Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello di Montalcino 2003
The Azienda Agricola Patrizia Cencioni is a family owned and run winery that is located on the southeast slope of the Montalcino hillside. The property is almost 50 HA of which 8ha are vined growing DOCG Brunello. The vines were planted in 1989, the year Solaria was founded; though its origins go back to the family estate created in the 1950’s by Giuseppe Cencioni, one of the founders of the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino. With Solaria, the estate has vastly improved thanks to the considerable family experience and the entrepreneurial ability of the owner Patrizia Cencioni who adds a feminine touch! A meticulous manual selection of the grapes and an aging process done in large wooden Slavonian Oak casks as well as in smaller casks, reflects the aspiration of Solaria to pursue quality Montalcino production.
Pouring a glass of this 100% Sangiovese, and aged for 30 months in medium sized Slavonian Oak barrels, the wine was a deep crimson red color and gave off concentrated aromas of ripe black fruits and gentle spice. The palate shows rich black cherry, currant like, with a sweet juicy raspberry tang. The wine showed good acidity, balance and depth with silky elegant tannins. The finish ended with a toasty notes, smooth and lingering. I tasted this wine a few years ago and decided to leave it in the cellar for a while, well, I was rewarded! This wine is just about at its peak, so if you are lucky enough to find a bottle, remove the cork and enjoy!
Cheers!