Gianni Brunelli, a man of many interests, established Siena's Osteria Le Logge (now one of the top restaurants of the city) in 1977. In 1987, he returned to Montalcino and purchased 'Le Chiuse di Sotto,' an estate that had belonged to his father Dino, with 2ha of vineyards standing at 200m above sea level in the northern part of the region. Brunelli replanted most of the vines in 1989, but left untouched a small plot of older holdings dating back to his father's original 1947 plantings. After Gianni passed away in 2008, his wife Laura, who was already working at the estate, took the reins along with her brother, Adriano.
A few years ago, the estate expanded with the purchase of the 'Podernovone' vineyard, located further south in Montalcino. The 4ha property sits at 350m above sea level and has a magnificent view of Monte Amiata. Podernovone's soil is comprised of calcareous-marl and schist, which reflects light and heat, leading to a warmer site. 'Le Chiuse di Sotto,' a 2ha plot, is cool and airy, bringing bright acidity to the blend. As with Pacenti, the Brunelli's vineyard sites allow them to blend north and south to achieve great balance, no matter what the vintage brings.
Vineyard & Cellar Practices: According to Laura Brunelli, the estate has been farmed organically since the beginning. As an alternative to pesticides, they use the sexual confusion method. In late July, a green harvest is performed in order to leave 7-8 bunches per vine. The vineyards are worked manually throughout the growing cycle – each 1ha of vines requires over 400 hours of work. Selected yeasts are used for fermentation; malolactic occurs naturally.
Farming Practice:Practicing Organic
Wine Advocate 92 "Gianni Brunelli's 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous, mid-weight wine that shows the generosity and openness of the vintage. This brooding Brunello
Wine Advocate 94 "The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is striking. Sweet red cherries, flowers, tobacco, cedar and worn-in leather are some of the many aromas and
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