2008 Brunello di Montalcino, Tenuta Col D'Orcia, Piemonte, Italy, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Col d'Orcia is one of Montalcino's most historic wineries. The estate's modern-day lineage goes back to at least 1890, when records show the Franceschi family of Florence purchased the property, then known as Fattoria di Sant'Angelo in Colle.

Col d'Orcia is also the largest organic wine producing farm in the whole of Tuscany. This wine is produced in Montalcino, Siena – on the hill overlooking the Orcia River, facing South-South-West and exposed to sunshine all day long. Average height 300 m. above sea level.

On the 15th of August 2008 an exceptional hailstorm damaged the estate causing a significant reduction in production. The dry period that followed, allowed them to manually remove the damaged bunches and to pick healthy high quality grapes, with an unusual level of concentration, in the first decade of September.

Manual harvest with rigorous selection of the best bunches in the vineyard at first and subsequently on a selection table in the cellar. Low yield.
Fermentation on the skins for about 18-20 days, at controlled temperature below 30° C. in 150 hl wide and shallow stainless steel tanks, designed and built in order to extract tannins and colour efficiently but delicately.

Ageing of 4 years, 3 of which in 25-50 and 75 hl oak casks from Slavonia and Allier followed by at least 12 months of refinement in bottles placed in storage at controlled temperature.