Brunello, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Wines by Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini & Massimo Bracalente
Varietals and key wines include; ‘Brunello di Montalcino’, Sangiovese, Chardonnay
In the 1960s, around the time Montalcino was granted Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status, a group of friends clubbed together to buy a ruin with vineyards in this corner of Tuscany. They renovated and modernised their newly acquired Carpazo estate, planting new vineyards as they did so.
It wasn't long before Caparzo was making its mark in the Brunello market. But things really took off some three decades later when the farm estate was bought by Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini. Assisted by her son, Igino, and daughter, Alessandra, she set out to produce high-quality wines marrying tradition with innovation.
Brunello di Montalcino was among the four wines awarded the first Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation in the 1980s. Today it is one of Italy's best-known and prestigious wines
The Carpozo estate boasts vineyards in Montalcino's most prized areas, including Caparzo, La Casa, La Caduta, Il Cassero, and San Piero Caselle. Of the Caparzo estate's 200 hectares, nine hectares are designated for Brunello, and grow at heights from 220 to 300 metres above sea level. The Brunello grapes grow across different hillsides in the DOCG, allowing these winemakers the chance to select the best fruit from every vintage.
Since the late 1970s, Caparzo has vinified the grapes from the La Casa vineyard separately to showcase their unique qualities, a practice it calls ‘Cru to Montalcino’. To combat plant diseases in sustainable and organic ways, the winery works with the universities of Siena, Florence and Pisa on research and experimentation.
The grapes are harvested manually. Primary fermentation takes seven days. The wine is kept in contact with the high quality skins for a further 10 to 15 days. Malolactic fermentation is spontaneous and happens at a controlled temperature of 20-24 °C. The wine is aged in oak barrels for at least two years and has an ageing capacity in excess of 30 years.
