Podere Brizio Brunello di Montalcino 2015

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Podere Brizio

High in the southwestern hills of Montalcino sits Podere Brizio, an estate that embraces modern, sustainable winemaking in an ancient setting.

Argentine Alejandro Bulgheroni is the visionary force behind Podere Brizio, which exists as part of his network of world-class wineries, including sibling Montalcino property, Poggio Landi, as well as serious wine-making operations in Chianti (Dievole), Bodegas Garzon in Uruguay and Alkina at Greenock in north-western Barossa.

As with his other projects, Bulgheroni’s vision for Podere Brizio is to combine quality terroir with carefully considered viticultural and winemaking techniques.

In both the vineyard and the winery, the estate adopts the traditional practices of Montalcino winegrowing in chorus with the most innovative techniques in order to amplify quality. This is accomplished in part through the use of sustainable and organic farming practices, which prioritise health of the soil and the natural lifecycle of the vines. The other key element to achieving quality is working with industry leaders who share these values; at Podere Brizio Italian oenologist Alberto Antonini is intimately involved in viticulture and winemaking style, along with celebrated Chilean ‘soil-whisperer’ Pedro Parra.

Ultimately, the results speak for themselves; the wines are concentrated and compelling, capturing the power and elegance that have come to define the wines of Montalcino.

In the Vineyard

The 33ha estate is located in the southwest of Montalcino in one of the zone’s hottest areas. 11ha are planted to vines, of which are Sangiovese Grosso predominates. Organic viticulture is practiced in the vineyard, which grows in parcels along the Brizio hilltop at an altitude of 300- 350 metres above sea level facing southwest towards the coast. The soils are a combination of marine-origin sand and loam over marl and limestone.  This terroir with its the cooling elevation and maritime influence yield wines with balance and elegant energy.

In The Winery

Winemaking is relatively uncomplicated: handpicked fruit undergoes fermentation by natives yeasts in steel and maturation in large 54hl, untoasted Allier casks. The Rosso spends 12 months in oak, followed by 3 months in bottle; the Brunello matures for 38+ months in barrel followed by at least 6 months refining in bottle.

The 2015 Brunello Vintage

Well, well, well! Every year winemakers (… or their marketing team) around the world tell us it’s the vintage of the decade, maybe even the vintage of the century! Every vintage I make wine I call it the vintage of the year determined to take the P.1.S.S. out of all the marketers!

It’s happened again with the 2015 wines of Brunello. James Suckling Top Italian wine for last your was a Brunello, in fact it was his top wine for the WORLD!  Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne 2015. His top 100 wines were dominated by 35 Brunelli! Virtually all were 2015’s with the exception of a couple of Riservas from 2013.

The Rosso di Montalcinos we saw from 2015 certainly support the vintage being a pretty tasty one.

The message is clear BACK THE TRUCK UP!

James Suckling Thoughts on the 2015 Vintage in Brunello

The 2015 vintage is a historical year for Brunello di Montalcino that nobody should miss. The wines show impressive precision of vivid fruit, fine tannins and freshness in acidity despite their ripeness and richness which makes them some of the most exciting in years.

Winemakers in Montalcino were never better prepared to produce outstanding wines in a year like 2015 with their exactness in their vineyards and cellars from fine-tuned canopy management and crop thinning to optical sorting and soft fermentations. So many wine producers in Montalcino made excellent wines in 2015.

‘Depth of fruit and endless length’

My son Jack and I have tasted 187 2015 Brunellos so far this year and the quality is terrific. We rated about half 95 points or more – classic quality. The wines will be officially available in the market beginning in January 2020. But we wanted to give you a preview of the best Brunellos from the vintage, with some already available on a pre-arrival basis from wine merchants.

‘Balance and harmony’

“The words for the 2015 vintage are density, tannins and freshness,” says Roberto Guerrini, whose family owns Eredi Fuligni. He made the wine of his lifetime in 2015. We rated it 100 points. “The wines are rich, yet they are fresh at the same time. It is a great year.”

Where in the World is Podere Brizio?

Podere Brizio is in Montalcino, Tuscany.