Le Ragnaie, Brunello di Montalcino, Ragnaie V.V. 2015

Wild cherries, dried blueberries and dark currants open the bouquet of Le Ragnaie's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. The cherry signature is forefront, and it emerges with medicinal and balsamic notes towed in close. Fruit comes from the estate's oldest vines (aged 50 years old) planted in the highest part of the appellation (at 600 meters above sea level). The bouquet is seamless, putting forth a chain of similar fruit and spice-related aromas that fall neatly in line. This effect is further reinforced as the wine evolves steadily in the glass. Of the various Brunello Selezioni presented by Le Ragnaie, this wine is the most classic in approach with a slightly more closed and austere personality that will serve it well as it continues its bottle evolution. The wine was bottled in April 2019 and will hit the market in February 2020. Only 3,500 bottles were made.

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino VV shows ripe strawberries with dusty dry soil tones, hints of subtle spice and florals. On the palate, silky textures usher in ripe red berry fruits, with sweet spices and cooling, savory mint, as salty minerality saturates, and zesty acids make the mouth water. The finish is long, taking a turn toward tart red fruits, further accentuated by lingering minerality and a slight structural tug, which promises a beautiful evolution over the medium term. It’s incredibly spicy, grippy, and youthful today, but the V.V. has all the necessary ingredients to be amazing in a few years’ time.