Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
DUELECCI occupies a rolling hill in the southern sector of Montalcino, where Tenuta di Sesta’s vineyards are concentrated. Following more than a decade of experimental work, the estate began dedicating its Riserva to one side of this single vineyard from the 2012 harvest onward. The eastern parcel has particularly pebbly soil and is selected in cooler seasons; the chosen side is identified directly on the label as EST or OVEST.
The vines face south at 280–350 metres above sea level and are planted at 5,000 vines per hectare. They are trained to a spur-pruned cordon. Vineyard work includes manual winter pruning, shoot thinning, desuckering and strict control of bunch numbers. Further thinning is performed in summer, and all operations in the Riserva vineyard are timed vine by vine.
Grapes
100% Sangiovese grosso. The Riserva is produced only in the best years. Grapes are harvested by hand between 25 September and 5 October, with rigorous selection conducted in the vineyard and imperfect berries or bunches discarded.
Vinification
Maceration lasts 27 days. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks.
Ageing
The wine matures for 40 months in Slavonian oak casks and then evolves in bottle for at least 12 months. The technical table gives a cask capacity of 30–35 hl, whereas the accompanying narrative gives 20 hl.
Technical data
Vintage: 2018. Alcohol: 14.5% vol. Total acidity: 5.6 g/L. Total dry extract: 34 g/L. Average annual production: 3,000 bottles. Packaging is a 600 g Bordeaux bottle.
Tasting profile
Ruby red develops garnet reflections with age. The broad, intense and ethereal bouquet combines red fruit with liquorice, tobacco, black pepper and chocolate, alongside brushwood, humus and mushroom nuances. The palate is dry, warm, dense and full, with softness, velvety but substantial tannins, balance, intensity and a long, elegant persistence.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 18–20°C. Mature bottles benefit from being opened several hours in advance or decanted. Pair with Tuscan and international dishes including red meats, roasts, poultry, venison and other game, mushrooms, structured first courses, mature cheeses and seasoned sheep’s cheeses. In major vintages it can also be served on its own as a contemplative wine.
Label / history
Tenuta di Sesta’s Riserva was historically selected from its three leading Brunello vineyards. DUELECCI repeatedly produced the strongest result and became the dedicated source of the bottling. The vintage determines whether fruit comes from the eastern, stonier parcel or the western parcel with less skeletal soil, and the selected sector appears in the wine’s name.
