San Giorgio farms 62 acres of vines in Montalcino at yields of just 4–5 tons per hectare, a deliberately small crop from vines running 10 to 20-plus years, and you taste that concentration immediately. The 2017 Ugolforte pulls a dark core of red and black berry through earth, leather, smoke, and herbs, full across the mid-palate with firm tannin and acidity that keeps the finish moving rather than heavy. This is textbook Brunello di Montalcino, in the best sense of the word.
Tasting Notes
San Giorgio Ugolforte presents a dark core of red and black berry fruit layered with earth, leather, smoke, and herbs. Complex and elegant, the wine is full on the palate and firm in tannin structure. Refreshing acidity frames a graceful finish. Classic Brunello di Montalcino.
Professional Ratings
95
Vinous“Deep, dark red fruits and exotic spices give way to hints of menthol, flowery undergrowth and tobacco as the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte unfolds in the glass. It’s silky-smooth and cool-toned with ripe woodland berries, hints of clove and blood orange. Fine tannins coat the palate, but energy remains high due to vibrant acidity, as this tapers off with a salty, almost silty minerality u
95
James Suckling“This is a full-bodied red with ripe blackberry, smoked-meat and burnt-orange notes. Strong tannins with a lots of chewiness. Quite tight on the finish. But there is pureness and beauty to this. More opulent than the 2015.”
94
Wine Advocate“The San Giorgio 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte (with 60,000 bottles produced), shows an intentionally accessible personality with dark concentration and sweet blackberry fruit designed for near-to medium-term enjoyment. Aged in large Slavonian oak casks with time in cement, the wine delivers texture and open-knit tannins that give it a cheerful and food-friendly profile. Made by the same t
94
Jeb Dunnuck“The 2016 Ugolforte Brunello has aromas of black raspberry, violets, and dusty earth. The palate is inviting with ripe cherry fruit, licorice, dried herbs, and fine-grained tannins. This will certainly be a fun property to watch and there is an elegance to the 2016 that I feel is a wonderful introduction to the new ownership.”
About the Producer
The winery was founded in 1982 and purchased by the Tipa Bertarelli Family in 2016. It covers 360 acres with the recent addition of a new cellar and 62 acres under vine with 10-20+ year old vines. Production yields are maintained extremely low to ensure the highest quality wines at just 4-5 tons per hectare. All vineyard management and production is carried out by hand and adheres to principles that respect nature and the land.
Located in Castelnuovo dell’Abate at the top of a ridge at 1,300 feet above sea level, San Giorgio is uniquely positioned in the southeastern part of Montalcino. The soil is rich with fossils and there is also a major presence of clay with big portion of tufaceus outcrops. The climate is mild and Mediterranean with nearly constant winds.
A viticulture totally based on respectful methods and principles toward the environment allows a spontaneous productive balance with very low yield per hectare, completely harvested by hand and carefully selected.
The winery was founded in 1982 and purchased by the Tipa Bertarelli Family in 2016. It covers 360 acres with the recent addition of a new cellar and 62 acres under vine with 10-20+ year old vines. Production yields are maintained extremely low to ensure the highest quality wines at just 4-5 tons per hectare. All vineyard management and production is carried out by hand and adheres to principles that respect nature and the land.
Located in Castelnuovo dell’Abate at the top of a ridge at 1,300 feet above sea level, San Giorgio is uniquely positioned in the southeastern part of Montalcino. The soil is rich with fossils and there is also a major presence of clay with big portion of tufaceus outcrops. The climate is mild and Mediterranean with nearly constant winds.
A viticulture totally based on respectful methods and principles toward the environment allows a spontaneous productive balance with very low yield per hectare, completely harvested by hand and carefully selected.
