CLARION WINES LIMITED Barley Mow Centre, 10 Barley Mow Passage, LONDON W4 4PH Telephone: 020 8747 2069 Fax: 020 8747 2076 Email: info@clarionwines.co.uk www.clarionwines.co.uk A selection of wines from four of our favourite Tuscan producers in Montalcino Montalcino from the north Giuseppe Maria Sesti at Castello di Argiano Giuseppe Maria Sesti has established himself as one of the most consistent producers of top quality Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino wines. His estate, whose immediate neighbours include the prestigious properties of Villa Argiano and Castello Banfi, is farmed bio-dynamically with the major viticultural decisions being set by the lunar calendar (it comes as no surprise when one discovers that Guiseppi is also a renowned astronomer). His wines are raised traditionally in the cellar and undergo ageing in the traditional large oak botti. The Monteleccio spends twelve months in barrel while the Rosso requires not less than twenty four and the Brunello not less than thirty six. The Sesti Brunello Reserva is called Phenomena and spends forty eight months in wood. This wine is only made when the vintage is of a sufficiently good quality to warrant it. The wine is always spectacular and its label celebrates a major astronomical event that occurred in that particular vintage.
The cellars at Argiano 20 cases (12x75cl) 2010 Monteleccio, Sesti, Castello di Argiano 119.50 per dozen bottles in bond Lovely pale garnet, ruby colour. Stunning pure complex fruit on the palate. Fresh crunchy character, with some nice floral notes, ripe with fine positive tannins. This wine will be delicious as soon as it is shipped but has the potential for two to three years ageing. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 5 cases (12x75cl) 2010 Rosso di Montalcino, Sesti, Castello di Argiano 185.00 per dozen bottles in bond Deeper and more complex on the nose than the Monteleccio. Very intense, complex and powerful on the palate, with terrific depth of fruit. Beautifully balanced, with lovely red fruits dominating the palate, allied with complex and concentrated supple tannins. Long, ripe and juicy finish. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 15 cases (12x75cl) 2007 Brunello di Montalcino, Sesti, Castello di Argiano 443.00 per dozen bottles in bond Deep and brooding on the nose. Lovely deep ruby colour. Really herby character, notes of thyme and rosemary. Beautifully soft and silky on the attack. Tannins are completely harmonious and wonderfully velvet-soft. Very long and delicious. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino wafts from the glass with freshly cut flowers, mint, licorice and spices. This is a relatively high-toned, feminine Brunello that floats on the palate with notable grace and class. A long, gorgeous finish rounds out this harmonious 2007 from Sesti. The 2007 spent 39 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. 93 points, Antonio Galloni - Robert Parker s Wine Advocate #200 April 2012 11 cases (6x75cl) 2006 Phenomena Brunello di Montalcino Reserva, Sesti, Castello di Argiano 311.00 per 6 bottles in bond Hugely powerful and intense, with bright, fresh, concentrated cherry fruit and some oak spice. Wonderful fruit intensity on the palate. Big, intense ripe tannins provide a firm, ripe structure with impressive depth and complexity. Super length to the finish. Very impressive, one for the cellar. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 Aromas of mushrooms and berries follow through to a full body, with mushroom and spice character. Chewy mouth-feel. Strawberry pie too. Drink now. But will improve with age. 92 points, James Suckling jamessuckling.com
Francesca and Margherita Padovani at Campi di Fonterenza The town of Montalcino The small estate of Campi di Fonterenza is home to some of the very best new wines from Montalcino. The vineyard is the property of twins Margarita and Francesca Padovani, where they are dedicated to making the best possible wines they can. This commitment was immediately apparent when they produced their first Brunello in 2004. The result was spectacular, trumping their established and much lauded neighbours when their wine was one of only two Brunelli to achieve five stars in Decanter Magazine s comprehensive review of the vintage. They have continued to build on this success and their 2007 Brunello promises to be their best yet. This is an opportunity to get in ahead of the crowd that must surely follow when the major critics discover this hidden gem. 8 cases (6x75cl) 2009 Rosso di Montalcino, Campi di Fonterenza 104.00 per 6 bottles in bond This is a big wine wth lots of grip, the tannins are firm especially on the finish. Super fruit on the palate, complex, concentrated and intense. Fabulous fruit on the finish. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 9 cases (6x75cl) 2007 Brunello di Montalcino, Campi di Fonterenza 251.50 per 6 bottles in bond 3 cases (3x1.5l magnums) 284.00 per 3 magnums in bond Deep ruby colour, with powerful dark cherry and damson fruit on the nose. Very intense fruit attack, with lovely balance and terrific concentration. Really layered and complex. Big fruit with super ripe tannins - very, very long. The wine was then tasted after decanting, the nose opening out to reveal more complexity and intensity. There are now smoky and floral notes, as well as concentrated flavours of plums and cherries, and an impressive core of concentrated blackcurrant fruit. Long and balanced as well as fresh and vibrant. Very long and very impressive. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012
Marino Colleoni at Santa Maria The Santa Maria vineyards Another producer now receiving much wider recognition is Marino Colleoni, who has recently attracted some serious attention from Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker s man on all things Italian: Marino Colleoni is the most exciting new producer emerging in Montalcino today. A maniacal approach to farming based on sustainable practices has led Colleoni to focus on restoring a healthy, vibrant ecosystem in his vineyards in the Montosoli zone. The wines are made with indigenous yeasts and aged in cask. Colleoni releases 8,000-9,000 bottles in total, of which 3,000 are Brunello and 2,500 are Rosso from Brunello-designated vineyards. I tasted the Colleoni wines next to some of Montalcino s long established benchmarks and they were tremendous. We sold his 2007 Brunello very quickly but we do have some of his outstanding 2010 Rosso di Montalcino available, which is strongly recommended. 14 cases (6x75cl) 2010 Rosso di Montalcino, Marino Colleoni, Santa Maria 96.00 per 6 bottles in bond Dark cherry fruit on the nose with a hint of china tea. Lovely fresh attack, nice cherry/damson fruit character, good fruit weight in the mouth. Soft ripe tannins, fleshy on the palate. Lovely balance to the wine. Long and concentrated on the finish, this is an impressive wine. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 Giancarolo Pacenti at Siro Pacenti Giancarlo Pacenti is one of the leading lights amongst the producers of Montalcino and a fierce advocate of the use of French oak barriques in the ageing of his wine. These he uses at the expense of the more traditional large botti used by other winemakers. All the fermentation takes place in stainless steel before the wine is transferred into the oak barrels, of which between 60% and 80% are new. He does not age his wines by separating individual vineyard parcels and maturing them separately, but prefers to assemble his final blend early in barrel so that the wines can mature together and continue to harmonise when bottled. The results can be spectacular.
The Pacenti house 4 cases (6x75cl) 2010 Rosso di Montalcino, Siro Pacenti 109.00 per 6 bottles in bond Ruby red colour with some garnet hints. Positive, soft, ripe dark fruit nose with some savoury notes. Intense, ripe fruit on the attack and some lovely, spicy oak evident. Excellent balance with some attractive acidity to lift the fruit. Lots of fruit and fine tannins on the finish. Super length. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 The 2010 Rosso di Montalcino is sleek, perfumed and elegant. Freshly cut flowers, licorice, spices and red berries are woven together nicely in this articulate, finessed Rosso. Floral notes reappear to frame the suave finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. 90 points, Antonio Galloni - Robert Parker s Wine Advocate #200 April 2012 8 cases (6x75cl) 2009 Rosso di Montalcino, Siro Pacenti 109.00 per 6 bottles in bond Very deep red colour. Lovely seductive aromas - lots of ripe strawberry fruit. Very attractive on the palate as well. Super fruit on the finish delicious. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 The 2009 Rosso di Montalcino shows off tons of finesse and elegance in its plump fruit and juicy personality. The flavors build beautifully through to the rich, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. 89 points, Antonio Galloni - Robert Parker s Wine Advocate #194 May 2011 14 cases (6x75cl) 2007 Brunello di Montalcino, Siro Pacenti 265.00 per 6 bottles in bond Big positive nose, with very ripe, attractive cherry and damson fruit notes. Fresh and lively on the attack, with impressive fruit weight on the palate and attractive berry attractive acidity to provide balance. Layed and complex, with lots of black pepper spiciness. The finish is really long and very impressive. This is a terrific wine. Clarion Wines 2 nd July 2012 The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino wraps across the palate with layers of sweet red cherries, flowers, licorice and spices. Soft and sensual, the 2007 impresses for its impeccable balance and long, suave finish. The 2007 kept improving over the time I followed it. This is a vintage built on silky elegance and expressive fleshiness in the fruit, but those elements need time to emerge fully. There is an inner resonance to the 2007 I find very appealing. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. 94+ points, Antonio Galloni Robert Parker s Wine Advocate April 2012