Red Wine

Le Chiuse

Brunello di Montalcino 2019, 75cl

Tuscany, Italy

Le Chiuse

Brunello di Montalcino is the most emblematic wine of the Le Chiuse estate, not only because it accounts for the largest share of production, but above all because it authentically reflects the soul and identity of the winery.

Faithful to its origins and to the importance of the soil — of marine origin, composed of sandstone, tuff, and clay veins — Le Chiuse follows a traditional approach that preserves the estate’s history and terroir in the DNA of the wine. Each year, the aim is to craft a wine that combines the elegance of Sangiovese with the typical structure of Montalcino, thus expressing the true essence of Le Chiuse.

Vintage: The low yields and well-distributed spring rains allowed for an excellent harvest as well as healthy leaf growth. Summer was regular, with slightly above-average temperatures. These conditions contributed to producing full-bodied wines with great fruit expression.

Harvest: To avoid overripe fruit and preserve maximum integrity, an early harvest was chosen, maintaining the right acidity and tannins for long bottle aging.

Vinification: The grapes, exclusively Sangiovese, come from three north-facing vineyards aged between 20 and 32 years, covering 7 hectares with a yield of 53 ql/ha. Only small to medium-sized bunches were manually selected and quickly destemmed, then transferred by gravity into stainless steel and cement tanks. Fermentation took place using only native yeasts for around 21 days at a maximum temperature of 29 °C. The wine underwent regular pump-overs, cap punch-downs, and délestage to enhance color and structure while preserving freshness and fruit.

Aging: After racking in January, the wine aged for 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels with an average capacity of 20 hl. It was then rested in concrete tanks before being bottled in June 2023. The bottles are stored horizontally in dark, humid cellars at a constant temperature between 13 °C and 16 °C, where they continue to evolve.

Serving: Open the bottle 4 to 5 hours before serving.

Analytical data:
Alcohol: 14.38% vol. | Total acidity: 5.45 g/l | pH: 3.44 | Dry extract: 29.3 g/l | Reducing sugars: <1.0 g/l | Volatile acidity: 0.68 g/l | Total SO₂: 61 mg/l

Awards

97/ 100 – Raffaele Vecchione – WinesCritic.com
96/ 100 – Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
94/ 100 – CellarTracker

Allergens information

Contains sulphites.

Azienda Agricole Le Chiuse

Brunello with deep roots in Montalcino. Le Chiuse is one of the most iconic estates in Montalcino, covering 18 hectares of forest, olive groves and vineyards planted exclusively with Sangiovese Grosso. Located between 330 and 500 metres above sea level, the 8 hectares of vines grow on the north and northeast slopes of the hill, where oceanic soils — rich in fossils, galestro and tuff — contribute to the elegance and complexity of the wines.

Trained in spurred cordon, with an average density of 4500 vines per hectare, the vineyards are largely based on massal selection from the historic Il Greppo estate. The result? Expressive wines, full of aromatic intensity, with good structure and balanced alcohol levels.

Le Chiuse produces around 30,000 bottles a year, including Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello Riserva and a traditional-method sparkling wine called Stellare.

With roots going back to the 18th century, Le Chiuse was once part of the Biondi Santi family’s holdings — a legendary name in Brunello history. Today, Simonetta Valiani carries on this legacy with dedication. Since the 1990s, together with her husband Nicolò Magnelli and their son Lorenzo, she has restored the estate, always faithful to tradition and to the authenticity of this unique terroir.

Address

Azienda “Le Chiuse” di Simonetta Valiani
Strada vic. Sferracavalli, località Valdicava
53024 Montalcino (SI)