Wine Facts
VITICULTURE: The grapes for this wine come from the heart of Montalcino, from a Gran Cru single vineyard of a little less than 5 acres of family-owned vines situated 1,400 feet high on the southeast side of the city, hence warmer climate. The well-draining soil is sandy and rocky, made of schistose Galestro rocks with excellent exposure to the sun. The vineyard trellis system is spurred cordon, with the winemaking following the tradition for making superior Brunello. This single vineyard is surrounded on all its sides by a forest of oak and holm oak giving the vineyard a natural barrier of protection from harmful elements.
VINIFICATION: After careful selection of the hand-picked grapes, fermentation takes place with maceration for 20 days in stainless steel vats with selected yeasts. Controlled temperatures between 82.4° F – 89.6° F (28 – 32°C). The wine then spends 24 months in 500L French oak barrels.
FAMILY: Brunello di Montalcino of Tuscany has been called “The King of Wines” and this “king” is what Cortonesi specializes in. The Cortonesis established La Mannella in the ‘70s, covering 138 acres in one of the most storied areas of the entire region of Montalcino, but only 19 of those acres are dedicated to producing a world-class Brunello. They started commercially selling their wine in 1985. And today, the wines are in the more-than-capable hands of Tommaso Cortonesi, a third-generation winemaker.
The first vintage of Cortonesi’s Brunello came in 1990, which took advantage of the rocky, well-drained soils of the vineyard site, ensuring a long-aging wine. Modern technological advances, too, go a long way in producing outstanding wine.
Producer: Cortonesi
Region: DOCG Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany
Country: Italy
Wine Composition: 100% Sangiovese
Alcohol:14.4%
Total Acidity: 5.9 G/L
Residual Sugar: 0 G/L
pH: 3.45
Press Highlights
2019: 95 Pts - Wine Advocate, Sept 2023
2019: 94 Pts - Decanter, Nov 2023
2019: 94 Pts - James Suckling, Sept 2023
2019: 93 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, Jun 2024
2019: 92 Pts - Wine Spectator, Apr 2024
2018: 95 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, Dec 2023
2018: 94+ Pts - Wine Advocate, Mar 2023
2018: 92 Pts - Jeb Dunnuck, Mar 2023
2017: 94 Pts - Wine Advocate, Feb 2022
2017: 93 Pts - James Suckling, Oct 2021
2017: 90 Pts - Wine Enthusiast, Apr 2022
2017: 90 Pts - Wine Spectator, June 2022
2016: 96+ Pts - Wine Advocate, Nov 2020
2016: 96 Pts - James Suckling, Nov 2020
2016: 94 Pts - Wine Spectator, Apr 2021
2016: 92 Pts - Wine & Spirits, Feb 2022
2015: 96 Pts - James Suckling, Nov 2019
2015: 95 Pts - Wine Advocate, Jan 2020
2013: 95+ Pts - Vinous, April 2018
2013: 93 Pts - Wine Advocate, Feb 2018
2013: 91 Pts - James Sucking, Jan 2018
2012: 92 Pts - Vinous, Mar 2017
2012: 91 Pts - James Suckling, June 2016
2012: 91 Pts - Wine & Spirits, April 2017
2011: 93 Pts - Vinous, Feb. 2016
2011: 91 Pts - Wine Spectator, June 2016
2010: 95 Pts - James Suckling, Jan 2015
2010: 94 Pts - Vinous, Feb 2016
2010: 92 Pts - Wine Spectator, June 2015
2010: 90 Pts - Wine Advocate #211, Feb 2015
2009: 90 Pts - Wine Advocate #211, Feb 2014