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Sante Mantegnoli acquired the land for which he would name his farm 'La Rasine' in the mid-1970's. Vasco, his son, then purchased the land just 10 years later with a vision of crafting natural, prestigious Brunello. Grandson Marco, has led the company since 1997 with the values of sincerity, authenticity, and above all else, humility. He understands the farming roots of both the land and his own family, prompting his pursuit of an elegant and accessible Brunello.
The winery is simple and down to Earth, resembling a small boutique. At its core, La Rasina is about sticking to modesty and finesse in the face of the ego that can be associated with prestigious winemaking in Montalcino. A couple years ago, the winery also received its ICEA organic certification, making the Rosso di Montalcino its first officially organic wine.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.