Marchesi Frescobaldi Ripe at Convento Brunello Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2015
Ripe al Convento 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG "On the highest hills of this estate, which already produced wines in 1800, a small Sangiovese vineyard has been identified which gives us extraordinary emotions. Its altitude of 450 meters, exposure to the hot sun of afternoon, the marly soils and the healthy Mediterranean winds give this Brunello reserve extreme elegance, personality and longevity" Lamberto Frescobaldi
Tasting notes
Ripe al Convento 2015 has a beautiful, intense and brilliant ruby red color with delicate garnet reflections on the edge. On the nose it is the fruity notes that open the dance: blueberry, cherry, sour cherry in alcohol. In any case, the undisputed protagonists are the tertiary hints due to the long maturation; these notes are perfectly balanced, none overpowering the others. Cinnamon, tobacco, tea leaf, roasted coffee bean and finally a light note of leather are the main descriptors. The spice at the end of the sensorial journey is elegant: white pepper, clove and cinnamon. Ripe and compact tannins, velvety and silky, caress the palate gently and are magnificently integrated into the matrix of the wine. They create a beautiful balance with the acid-alcoholic component. Extremely long finish, further demonstrating the greatness of the vintage.
Climate trend
Sprouting occurred during the first week of April and continued to grow regularly, taking advantage of the abundant water reserves left over from 2014 and normal rainfall in winter 2015. The season continued with a dry and sunny climate, which allowed for a homogeneous development of the vegetative wall. July was very hot and dry with temperatures 5°C higher than average; thanks to the agronomic choices that we have been making for years, such as autumn tillage, sowing of green manures and foliage management, the vines were not excessively affected by the high temperatures of July. In the first week of August, two heavy rains gave relief to the plants and lowered temperatures, allowing the vines to synthesize aromas, anthocyanins and tannins; of primary importance for the quality of the wines.
Vinification and maturation
The Ripe al Convento vineyard, where the Sangiovese grapes come from, is located at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level. and is characterized by schistose and marly soils, with a southern exposure. The grapes were harvested manually, after an initial careful selection in the vineyard. Upon arrival in the cellar they were subjected to further scrupulous checks, with manual sorting 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 good extraction of the coloring and structural components. The subsequent period of maturation in wood allowed for excellent stability and an increase in aromatic and structural complexity. Ripe al Convento is ready for release on the market 6 years after the harvest and only after further refinement in the bottle.
