2018 Brunello di Montalcino

Some producers don’t just make wine, they help define an entire region – and Il Paradiso di Manfredi is one of them. This is nothing less than a historic Brunello estate, founded in the 1950s by Manfredi and Fortunata Martini, who were instrumental in establishing the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino. We can hardly believe our luck that we are able to welcome this iconic domaine into our portfolio.

Today, the estate is run by their son-in-law, Florio Guerrini, together with his daughters Silvia and Gioia, all of whom maintain a profound respect for the land and the traditions they’ve inherited. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand, as a matter of course, and the winemaking reflects the work done in the vineyards with minimal intervention.

The vineyards are farmed using biodynamic principles, and the wines ferment spontaneously in glass-lined concrete before ageing in large, old Slavonian oak botti. Extended maturation is one of the keys to Il Paradiso’s transparent signature style: Rosso di Montalcino spends 14 months in wood, while Brunello is aged for 36 months, followed by another 30 months in bottle.

The result is Sangiovese in its most pristine and elegant expression — supple and silky, yet with plenty of structure. It’s the essence of classic, old-school Brunello and quite simply some of the finest we’ve ever tasted from the region.