
west. Vineyard areas within this rugged, hilly area attain heights
of up to 1,900 feet above sea level, yet only a twelfth of the
terrain is capable of supporting vineyards. Forests, table lands and
olive groves occupy most of the area, and of the 5,000 acres
suitable for viticulture, slightly less than half is planted to
vineyards producing Brunello di Montalcino.
The delicate pink juice
of the tiny, nearly black-skinned Brunello grape yields a dark,
purple-red wine which is characterized by extraordinary
concentration, elevated acidity and enormous tannic extract. The
wine is typically closed and quite austere when young, often
backward and unapproachable. Generally considered to be young at ten
years in an average vintage, Brunello di Montalcino's proponents
contend that the best vintages can easily surpass a century and
still remain in their prime.
1996 = five star vintage!
Origin
Biliorsi Ruggero of Fornacina produces solid, well crafted Brunello
from his family estate in Montalcino.
Using traditional techniques married with some new state-of-the-art
technology has helped him to become one of the old producers to
watch for bigger and better things in the future.
