Le Ripi Rosso Di Montalcino Sogni & Follia 2021

While many view Rosso di Montalcino as merely a baby Brunello to be sipped while waiting for the big guns to age, Podere Le Ripi treats their “Sogni & Follia” (Dreams & Madness) with a level of care that borders on the obsessive. Farmed using strict biodynamic principles on the western slopes of Montalcino, this 100% Sangiovese spends a remarkable 24 months in large oak casks followed by nearly a year in cement—an aging regimen that would satisfy the legal requirements for many Brunellos.

The 2021 vintage is a vibrant, soulful expression of the Tuscan sun. In the glass, it shows a brilliant ruby hue with shimmering orange reflections. The nose is a complex bouquet of crunchy red cherries, wild strawberries, and violets, underpinned by a cooling balsamic note of Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it’s impressively structured yet nimble, offering a deep mineral core and silky tannins that lead into a long, savory finish of forest floor and spice.