The Outsider: Our 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Tre Querci

Tiezzi has two distinct identities: it is a company steeped in the history of Montalcino, and one for which Enzo Tiezzi has taken up the torch, gracefully guiding it into the present day. The more prominent aspect is Vigna Soccorso, a small patch of saplings that gaze toward the sunset behind the sanctuary from which it takes its name, while the more reserved aspect is Poggio Cerrino, a vineyard on the opposite side of town (there is also a third aspect, but that’s another story). During the replanting of Poggio Cerrino in 2017, Enzo and his daughter Monica noticed a section of the vineyard with different, almost white soil; this gave rise to a new Brunello, named Tre Querci, adorned with an old company label from the 1980s. The decision to ferment the grapes in concrete tanks was pivotal, as it enhanced the expression of this Sangiovese. And the choice paid off: this first vintage of Brunello Tre Querci has a clean, well-defined profile of fresh cherry and rose petals; it carries aromas of Mediterranean scrub with light spicy notes and hints of tar adding depth; on the palate, the texture is savory and full-bodied, with a fresh, lingering finish that softens toward the end. Delicious.