| Region of production: | Brunello di Montalcino |
| Winery Location: | Montalcino |
| Year Established: | 1990 |
Vineyard Holdings
4 ha
- Piaggione
- Sorgente
- Teatro
Top Wines Produced
- Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione: aged for three years in wood, starting in smaller, French oak barrels and progressing into larger oak botti
- Brunello di Montalcino Tre Vigne: aged for three years in wood, starting in smaller, French oak barrels and progressing into larger oak botti
- Rosso di Montalcino: aged for 18 months in new and used 500-liter French oak barrels followed by six months in bottle
Average Total Production
- 18,000 bottles
Summary
Francesco Leanza purchased the Podere Salicutti in 1990 and began replanting vines in 1994. Prior to purchasing the property, Francesco had worked in chemical engineering, and he left his job to pursue winemaking fulltime in 1995. A self-taught winemaker, Francesco is known for his “hands off” winemaking style, adamantly opposing any cellar techniques that may force his wines from their natural course; he was also the first producer in Montalcino to be certified organic in 1996.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Grapes are hand-harvested and ferment with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, open-top, stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation begins spontaneously in tank. Francesco ages his wines in French oak, which he prefers for its richer taste profile than Slavonian oak. The wines are not fined or filtered, and minimum sulfur is added prior to bottling.
Producer Website: Podere Salicutti