Da Vinci I Capolavori Brunello di Montalcino

Leonardo Da Vinci – Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, biologist, botanist and writer. But he wasn’t a wine maker. So it’s a bloody nice gesture that someone named a wine range after him!

This is the Da Vinci “i Capolavori” series which features famous artworks on the label – this one featuring San Giovanni Battista. The portrait features the Saint John the Baptist and we should point out that yes that’s his index not middle finger pointing up. Supposedly to heaven.

And if you thought the label was a bit genius then you’ll be stoked to know what’s inside the bottle is too – this is a Tuscan masterpiece! This is made with 100% Sangiovese Grosso (a local Tuscan grape also known as Brunello) with Italy’s highest DOCG classification and aged for 30 months in oak.

Brunello di Montalcino is one of those must-try-before-you-die styles – Brunello is known for having thicker skinned berries and because of this produces wines with very rich, bold flavours with high tannin and high acidity. This all helps make wines of exceptional quality AND made for the long term, anything from 10-20 years.

In their younger days you’ll find Brunello di Montalcino is all about the wild strawberry, dark cherry, blackberry and licorice flavours. As they age you’ll get dried figs, dark chocolate and hazlenut. An absolute taste sensation!

A big, powerful Italian red like this needs big, powerful flavours on the plate. Think porterhouse steaks, think braised and stewed game meats with mushroom sauces and cheese like the hard, salty pecorino cheese.