Ripe Al Convento Di Castelgiocondo Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2017 Frescobaldi

Il Ripe al Convento 2017 has an intense and brilliant ruby ​​red color with garnet reflections on the rim. The nose perceives fruity notes of blueberry, cherry, slime and balanced tertiary hints of long maturation, such as cinnamon, tobacco, tea leaf, toasted coffee bean and a slight note of leather.

On the top of the hills overlooking the historic Frescobaldi estate in Montalcino, in the Province of Siena (Tuscany >) stands the village of CastelGiocondo, a majestic stronghold dating back to 1100 which bears witness to its strategic importance in defending the road that connected the sea to Siena. Here, within the walls of this ancient castle, the production of Brunello di Montalcino began, one of the most renowned and appreciated wines in the world.

The CastelGiocondo estate is one of the first four properties from which the production of Brunello di Montalcino began in 1800, and the historical importance is testified by the figure of the knight shown on the labels of Castelgiocondo wines. This figure represents Guidoriccio da Fogliano, commander of the troops of Siena, who led the attack on the castle of Montemassi. The Ripe al Convento vineyard, located on one of the highest hills of the estate, produces Sangiovese grapes of extraordinary quality. The altitude of 450 meters, exposure to the warm afternoon sun, marl soils and healthy Mediterranean winds give this Brunello reserve exceptional elegance, personality and longevity.

The 2017 vintage was an exceptional vintage for the Ripe al Convento di Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva of the Marchesi Frescobaldi in the CastelGiocondo Estate. The mild winter and slightly above-average temperatures favored vegetative growth, while the summer and spring periods, characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall, contributed to an excellent ripening phase. The grapes arrived at the time of the harvest healthy, intact and well concentrated. The position of the vineyard, on one of the highest hills of Castelgiocondo, mitigated the effects of a particularly hot season. The abundance of light and the warmth of 2017 have given the wines of CastelGiocondo extraordinary power and richness.

The Sangiovese grapes were harvested manually, after an initial careful selection in the vineyard, and subjected to further scrupulous checks in the cellar, with manual selection of each grain. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature with frequent pumping over especially during the early stages, to obtain a good extraction of the coloring and structure components. The subsequent period of maturation in wood made it possible to obtain excellent stability and an increase in aromatic and structural complexity. Ripe al Convento Riserva dei marchesi Frescobaldi is ready to be placed on the market in the sixth year following the harvest and only after further refinement in the bottle.

Awards and Recognitions

• Robert Parker 93/100
• Wine Spectator 93/100
• Antonio Galloni 92/100