Podere Le Ripi:
New Vintage Release
The release of the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino highlights a vintage defined by balance and classical poise. Consistent across producers, 2021 offers ripeness without weight and structure without severity. These are Brunellos with the capacity to age, but also an early charm that makes them a pleasure to drink. For collectors and drinkers alike, 2021 stands as a vintage of quiet assurance: understated, refined, and unmistakably Montalcino.
“Stated simply, 2021 is a triumph for Montalcino.”
“The 2021 Brunellos... are vibrantly fruit-forward, with highly expressive bouquets and crisp, crunchy textures. Their concentration and depth create a saturating tension that’s beautifully balanced by lively acidity, the saving grace for this warm vintage.”
Eric Guido – Vinous
Sogni e Follia, Rosso di Montalcino 2022
£120 for a case of 6 bottles - In Bond
A structured and refined Rosso di Montalcino grown on deep alluvial soils then treated with the reverence of a Brunello in the winery, ageing for 24 months in barrel and a further eight months in cement.
The Podere Le Ripi 2022 Rosso di Montalcino Sogni e Follia is bright and punchy, offering playful notes of watermelon rind, grenadine and cherry syrup, with a distinct Jolly Rancher-like candy nuance. Medium in texture, the wine finishes with an easy and accessible flow while maintaining a clearly defined personality. Aged for 24 months in large oak casks followed by 12 months in cement, this cheerful Rosso is released in 19,200 bottles. 90, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Brunello do Montalcino, Cielo d'Ulisse 2021
£230 for a case of 6 bottles - In bond
Fragrant and aromatic, Cielo d'Ulisse hails from Podere Le Ripi's isolated vineyard in the far west of Montalcino, surrounded by wild forests that give this unique site a cool microclimate.
The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Cielo D'Ulisse wafts up with a vivid mix of crushed black cherries, minty herbs and a dusting of autumnal spice. Surprisingly fresh and graceful for the vintage, it showcases balsamic-laced red and black fruits guided by brisk acidity. It leaves a tart blackberry twang and mineral concentration, chewy and long, as edgy tannins pinch at the cheeks. 92, Eric Guido, Vinous
Deep ruby. A taut minerally nose with iodine hints that takes its time to open up. Touches of exotic spice and damson over subdued sour-cherry fruit with hints of iron. Tightly knit tannins frame elegant, suave fruit. 17++, Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
The Podere Le Ripi 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Cielo d'Ulisse opens to punchy, natural-leaning aromas of macerated cherry, wet clay and pressed violet, delivering a bouquet with notable lift and verticality. Medium- to full-bodied in weight, the palate remains bright and energetic, marked by a firm tannic bite that still feels astringent at this early stage and calls for additional time in bottle. 93, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Brunello do Montalcino, Amore e Magia 2021
£370 for a case of 6 bottles - In bond
A portrait of the sun-drenched estate at Castelnuovo dell'Abate, the marriage between Sangiovese and white clay soils here delivers a beautifully layered wine of great depth.
The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Amore E Magia is understated in the glass, blending nuances of wild strawberry, lavender and a dusting of cedary spice. It is soft-textured and pliant with floral-laced wild berry fruits and a bitter twang toward the close. Inner violet florals resonate over a bed of grippy tannins as the 2021 leaves a tinge of cocoa powder that adds chewy depth. 93, Eric Guido, Vinous
Lustrous deep ruby. A touch firmer on the nose than Cielo d’Ulisse, but still not fully open and a tad reduced. Lush, polished fruit that maintains perfect elegance and with gripping tannins and a touch of exotic spice, damson and a suggestion of oak. Very long and layered and still embryonic. 17++, Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
The Podere Le Ripi 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Amore e Magia comes from a unique site with white clay soils near Castelnuovo dell’Abate. This lunar-looking landscape shapes a darkly saturated expression of Sangiovese. Fresh aromas of wild cherry, blackcurrant and candied orange peel rise from the glass, while the wine’s thick texture is lifted and articulated by vibrant acidity and finely textured tannins. This is a distinctive and intellectually engaging interpretation of Brunello that underscores the expressive potential of this southern zone. 95, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Brunello do Montalcino, Lupi e Sirene Riserva 2020
£400 for a case of 6 bottles - In bond
Just a stone's throw from the Amore e Magia vineyard, the ground darkens with the presence of granite and iron. This revered parcel of fruit is destined for Lupi e Sirene, an immensely powerful and earthy expression of Sangiovese with wonderful ageing potential.
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Lupi e Sirene lifts from the glass with a hauntingly dark blend of autumnal spices, sweet tobacco and clove, complemented by a note of cherry sauce. It displays lovely refinement, silky yet graceful and lifted, with a cascade of red and blue fruits underscored by tactile mineral tones. Hints of citrusy spice linger as the 2020 tapers off with a bitter tinge that keeps the senses salivating through the long and staining finish. 94, Eric Guido, Vinous
The Podere Le Ripi 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Lupi e Sirene carries the same punchy brightness seen in the 2021 vintage but presents it with a silkier and more immediately accessible texture. Cassis, cherry syrup and blood orange form the core of the wine, while secondary notes of spice and grilled herbs add fragrant complexity. Aged in large oak casks followed by a few months in cement, the softer tannins of the 2020 vintage make this 13,000-bottle release particularly appealing for mid-term drinking. 94, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
