Podere Bucine Rosso di Montalcino 2023 DOC 0,75l

The Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023 from Podere Bucine comes from the northeastern slope of the Montalcino hill, along the Canalicchio municipal road, at an altitude of 350 to 400 meters. It is pure Sangiovese grosso, from a vineyard planted in 2002 on clay-rich soil with abundant stones, trained to spur cordon and facing the Crete Senesi, where a cooler climate allows the grapes to ripen evenly. The estate has roots dating back to the nineteenth century. In 1980 it was acquired by a family from Montalcino, who made wine for themselves and friends for years; then, thanks above all to Ermete, the head of the family, that passion grew into a small winery. The name comes from Bùcine, the village in Valdarno where the estate's first residents came from, and the label retains the accent on the u. Of the property's approximately ten hectares, about one and a half are planted with vines; the rest are olive groves and chestnut woods. In 2007, the old farmhouse was renovated and turned into a winery. The family oversees every step, from vineyard to cellar. The soil is worked mechanically, with a subsoiler and disc harrow, and in summer the grass is allowed to grow between the rows. The grapes are harvested by hand: they are selected in the vineyard and undergo a second manual sorting before destemming; after crushing, they fall by gravity into stainless steel fermenters, where they remain on the skins for 21 days with short pump-overs. While many Rosso wines from Montalcino spend at least some time in oak, this one ages only in stainless steel: 18 months in vats, then 2 months in bottle. Along with the small scale of production and a cool-facing slope, this is what sets it apart from many wines from the same appellation. Without oak, the wine lets the Sangiovese and the vintage speak for themselves. The 2023 vintage alternated a mild, dry winter with a very rainy spring, especially in May and June, and a hot summer, with peaks in July and August; September, with sunny days and cool, breezy nights, carried the grapes through to the September 30 harvest. The result is a young, direct red, built around fruit and freshness, without the notes that oak would add. Of the winery's two labels, this is the one to drink young, ready to enjoy straight away and easy to serve at the table, while the Brunello needs time. Serve at 16-18 °C with Tuscan cured meats, pasta with ragù, grilled meats and medium-aged cheeses. In the STELT selection, this Rosso is the most direct way to get to know a small family winery in Montalcino, before moving on to its Brunello.