Brunello di Montalcino Il Palazzone 2021 (750ML)

The 2021 is the first Il Palazzone Brunello made under Kirsten and Peter Kern, who bought the estate in June of that year, and it was shaped by the team already in place: in-house oenologist Paola Martino, there since 2019, and consultant Maurizio Castelli, since 2018. The Sangiovese comes from several parts of Montalcino, notably the Le Due Porte hill, with vines between 400 and 600 meters in galestro, sand and clay. A spring freeze cut yields and the summer ran very dry, but late-August rain let the grapes finish ripening before picking began on September 16. It aged in Slavonian oak botti, then cement. Marasca cherry, wild strawberry, mint, sage and pipe tobacco lead into a silky palate edged with licorice, clove and a bitter citrus twist. Critics put the start of its window at 2027–2028. Pair it with bistecca alla fiorentina, pappardelle with wild boar or aged pecorino.