Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Purchased by Mr. Mauro Pacini in 1983 and upgraded with the most advanced winemaking installations, Fattoria la Lecciaia is a wine estate that combines a young, dynamic approach to the wine business, while strictly adhering to the antique traditions of Brunello di Montalcino. Located in "località Vallafrico" and surrounded by the vineyards of some of the most iconic estates of the area, the estate is in the center of the original micro-terroir where the world-famous Brunello di Montalcino was first produced. Fattoria La Lecciaia is a beautiful property of 60 hectares surrounded by the vineyards of some of the oldest and most renowned estates of Montalcino. The estate has 15 hectares of vineyards, of which 12 are registered for the production of Brunello di Montalcino. The rest of the property is under olives groves and woodlands. The unique terroir of this small but world-famous micro-area in the appellation of Montalcino, naturally enhances the scents and the elegance of Sangiovese grapes, allowing Fattoria la Lecciaia to produce the most quintessential "Brunello di Montalcino" wines: classic and intense, suited for long ageing.
Centered upon the lush Apennine Range in the center if the Italian peninsula, Umbria is one of the few completely landlocked regions in Italy. It’s star red grape variety, Sagrantino, finds its mecca around the striking, hilltop village of Montefalco. The resulting wine, Sagrantino di Montefalco, is an age-worthy, brawny, brambly red, bursting with jammy, blackberry fruit and earthy, pine forest aromas. By law this classified wine has to be aged over three years before it can be released from the winery and Sagrantino often needs a good 5-10 more years in bottle before it reaches its peak. Incidentally these wines often fall under the radar in the scene of high-end, age-begging, Italian reds, giving them an almost cult-classic appeal. They are undoubtedly worth the wait!
Rosso di Montefalco, on the other had, is composed mainly of Sangiovese and is a more fruit-driven, quaffable wine to enjoy while waiting for the Sagrantinos to mellow out.
Among its green mountains, perched upon a high cliff in the province of Terni, sits the town of Orvieto. Orvieto, the wine, is a blend of at least 60% Trebbiano in combination with Grechetto, with the possible addition of other local white varieties. Orvieto is the center of Umbria’s white wine production—and anchor of the region’s entire wine scene—producing over two thirds of Umbria’s wine. A great Orvieto will have clean aromas and flavors of green apple, melon and citrus, and have a crisp, mineral-dominant finish.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.