J. G. Benda Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023

The 2023 Rosso di Montalcino from J.G Benda is composed of grapes from several of the winery's high-altitude vineyards, around 500 meters, where the variation in soil, including galestro, red clay, and sandstone, provides a nuanced and precise expression of Sangiovese.

The vintage was marked by a challenging spring and early summer with high rainfall, which reduced yields due to mildew and hail, especially in Pietrafocaia. The late summer and autumn were cooler and more stable, and harvesting took place at the beginning of October, slightly before full ripeness, to preserve freshness and balance. The result is a Rosso in a more classic style with lower alcohol and a particularly pure and harmonious expression.

In the glass, the wine exhibits a vibrant ruby-red color and an aromatic profile of wild cherries, red berries, and fine floral nuances. The taste is balanced and precise with a fresh acidity, silky tannins, and a persistent minerality that supports the wine's elegant structure.

The vineyard work is manual and focused, and the grapes are carefully sorted during harvest. After destemming, the must ferments spontaneously with the grapes' own yeast cells in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation in 2023 proceeded faster than usual, attributed to a high activity of natural yeast cells, contributing to a pure expression with low volatile acidity. Maceration lasts 2-3 weeks, after which the wine is gently pressed and aged in large Slavonian and French oak barrels from Gabellotto (20-26 hl). The wine is aged without filtration and with minimal sulfur addition.

This is a Rosso that already appears open and accessible, suitable for classic dishes with poultry, veal, or a simple pasta dish.

A total of 6,219 bottles and 185 magnums were produced.