I have reviewed three wines from La Gerla, from the 2018 to 2021 vintages, all from Brunello di Montalcino. All are Sangiovese. Scores range from 95 to 98, averaging 96; the highest is the 2021 La Gerla “La Pieve” Brunello Di Montalcino (98 points). La Gerla also features in one journal article on this site.
La Gerla was founded by the advertising executive Sergio Rossi, who bought the property from the Biondi Santi family in 1976; its heart is the Colombaio podere, which once belonged to them. The estate owns vineyards in two very different zones — the cool, windy Canalicchio in the north and warmer Castelnuovo dell’Abate in the south — which lets it blend for balance in every vintage.
The Brunello di Montalcino is the synthesis of those two souls, northern aromatic elegance and southern ripe structure, fermented and aged in large Slavonian oak: consistently one of the most balanced wines of the appellation, with cherry, red currant, rose petal and leather on fine-grained tannins. Vigna gli Angeli, from the northern slopes, is the elegant single vineyard, and Birba is the estate’s IGT Sangiovese.
La Pieve is the insider’s cru, sourced exclusively from Castelnuovo dell’Abate from vines planted in 1997: the powerful, brooding side of the estate, with dark wild cherry, black plum, blood orange, savory herbs and balsamic notes. In 2021 it stood out as one of the more sophisticated wines of the rugged south.
If 2019 was operatic and 2020 was sunny, 2021 is the year of transparency. This is a vintage that vibrates with energy, defined by significant diurnal shifts that locked in soaring aromatics and “al dente” fruit profiles. Moving away from sheer muscle, the 2021 Brunellos are architectural and nervy, showcasing a savory, saline grip that speaks clearly of the Montalcino soil. For the collector who values elegance and tension over weight, this is a sophisticated, “intellectual” vintage that promises a fascinating evolution in the cellar.
