Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino | 2018

Le Ragnaie is a 21st century love story. In 2000, its owners, Riccardo and Jennifer Campinoti, purchased a mix of young vines and old ones, spread throughout three prime sub-zones of Montalcino. The name comes from La Ragna, meaning spider web, hence the drawing on the label. It's a nod to their highest vineyards, located southwest of Montalcino, that soar to 2,000 feet, looking down on Soldera's Case Basse state. Some of these sky-high vines are in this bottle, which gives their entry-level Brunello an irresistible, Burgundian-like clarity. While the remaining fruit, sourced from the heart of Montalcino and the warmer southeast corner, piece together the wine's tannin and unforgiving acidity. 

Made with extended skin maceration and aged in Slavonian oak (2,500 liters), Le Ragnaie is more traditional than modern, but it masterfully flirts with the things we love about a softer style of Brunello — endless swirls of cherry, wild strawberry, and tannins that are strong, but somehow sway and bend. Like all great wines, there's no substitute for great terroir. ~Allegra A