2020 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V.

Le Ragnaie's 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. is among the finest expressions of Sangiovese from this vintage, a single-vineyard bottling from the estate's oldest vines in the heart of Montalcino. The V.V. designation signals vecchie viti — old vines — and the result is a wine with exceptional concentration and structural depth that over-delivers against the broader vintage character. Producer Jennifer Ricci has farmed these vineyards organically since taking over the family estate in 2003, and the 2020 vintage captures the balance of ripeness and lift that defines great Brunello from the galestro soils of Montalcino's southeastern slopes. Le Ragnaie sits at approximately 450 meters elevation on the cooler, mineral-driven side of the appellation, where diurnal temperature swings preserve acidity even in warm years. The estate's old-vine Sangiovese is fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts, then aged in large Slavonian oak botti for a minimum of three years before bottling, a traditional approach that emphasizes terroir over extraction. Ricci's commitment to low-intervention winemaking means no fining, no filtering, and minimal sulfur, allowing the fruit and soil to speak clearly. The Ragnaie V.V. bottling is sourced from a specific parcel of vines planted in the 1950s and 1960s, the estate's most concentrated and age-worthy fruit. The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. opens with ripe aromatics of kirsch, fresh leather, sweet tobacco, blood orange, and anise, a combination that signals both ripeness and complexity. The palate is saturated and pure, with notable depth and incredible lift — a rare combination that speaks to the vintage's quality and the old vines' ability to balance richness with freshness. The finish is long and layered, marked by crystalline salty mineral accents that echo the galestro geology. This is a powerful wine built for the cellar, likely to mature slowly over the next two decades, though it already shows youthful appeal for those who can't wait. Pair it with bistecca alla fiorentina, wild boar ragu, or aged Pecorino Toscano. The 2020 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. is available now at Off Premise in Lincoln Park for pickup at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.