Terre Nere Brunello Di Montalcino 2021

Terre Nere Brunello 2021, the momentum of Montalcino

I take away from this red the singular link between a family adventure that began in Sicily and a plot discovered southeast of Montalcino. The 2021 vintage puts Sangiovese in the spotlight, with long aging in large Slovenian oak casks: a lead for those who like structured wines, where the fruit and the wood take their time.

A family adventure on the lands of Montalcino

Terre Nere was born from the Vallone family's project. After launching a winemaking activity in Sicily, Pasquale Vallone became interested in a plot of land for sale near Montalcino, with the support of his brother Gaetano, his wife Piera and their children Francesca and Federico. The name Terre Nere, "black lands", refers to the Sicilian origin of the project; this cuvée then tells a new chapter in Tuscany, in the village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate.

The Sangiovese Grosso vines — locally called Brunello — have an average age of twenty years. They grow on schist soils, at 280 meters above sea level. The cultivation is described as traditional and environmentally attentive; the grapes are harvested by hand, in 15-kilo baskets, when they reach optimal ripeness. Fermentation takes place spontaneously, with indigenous yeasts, in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. The wine then spends 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks, then remains at least six months in bottle in the cellar before being released.

The available tasting notes remain restrained: this is a red wine aged in wood, with no detailed description of its color, nose or flavors on the palate. I prefer not to invent for you notes of cherry, spice or undergrowth. The references provided place it, however, on the spicy side rather than strictly fruity, with a marked presence of cask aging and a rather full body. These are style indications, not a guaranteed list of aromas in the glass. Also worth noting: the cuvée is presented under the name Brunello di Montalcino, while the available style indication mentions IGP Toscana. If the exact appellation is decisive for your choice, check the one printed on the bottle.

At the table, with dishes of character

I can easily picture it alongside red meats or game, pairings suggested for this cuvée and consistent with its full-bodied profile marked by wood. You can also serve it with aged cheeses or legumes, two other directions indicated in the food pairing suggestions. To give it time to open up, choose a meal without rushing and serve it in large glasses. This Terre Nere 2021 can accompany a generous table, an autumn dinner, or an open bottle to explore Sangiovese from Montalcino without waiting for a ready-made description: let the wine speak, and notice what its aging brings to your palate.