Brunelli Campo del Maestro 2022

Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. The Brunelli family has been linked with the village of San Pietro in the heart of the Valpolicella wine region since the 18th century. At first they worked on the estate, but over time the family was able to gradually purchase parts of the site until they were able to start making their own wine here in 1936. Today the winery is in the capable hands of young winemaker Alberto Brunelli who runs the estate alongside his parents, Luigi and Luciana. The family’s Campo del Maestro is a single vineyard wine which is named after the “maestro” or “master” who used to carefully tend to the vines in the past. Since in times gone by different grape varieties would be planted side by side on the same site, this field blend includes eight traditional local varieties like Corvina Veronese, Oseleta and Rondinella as well as a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The Brunelli family take special care to only harvest each variety when it reaches optimal maturity. Following traditional Valpolicella winemaking practices, the grapes are then left to dry until January so their flavours become incredibly concentrated and rich. The grapes then undergo vinification and the resulting wine is matured in oak barriques for 24 months. The result is a characterful wine full of rich, jammy red berry aromas and hints of nutmeg, coffee beans and dried fruit. In the mouth the generous, velvety texture and balancing acidity is immediately evident along with black pepper, plum and dried herb flavours.

Price: £21.24 from 8wines UK