New
75cl
Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione 2018
Vendor code : 1777
Looking for a cool Brunello? Piaggione is a 1.2-hectare plot at 420–450 m on fossil-rich limestone, with vines from ’94 and 2007. At Salicutti, bees, chickens, and birds keep the biodynamic system alive, a self-sustaining cycle that makes the soils vibrant and healthy — the reason Sangiovese clicks so naturally with this place.
Color
Red
Grape
Sangiovese
Fortress
14%
Country
Italy
Region
Tuscany
Vintage
2018
Producer
Salicutti
So the 2018 Piaggione Brunello — it’s got that classic vibe right from the start. Only about 6,500 bottles made, plus a handful of magnums, all from organically grown fruit. They aged it three years in big Garbellotto and Mittelberger casks, then a year in bottle, no fining, no filtration, just straight-up honest wine. In the glass it’s this light ruby, super pretty, and the aromas? Pure textbook Sangiovese — roses, wild cherry, a touch of licorice, crushed stone, even a bit of candied orange peel. The tannins are still firm, but give it some time and they’ll mellow out. It’s one of those Brunellos that’s already singing but will keep getting better all the way to 2045.
Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione 2018 reflects the philosophy and precision of Podere Salicutti, a pioneering estate southeast of Montalcino and the first in the appellation to be certified organic. Founded in 1990 by Francesco Leanza and today owned by Felix and Sabine Eichbauer, the estate spans 11 hectares, with 4 hectares under vine divided into three south-facing crus: Piaggione, Sorgente, and Teatro. Piaggione, with its sandy-lime and sandy-clay soils scattered with stone and gravel, sits on slopes of 14–20 degrees, offering excellent sun exposure while being sheltered from the cool Tramontana and Maestrale winds. Vineyard work is meticulous: grass cover is renewed regularly, compost from organic farms is used sparingly, treatments are limited to natural sulfur and low-dose mineral or plant-based sprays, and all canopy and harvest work is done by hand. In the cellar, grapes are destemmed and fermented with native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with macerations lasting 12–21 days depending on vintage. The Brunello matures for 33 months in a progression of French and Slavonian oak—from 500-liter tonneaux up to 4000-liter vats—followed by 15 months in bottle. No stabilization, clarification, or filtering is carried out, preserving the purity and authenticity of the Sangiovese fruit. Piaggione 2018 is a single-vineyard Brunello that embodies both power and finesse, offering depth, freshness, and structure, with the transparency that has made Salicutti one of Montalcino’s most admired producers. Shop Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione 2018 at Lambier Wines to get the best price on the European market.
Reviews from critics
96/100
4 points
95-100
4
90-94
0
85-89
0
80-84
0
75-79
0
0-74
0
Wine Advocate
Made with certified organic fruit, the Salicutti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione opens to a light ruby color with pretty color saturation and an elegantly lean appearance. This is exactly what you want to see in a vibrant, young Brunello. I would say that the aromas are textbook as well, in a very positive manner. The bouquet opens to fragrant rose and wild cherry. You get so much varietal character here with background tones of licorice, crushed stone and candied orange peel. There is some tannic firmness, but this will soften with time. This beautiful wine should fully embrace more cellar aging. The Piaggione site is characterized by rocky schistous galestro soils. This is a production of 6,450 bottles and 100 magnums.
Jeb Dunnuck
Pouring a pure ruby hue, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino offers up a musky cologne of wildflowers, raspberry liqueur, baby powder, polished leather, and wet stone. It is medium-bodied, with good concentration that gives way to a soft stony texture, fine-grained tannins, and fresh acidity. Notes of blood orange, red cherry, boysenberry, and crushed rocks are followed by a delicate and pleasant saline note that lingers with a mouthwatering effect. This elegantly balanced wine is drinking well in its youth and will deliver over the coming 15-20 years.
Wine Spectator
An elegant red hallmarked by rose hip, strawberry, cherry and mineral flavors, with a bracing structure that sets the pace and drives the long, resonant finish. Overall, this is balanced, complex and long, with fine potential for aging. Best from 2025 through 2045.
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