Il Marroneto - Brunello di Montalcino 2020

Il Marroneto is a small, eight-hectare estate on the north side of Montalcino, just outside of the town. It was founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Mori who fell in love with the estate when he first visited from nearby Siena. In that period, there were only a couple dozen producers in Montalcino, while today there are over 200! Since the beginning, they have been a staunchly traditional producer. Traditional both in the sense that they use large oak botti, but also in the sense that their philosophy and techniques have been passed down inter-generationally, from Giuseppe to his son, Alessandro, and in turn, to Alessandro’s son, Iacopo, who has recently begun working closely with his father in the running of the estate.

In the beginning, Alessandro was assisted by two famous winemaking consultants, Mario Cortevesio and Giulio Gambelli (who had ties to Montevertine, Castell’in Villa, Montenidoli, and others). Starting in 1990, Alessandro felt he was ready and capable to move forward on his own, without consultants, though still, as he says, “with much to learn from his vineyards.” In addition to fermenting and aging in large, neutral oak, Il Maronneto makes the unconventional decision for wines of this caliber to not only use free-run juice but to also use press wine, not even just first but second press wine too, in both his Brunello di Montalcino annata as well as his single-vineyard bottling, “Madonna delle Grazie.”

They have always worked with complete respect for the health of the vineyards. “Every single aspect in the vineyard must be given utmost attention as those details cannot be corrected in the cellar.” Attention to detail, both in the vineyard as well as in the cellar, has always been the highest priority for the family, though they have never felt the need for any certification for their vineyard practices.

They are most known for their two Brunelli. The first, they simply refer to as “Annata” or “Classico” which does not at all do the wine justice as it is a great, world-class Brunello. This wine, called Il Maronneto Brunello, ferments and ages first in large, 40 HL casks, and then into 26 HL casks for about 3 years followed by about 10 months in the bottle.

“A restrained wine that’s complex and deep, with aromas of cherry stones, butter, fresh violets, orange peel and prunes. Firm tannins with a grainy texture, yet it has a sweet finish, super-energetic acidity and a full body. Flavors of blood oranges and violets. Perfect balance and incredible aging potential. A super classic. Drink or hold.” - 97 Points, James Suckling

“Definitely among the vintage’s anomalies, Il Marroneto’s 2020 is more overtly structured than its 2019 counterpart. While the latter verges on dainty and ethereal, the 2020 is steelier in resolve and almost austere by comparison. Proprietor Alessandro Mori also felt it needed longer in wood, so this saw a total of 45 months in Slavonian oak casks. Subtle and sweet to start, it flits with strawberry and cherry blossom before taking on earthier tones. Elegantly weighted but still tight, the palate is built around pure red cherry and raspberry, embedded with nutmeg and incense. Chalky and layered, the tannins sport an assertive bite. Give it a couple of years.” - 96 Points, Decanter

“The Il Marroneto 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of special depth and elegance. Alessandro Mori tells me that fermentation in 2020 proceeded nicely with what he describes as a "primordial stew" of grape must, resulting in high pressure "geysers" or "liquid bombs" that rip right through the cap because of pressure build-up. Someone is having tons of fun in the winery. High temperatures (between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius) serve to fix the wine's ruby color and the elegance of its perfumes, which are more floral than fruity. At the end of fermentation, he manages the skins with light wetting by hand with a tube. This vintage offers softness and a silky texture that feels glossy to the palate.” - 96 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Producer: Il Marroneto

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Sangiovese

Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino

Vintage: 2020

Size: 750ml