Salicutti

Situated on a mountain ridge in the south-east of the Montalcino area, the Podere Salicutti estate is one of the most authentic small-scale vineyards in the Brunello region. With just 4.5 hectares of vineyards, a maximum production of around 15,000 bottles a year and a tradition of farming without artificial intervention, this is precisely the sort of place that serious Brunello collectors keep a quiet eye on.

History

Francesco Leanza, a chemical engineer from Catania in Sicily, used to spend his weekends travelling from Rome to the hills around Montalcino. In 1990, he sold his flat in Rome and bought an 11-hectare plot of land. In 1994, he planted Sangiovese and became the first certified organic producer in the whole of Montalcino. As early as 1996, he stated on the label of his Rosso di Montalcino that the wine was produced using organic farming methods, becoming the first in this appellation to be permitted to do so. His philosophy was simple: add nothing, take nothing away, correct nothing.

In 2015, Francesco sold the winery to Felix and Sabine Eichbauer, Michelin-starred restaurateurs from Munich who had long been admirers of these wines. Since then, they have been working towards obtaining biodynamic certification for the estate, which was achieved in 2022.

Vineyards, terroir and grape varieties

The estate covers a total of 11 hectares, of which 4.5 hectares are planted with vines across three adjacent plots: Sorgente, Piagione and Teatro. All three are situated at an altitude of between 420 and 500 metres on the south-eastern side of Montalcino, on soils rich in marl. The high altitude above sea level lends the wines a particular freshness and vigour. All vineyards are classified as Brunello di Montalcino. 100% Sangiovese.

Winemaking and wines

The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented in concrete tanks using indigenous yeasts. Maceration is prolonged, usually lasting more than 30 days. Ageing takes place in large oak barrels made by Mittelberger in Alto Adige for approximately 40 months before bottling. No fining or filtration.

The range includes Brunello di Montalcino from all three vineyards, Rosso di Montalcino, as well as single-varietal Brunellos from Piagione and Sorgente.