Brunello di Montalcino DOCG “Helichrysum” 2013

A small, family-run winery in Montalcino produces certified biodynamic wines Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino. Since 1581, the San Polino farm, with olive trees and forests, began to grow viticulture. When Luigi and Cathy Fabro came to manage the estate, most of the vineyards were uprooted. Since today there are only 4.5 hectares of vines left, the family does all the work in the vineyards by hand. San Polino wines undergo a natural fermentation process with only natural yeast and use biodynamic viticulture methods. The wines are aged in Slavonian oak vats with a volume of 2600 to 3800 liters from neutral oak.

Sangiovese red wines is appreciated for its vivid acidy, intensive tannins and balanced character. Elegant aromas of black cherries and dark plum are characteristic, and may be complimented by notes of dried herbs and spice. The use of oak barrels has become more popular and this involve bold flavors of vanilla, clove and cinamon.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG is one of Italy's prestigious wines. It is made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes grown on the slopes around Montalcino – a classic Tuscan hilltop village 30 kilometers south of Siena. The wine is typically garnet in color with aromas of red and black fruit with underlying vanilla and spice, and perhaps a hint of earthiness. The wines are usually full bodied with alcohol levels around 14 or 15 percent abv. Good tannic structure and bright acidity provides balance. Rosso di Montalcino is found in the same defined area as its bigger brother. This DOC was created in 1984 in order to make the most of the fruit from younger vines of new plantings. The idea was to create a fresher style of wine that needed considerably less ageing time than its sibling.

The hilly terrain and warm climate make Tuscany an ideal region for winemaking. It ranks third by the amount DOC and DOCG category wines after Piemonte and Veneto. Currently the most popular variety is the noble Sangiovese - it is extremely thermophilic and successfully reveals its best traits in warm climates. Wines have a lovely structure, velvety tannins and a fruity aroma, the color is rich ruby red, but the most distinguishable flavor notes are cherries, raspberries and spices.