2021 Uccelliera Brunello Di Montalcino
If you want to understand the true potential of Castelnuovo dell’Abate in a classic vintage, you must look at Andrea
Producer
Uccelliera
I have reviewed one wine from Uccelliera: the 2021 Uccelliera Brunello Di Montalcino (95 points). Uccelliera also features in one journal article on this site.
In the warm southern reaches of Montalcino, near Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Uccelliera is the creation of Andrea Cortonesi. Founded in 1986, it has a cult following for concentrated, powerful Sangiovese. Cortonesi farms with meticulous care in a microclimate cooled by breezes from Monte Amiata, and his winemaking is pragmatic, using both French and Slavonian oak to polish the tannins.
The southern sector can easily produce wines that are too broad and heavy, but Cortonesi captures the solar power of the south while keeping a nervous energy. Uccelliera’s Brunellos are rich, densely textured and full of dark cherry and Mediterranean herbs, always grounded by acidity.
In 2021 the vintage added a vertical spine that framed that dark fruit, and Uccelliera showed a darker, more savory side of the year without ever feeling heavy. The Brunello offers wild thyme, rosemary and scorched earth around black cherry and dark plum, with a balsamic, menthol and licorice lift and a crunchy, saline snap, bridging southern lushness and traditional structure.
2021 Brunello di Montalcino – Vintage Report
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.