In a tiny, six-hectare estate in a secluded corner of Montalcino, Stella di Campalto makes miniscule quantities of some of the most sought-after wines in Montalcino. The latest releases are outstanding. As Vinous‘s Eric Guido puts it, this is a producer “at the top of her game”.
Podere San Giuseppe, as Stella di Campalto’s estate is formally known, lies in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, surrounded by forests and olive groves. What makes it special is the terroir: the soils here are unusually diverse, ranging from volcanic, to galestro, to clay. Each vineyard parcel is harvested and vinified separately. Made biodynamically since 2002, the resulting wines stand out for their vibrancy and energy.
The focus on individual terroirs means that Stella no longer makes a riserva. The grapes that used to go into this now go into other wines.
Brunello di Montalcino “VCLC” is a new wine here, first made in the 2016 vintage. It comes from a south-facing, gently sloping plot of 25 year old vines near the winery (hence “lato catina”). The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino “Cielo” (sky in Italian) is a blend of different plots which are combined after vinification. Rosso do Montalcino is no longer made here, with the focus being on the various Brunellos.
These highly distinctive, terroir-expressive wines are available in tiny quantities.
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