Salicutti 'Sorgente' Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy 2020

Podere Salicutti was founded by Francesco Leanza and is now stewarded by Felix and Sabine Eichbauer, who have preserved the estate’s deep commitment to terroir and thoughtful farming. As the first organically certified estate (1996) in Montalcino, Salicutti has long set a benchmark for purity and precision. The 11-hectare property includes 4.5 hectares of Sangiovese planted in 1994 across three contiguous parcels—Teatro, Piaggione, and Sorgente—at elevations between 420 and 500 meters. 

• WINEMAKER: Felix and Sabine Eichbauer

• FARMING: Certified Biodynamic since 2022

• VARIETY: 100% Sangiovese

• TERROIR: The 1.5 hectare “Sorgente” cru sits at 450 meters in elevation. Its heavy, clayey sand soils are essential for extending the ripening process later into the season. Sorgente is a single-vineyard expression that reflects the elegance and mineral depth of its calcareous soils, meticulous vine work, and a restrained cellar approach focused on typicity and nuance.

• VINIFICATION: Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel for 20 days at 28°C.

• AGING: Aged for three years in French oak barrels of varying sizes and toast levels, followed by 12 months in bottle.

• TASTING NOTES: Ripe red cherry, candied violet, balsamic, sweet molasses and savory herbs lead into a concentrated, elegantly structured palate. Remarkable acidity and fine, slowly rising tannins guide a persistent and complex finish. Lovely texture, built to age but not at all hard when young. Typical Sangiovese freshness balances the fruit-cake concentration of the wine, creating a wine that can be characterized as the Burgundy lovers' Brunello!

• FOOD PAIRINGS: Porcini tagliatelle, grilled lamb chops, aged Tuscan pecorino, duck breast with rosemary and cherry.