Frescobaldi, CastelGiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino, DOCG, dry, red

‘It comes from Tuscany, specifically from the DOCG Brunello di Montalcino south of Siena. Here, the vines are particularly well protected on the slopes of Monte Amiata – it is not for nothing that Brunello is considered the largest and most important red wine in Tuscany. CastelGiocondo’s Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100% Sangiovese, Tuscany’s leading grape variety, in this case the Brunello (little brown) variety discovered and widespread around Montalcino. The wine matures for 24 months in barriques and then rests for a further three years in the bottle before it is allowed to leave the winery. The alcohol content is 14.5%. The wine is ready to drink, but should be decanted into a carafe 24 hours before drinking. However, youcan also decant the wine ‘easily’: Simply pour into a glass and leave the rest of the bottle lightly closed (with the cork only slightly open) for a while – the residual air in the bottle aerates and opens the wine. This wine can also be stored in the cellar until 2034 without hesitation and will then become even more elegant and supple.’