Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG "Le Macioche"

Story: The Cotarella family's Montalcino estate sits on Le Macioche, a south-facing parcel where Brunello (Sangiovese Grosso) reaches full phenolic maturity in Tuscany's continental microclimate. This cuvée represents the house philosophy: extended aging in large-format wood to preserve varietal character over oak imprint.

Terroir: Le Macioche occupies the warmer southern exposition of Montalcino's clay-limestone plateau, at 350–400 meters elevation. The soil composition—calcareous clay with iron-rich subsoil—drives the wine's mineral spine and tannin structure.

Technique: 100% Brunello di Montalcino, hand-harvested and destemmed. Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel, followed by 36 months minimum aging in large Slavonian oak casks (no new French oak). This vessel choice preserves the wine's dark cherry and dried herb profile while building complexity through slow oxidation rather than oak vanillin.

Special Feature: Famiglia Cotarella's commitment to Slavonian oak—traditional to Montalcino—distinguishes Le Macioche from modern Brunellos aged in barriques. The result is a wine that ages gracefully without oak dominance.

Drinking Window: 2020 vintage onward; peak drinking 2025–2035.