On the edge of the center of Montalcino town very high up on the north side is this beautiful little vineyard that Marino and Luisa have owned since 1995. It is our very own treasure that we discovered in 2003 when we harvested at La Fornace. Marino and Luisa also helped, and it was the beginning of a fantastic relationship with two lovely people, wonderful wines and a fantastic place. There are 1.4 ha - all approved for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The location is north on the back of Montalcino and the Santa Maria field is at +500 meters. It makes for cool, elegant wines, and in hot years when others fight with alcohol, Marino's wines have 13.5%. The wines are sought after and we are the largest importer of all of these wines.
Biodynamic to an almost hysterical extent, fermentation in large vats, aging for many years in 20-25 hl casks, depending on the amount of wine.
Absolute minimum sulphur.
The first vintage, 2000, produced 700 bottles, 2001 produced 1700 bottles, but now 3-4000 bottles of Brunello and quite a few Rosso di Montalcino are produced, which in turn are in the top 5 in the area.
2013 was the first vintage in which Marino chose to produce single vineyard Brunello. It was mainly to emphasize even more the unique characteristics of the terroir around Santa Maria. Now, approx. 3,000 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Santa Maria and 600 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Sant'Arna from a small parcel near Castelnuova dell'Abate.
Two natural wines are also produced, without sulphur, but also completely without the often boring oxidation that characterizes such wines. Selvarella from a small beautiful spot 400 meters up the mountain towards Castliglione d'Orcia, as well as Sangiovese IGT from a small rented plot on the slope of Monte Amiata a little southeast from Montalcino. The place is called Monticello Amiata.
There are 3 beautiful rooms on site, which are rented out to wine lovers.
Marino will present his first pure Brunello di Montalcino as a natural wine in January 2021.
www.santemarie.it and www.colleonimarino.it/
