This red wine is produced since 1892 and was awarded many times for its quality. This wine is the “heart” of our production and it is made with 100% Sangiovese grapes from our best vineyards in Montalcino.
Grapes Sangiovese 100%.
Vineyards Property of Fattoria dei Barbi, located in the district of Montalcino and registered for Brunello di Montalcino production. Soil: marl, alberese limestone. Altitude: 300-500 mt slm. Average Age: 15 – 20 years. Orientation: South. Vine Training System: Cortina semplice. Vine Stock per Hectar: 5.000. Yield per Hectar: 65 ql.
The Year 2012 The climatic development of 2012 was very unusual. The beginning of the Winter was dry and mild, until the end of January when the weather changed drastically with snow storms and temperatures below zero. In the Spring the climate was dry with warmth above the average, without the regular rains of the period. The Summer was hot for many weeks, keeping the humidity high, until September, when few rainy spells brought back the weather to a more sympathetic level for a balanced maturation of the grapes. The harvest started on September 18th and finished on October 3th.
Vinification Before the fermentation the grapes were subjected to a cold pre-fermentative maceration which consists in cooling the grapes at a temperature of 16° C in an environment protected by CO2. This process increases the extraction of polyphenols and aroma compounds. The regular alcoholic fermentation followed and lasted 16/17 days at a controlled temperature of 27°-28°C. After the racking and the malolactic fermentation the wine aged in small-medium size oak barrels (2,25 – 15 hl) for the first months. Later it completed the aging in larger oak barrels, for a total period of two years and then is bottled at least 4 months before the release.
Chemical analysis Alcohol 14,5 % – Tot. Ac. 5.4 g/l – Vol. Ac. 0.49 g/l – Free SO2 17 mg/l – Residual sugars (glucose + fructose) 0.8 g/l – Dry extract 32.9 g/l.
Sensory analysis Colour: brilliant and intense ruby red. Bouquet: red berries, raspberry, sour cherry, hints of dog rose, mint liquorice. Taste: captivating and well balanced, long and savoury, fresh, balsamic, lightly spiced. Lingering nuances of candied fruit and orange in the after taste.
Food Combination Perfect for important dishes, roasted or grilled red meats, game, venison, stewed wild boar. Excellent with mature cheeses.
Serving Temperature 18°C.
Capacity of Ageing 15-50 years.
Conservation and Storage Keep the bottle horizontally in a dark place at a temperature of 12°-14°C.
Issue: May 27, 2023
Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2012: (DOCG Brunello di Montalcino, Italy). Dry red, medium garnet color with heavy fading (brick/orange color) at the edges. The nose is medium-intense with earthy forest scents, aromas of bright, cooked sour cherry and strawberry, barnyard (sweet manure), cloves, freshly dug white mushroom, wax crayon, floral violets and hints of leather. After the complex nose, the palate seems simple at first but each sip reveals subtle complexities and depth of flavor. To the taste, this Italian red is focused on sour cherry and strawberry notes with an earthy, chocolatey component and a long finish of smooth forest earth, soft licorice, pepper and cloves. Tannins can be felt on the mouth and teeth but time in the bottle has softened them up nicely. Medium-plus acidity gives a lift to the bright red fruits and makes this a great option for many types of food pairings. Medium-plus body with medium concentration. The wine seems to lack a bit of punch at first but the wine builds on the palate as you sip. It reminds me of an adventure which starts slow and has many exciting dips and bends to discover. Pencil shavings, hints of leather and licorice linger while the tannins leave a satisfying coating (almost waxy) on the inside of the cheeks. This wine pairs beautifully with the Magno Maduro cigar in Rothschild size (4.5” X 50 ring gauge). The only thing that keeps this wine from being “Outstanding” is the lack of developing flavors. This wine is drinking well now but could use a bit more concentration and intensity of flavors. Very good! $75, 14.5% ABV
Magno Maduro Rothschild: (Esteli, Nicaragua). This Nicaraguan maduro has a dark wrapper (almost black) with a beautiful scent of cocoa, chocolate, earth and barnyard funk. The cigar lights easily after toasting and smoke from the foot of the cigar is abundant. The texture of the smoke is smooth, creamy and full-bodied with an array of earthy/chocolatey flavors as well as light pepper spice. There is hardly any bitterness to be found and the smoke tastes sweet on the retrohale. As the cigar is smoked, it leaves a fine white ash which is easily knocked off every inch or so. Great value for such a tasty, well-fermented cigar. It pairs well with all types of beverages like whiskey, rum, beer, wine or coffee. Very good! $5/CigarAaron Winsor
