All About Brunello

Appearance

  • Color: Deep ruby that shifts to garnet as it ages.
  • Opacity: Medium to high, with a clear and bright appearance, reflecting the wine’s concentration and maturity.

Aroma

  • Primary Aromas: Cherry, plum, and red berries.
  • Secondary Aromas: Leather, dried herbs, and floral notes like violet.
  • Tertiary Aromas: With aging, Brunello develops complex aromas of dried fruit, tobacco, truffle, and sometimes a touch of balsamic or earthy nuances.

Flavor Profile

  • Fruit Flavors: Predominantly cherry, plum, and red currant.
  • Other Flavors: Notes of leather, dried herbs, and spices like cinnamon and clove, with hints of earth, tar, and tobacco emerging with age.
  • Oak Influence: Significant, as Brunello is aged in large oak casks, imparting flavors of vanilla, toast, and a subtle spiciness that enhances the wine’s complexity.

Structure

  • Body: Medium to full-bodied, offering a rich and velvety texture.
  • Tannins: High, providing a firm structure and excellent aging potential.
  • Acidity: Medium to high, contributing to the wine’s freshness and longevity.
  • Alcohol: Ranges from 13.5% to 15%

Pairings for Brunello

Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a traditional Tuscan dish featuring a thick cut of T-bone or porterhouse steak, ideally from Chianina cattle. Grilled over high heat, it's seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like rosemary and sage, allowing the beef's rich flavor to shine through. The steak is typically served rare, with a beautifully charred crust and tender, juicy interior. This dish embodies the essence of rustic Italian cooking and is often accompanied by local wines, enhancing the meal's overall experience.

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Wild boar ragu

Wild boar ragu is a flavorful and hearty Italian dish with tender, slow-cooked wild boar meat paired with wide pappardelle noodles. The rich sauce incorporates red wine, tomatoes, and aromatic vegetables such as onions, carrots, and celery. This savory ragu offers a slightly gamy and nutty flavor due to the wild boar, and the meat is stewed to a succulent texture. Perfect for a special dinner, this dish brings rustic and earthy flavors to the table, with the wild boar providing a unique twist to the traditional ragu.

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Aged Pecorino cheese

The wine’s firm tannins and acidity balance the salty, nutty flavors of aged Pecorino, creating a harmonious pairing that highlights both the wine and cheese’s complexities.

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