Collection: Il Marroneto, Montalcino
Nestled just below the historic convent on the steep, winding roads of northwestern Montalcino, Il Marroneto winery pays homage to the chestnut dryers once used by the nuns from the adjacent convent. Advised by the renowned Sangiovese expert Giulio Gambelli on the untapped potential of their vineyards at the family vacation house, Alessandro Mori gave up his career in law to return and make wines full-time at Il Marroneto.
A self-proclaimed traditionalist, Mori believes that true Brunello must always be endowed with age-worthiness and a vibrant energy, supported by a distinctive vein of acidity. It is within this ethos that the wines of Il Marroneto have emerged as some of the most elegant and long-lived Brunello in the Montalcino appellation, exuding an extraordinary pedigree and grace.
Today, the winery has three different vineyards in the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, all at relatively high altitudes and north-facing. Owner and winemaker Alessandro Mori believes the exposition of the vineyards is significant, as they are quick to cool in the evening sun, benefiting from mountain winds that help maintain freshness and acidity in the grapes.
The soils in the vineyards are low in nutrients and very sandy, providing great drainage. To help the vines find equilibrium, the winery opted for permanent grass cover in the vineyards, with no ploughing, retaining moisture in the soils and producing grapes with the right balance of tannins and acidity.
Under the guidance of Tuscany's two most famous, traditionalist wine consultants Mario Cortevesio and Guilio Gambelli, Il Marroneto became one of the region's leading properties, working with very traditional techniques. Apart from a wine pump, no mechanical equipment is used – with everything done by hand. They only use indigenous yeasts and mature the wine in old large Slovenian oak barrels. All settling of the must, fining and filtration is done naturally.
Il Marroneto produces just four cuvées, two Rosso di Montalcinos and two Brunello di Montalcinos. Their classic Brunello comes from three different vineyards in Montalcino, while their top Madonna dell Grazie bottling comes from the finest fruit of their original vineyard next to the winery. The selection process for "Madonna delle Grazie" involves a rigorous selection in the vineyards and a fierce competition between individual barrels during maturation.
Each vintage of the Madonna delle Grazie stands as a testament to the glorious history of Italian winemaking, destined to be recorded in the annals of enological excellence. Driven by a commitment to traditional winemaking and an unwavering focus on quality, Il Marroneto continues to craft some of Montalcino's most elegant and long-lived Brunellos.