What happens when a Swiss law student (who drops out to become a California ski instructor, who then turns into a cargo pilot in central Africa/India/and Haiti, who then becomes an international travel guide and Haitian art enthusiast) marries a San Francisco native and world-class Irish fiddle player? Naturally, they purchase a farm in Montalcino, adjacent to Biondi Santi (the literal inventor of Brunello) to make world-class wine. Today’s wine is the darling of Mario and Athena Bollag’s Terralsole. Made from 100% of the Sangiovese Grosso clone, the 2010 Terraslsole Brunello di Montalcino highlights precisely why Wine Spectator gave the year 98 points. The vintage saw Montalcino much drier than anywhere else in Tuscany which led to a long, even ripening season producing wine with tremendous aging potential. In the glass you’ll find the reason why Brunello is considered the benchmark of Sangiovese. A deep red color moving to a slightly brickish rim. On the nose you get far more secondary and tertiary notes than one would expect: dried thyme, sage, and tarragon, wet leaves, game meat, dried fig, candied cherry, rose hips, and vintage leather. Tannin and acid structure give this wine at least 10-15 more years in the cellar. Enjoy with a nice bolognese or ossobuco.
