2008 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli

With these new releases, Giancarlo Pacenti shows why he is one of the very finest growers in Montalcino. Pacenti owns vineyards both in the north and south of Montalcino. In 2008 hail and rain reduced yields by about 30% in Pacenti's holdings in Piancornello, in the southern part of Montalcino, which tilts the composition of the estate's flagship Brunello in favor of fruit from north, near the winery itself. Over the last few years, Pacenti has begun to introduce 500-liter barrels to augment the standard French oak barriques that remain the core of the estate's cooperage program. The use of the tonneau began with the top-of-the-line PS bottling, which is predominantly aged in 500-liter barrels. After having tasted many wines from barrel here over the years it seems pretty clear Sangiovese that is so meticulously farmed to low yields responds best to the larger size French oak barrels. For those who haven't tasted the Pacenti wines in a few years, you owe it to yourself to do so. Giancarlo Pacenti's wines have never been this refined or polished.