Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino 2021

Salvioni Brunello 2021, the Sangiovese of Cerbaiola

I recommend this Brunello for its precise roots in Montalcino and its patient aging: behind the 2021 vintage is Sangiovese from vines grown organically, followed by three years spent in large casks. Its limited production and artisanal winemaking give this bottle a distinct estate identity, without needing to attribute aromas that the available notes do not describe.

From the hillsides of Montalcino to aging in large casks

The Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino is produced by Azienda Cerbaiola, a small family estate in Montalcino run by Mireia and Giulio Salvioni. The vines, aged 10 to 25 years, are planted on galestro soils, between 420 and 440 meters above sea level. The estate practices ecological farming without chemical products. Its annual production, announced between 8,000 and 13,000 bottles, remains limited; this figure concerns the estate's production and does not specify the number of bottles of the 2021 vintage alone.

In the cellar, fermentation takes place spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts, in stainless steel tanks, over a period of about 28 to 30 days. Frequent pump-overs accompany this stage. The wine then ages 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks, with a capacity of 18 to 22 hectoliters and medium toast, before being bottled to continue its refinement. This approach combines mastery of time with artisanal intervention, without erasing the role of the Sangiovese or that of its place of origin.

The tasting information available does not specify the color, any particular aromas, or a detailed texture, so I prefer not to invent notes of fruit or spice. The indicated profile nonetheless places the wine on the spicy side, with an intensity of 7 out of 9; its body is medium, rated 6 out of 9, while the perception of oak remains moderate, at 4 out of 9. These markers outline a Brunello of medium structure, marked by aging without being presented as dominated by the cask. It is an honest way to approach it: letting the glass reveal what the sheet does not detail.

At the table, for generous dishes

At the table, the suggested pairings lean toward red or white meats, aged cheeses and mushrooms. I would serve it during a meal where the dish can take its time, rather than as an aperitif: a roast meat, a mushroom preparation or a cheese with character offer companions suited to its spicy profile and medium body. If you wish to discover a small-production Brunello, crafted by a family estate and aged for a long time, the Salvioni 2021 deserves a place at your table. Open it for an attentive dinner, then let the wine and the meal find their rhythm.