Podere Le Ripi Cielo d’Ulisse Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018

$125.99

The nose begins savory and earthy before sweet cherries and bitter espresso start to sparkle. The palate is full of black cherries and figs, with a bolder coffee flavor reappearing on the finish. The tannins are chalky and dense, while marvelously intense acidity persists through the finish. — Danielle Callegari Wine Enthusiast 96/100

Description

Podere Le Ripi Cielo d’Ulisse Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (Organic – Biodynamic)

Podere Le Ripi website – click here

Area: Tuscany/ Toscana

Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Grape variety: 100% Sangiovese

Vintage: 2018

First year of production: 2012

Alcohol: 14%

Number of bottles produced: 16.000

Vine training system and density: Spurred cordon with 4.800 plants per hectare

Soil: Shists and limestone with sedimentary alluvia soil, rich in silt and sand which ranges from blue galestro to alberese

Yield per hectare: 35 quintals

Harvest: Manual, at the end of September

Yeast: Indigenous

Vinification: Fermentation in big open-top casks for 40 days, the first 80% of the fermentation is carried out alongside open pump overs, whereas the remaining 20% of the fermentation is done piemontesina-style (infusion)

Ageing: 28 months aging in oak barrels and 14 months in cement

Tasting notes

Deep dark with lighter shadows, flavors are quite complex and the progression of different fragrances is endless, beginning with smaller black and red fruits, all surrounded by a hidden scent of blackberries and brackish water. Our vineyards on the western slopes are surrounded by a fresh forest and very close to the Ombrone river. This means that they can handle well warmer seasons, like 2018. This is why the wine was able to maintain a nice dynamic taste, light without it being too sweet. The structure and texture of it are making us hope for great aging potential.

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Cielo d’Ulisse wafts up from the glass with a perfumed mix of violets and roses complementing dried blueberries and hints of smoke. It’s silky and cool-toned in feel, with racy acidity guiding its tart wild berry fruit. Blue and purple-toned inner florals linger, along with licorice and chalky tannins, as the 2018 finishes lightly structured and long. Podere Le Ripi did a great job of maintaining balance and energy here. Cielo d’Ulisse hails from the Podere Le Ripi vineyards in the southwest of Montalcino, yet the vines are surrounded by woods that help to balance the warmth of the location. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2032