Fossacolle 2011 Brunello di Montalcino, Magnum 1.5L

Magnum 1.5L
Fossacolle has 10 acres of vineyards in the medieval town of Tavernelle in southern Montalcino. This area benefits from the wind of nearby Maremma which creates a perfect climate to grow and to mature grapes. Fossacolle Brunello is produced only with Sangiovese Grosso grapes from these vineyards. The bunches are rigorously selected for quality and hand-picked into small boxes. Following a gentle pressing, the must undergoes a pre-fermentation at low temperatures in steel and wood fermenters. The alcoholic fermentation takes place rigorously under temperature controlled conditions for 22 days. An extended maceration and frequent pump-overs and punch-downs optimize the extraction from the skins. The malolactic fermentation is completed in concrete vats before the wine’s ageing phase, which includes 12 months in large oak casks and another 12 months in small French oak barriques. Subsequently the wine matures for another year in glass-lined cement vats. It is bottled with no filtration.

James Suckling scored this 94 points saying "An excellent Brunello for the vintage with dense concentration of fruit and loads of dried-berry, chocolate, mahogany and earth aromas and flavors. Needs time to soften but very structured for 2011."

The Wine Advocate scored this 92+ saying "The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a very beautiful wine that evolves slowly in the glass to reveal ever more intensity. It offers generous cherry flavors followed by spice, leather, tobacco and grilled herb. The mouthfeel delivers a pretty level of softness and plushness. In general, I found this to be a very balanced wine. There's a nice level of understated simplicity that makes the wine appropriate for near-term consumption. But there is also enough complexity for moderate aging."

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 90 points saying "Aromas of baked plum, fragrant blue flower, cooking spice, toasted oak and a whiff of scorched earth come together on this robust wine. The hearty palate offers mature black cherry, raisin, Asian spice and oak alongside solid, close-grained tannins that leave a bracing finish."