Luciano Ciolfi is the fifth generation of Ciolfis to live and work on this beautiful land southwest of Montalcino, with a clear view all the way to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Luciano’s great-great grandfather, Lorenzo, and his family purchased the land as farmsteaders, and the succeeding generations worked to clear the woodlands, create pastures, and eventually plant a small vineyard. Luciano’s grandfather expanded the vineyard land and sold off his fruit at harvest. Paolo and Luciano (father and son) would be the first to commercially bottle wines under the name that paid tribute to the original founder, Lorenzo.
Complete organic farming practices were introduced in 2012. The four vineyards of the estate cover 4.7 hectares on very rocky, galestro soils that are usually dry at the surface and poor in nutrients. “Where there are rocks, good wine,” says Luciano, but the climate has its own influence on the vines. The high altitude, with Mount Amiata behind the vineyard, opens the steeply inclined surface exposed to wind and sun. In fact, the cooling Mediterranean influence is matched by a view of Corsica and Elba on a clear day. Luciano drops some fruit in August, and in mid-September he performs an aggressive defoliation around the remaining clusters to expose them to the sun and wind. Harvest typically occupies a day in October for the friends and family who come together to harvest.
Luciano chooses to do a full de-stemming, presses lightly, and then ferments and macerates in stainless steel vats. The Rosso is transferred to barriques and ages on the lees for 12 months with minimal bâtonnage. After three months in bottle, it is released. The Brunello di Montalcino Bramante (named for Luciano’s maternal grandfather) is aged for three years in larger botti and aged for another six months in bottle before release.
