Multi-purpose L'aietta Brunello Di Montalcino 2018 Gadget [oiLjV8Oz]

Francesco Mulinari's L'Aietta is one-man operation, where he makes only two wines, a Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino, basta. To say that his vision is singular, his commitment deep and his output small but mighty would be an understatement; Francesco's wines are quickly becoming something of a cult classic to boot. His 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is a remarkable expression of the Sangiovese, showcasing the true essence of this renowned Tuscan terroir and his extrememly thoughtful winemaking. After hand-harvesting, Francesco ferments the juice from his two vineyards, L’Aietta and Castelnuovo, separately using native yeasts in steel tanks without temperature control; aging is  in five or ten hectoliter Slavonian oak casks for Slavonian oak for 44 months. The wine experiences no fining or filtering. This vintage exhibits a deep ruby hue, offering an enticing bouquet of red cherries, ripe plums, and dried roses, intertwined with subtle hints of earthy spices and tobacco. On the palate, it unfolds with precision, delivering a harmonious balance of vibrant acidity, refined tannins, and a rich, full-bodied structure. Its flavors resonate with red berry fruit, complemented by notes of leather, cedar, and a touch of forest floor. The 2018 is a testament to the Francesco's dedication to  the. tradition and craftsmanship of Montalcino, but his real secret is just having beautiful fruit and a whole lot of passion. We scored just one case! 

In 2001, Francesco Mulinari, then a 17-year-old high school student, decided to make wine from some abandoned Sangiovese vines growing on a 2.5-hectare plot of land that his parents had acquired as a picnicking spot and natural playground for their children. Located just outside the wall surrounding Montalcino, the spot, known as L’Aietta, had been the site of an army encampment during the 1555 siege of the city. When applying for a production permit, he – well, actually his mother, as he was underage – learned that the parcel lay within the Brunello di Montalcino appellation. Che fortuna! His first vintage, the 2001 and officially a Brunello, consisted of a mere 720 bottles. After high school Francesco went to school for oenology, taking jobs at other wineries, all the time working on his little piece of land, slowly building a tiny one roomed cellar out of stone, and re-working the terraces to re-plant Sangiovese vines in the bush method. Everything is very obviously done by hand (the steep grade of this vineyard is barely walkable, let alone accessible by tractor), and done by Francesco alone. He has been tending the vineyard with minimal-intervention ever since and now makes the wines in the smallest cellar in all of Montalcino. Is there a Brunello with a cooler backstory?