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- 2015 Le Ragnaie, Brunello di Montalcino, Fornace
$LRAG
2015 Le Ragnaie, Brunello di Montalcino, Fornace
Bottle size (ML)
Current price
$543
Start Your Wine Collection with 2015 Le Ragnaie, Brunello di Montalcino, Fornace
Begin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.- Enjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
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Critics Scores
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Saturated, dark garnet in color and elegant in appearance, the Le Ragnaie 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace makes a terrific first impression that is duly reinforced by the sheer depth and intensity of its aromas. The Fornace personality is svelte, sophisticated and noble. This wine shies back on banal primary aromas of red and purple fruit. Instead, it composes a pretty symphony of spice, balsam herb and camphor ash. The bouquet comes across as fluid and layered. The wine certainly benefits when the bottle is opened a few hours prior. This expression shows a bold, medium-weight texture, but like the other 2015 releases from Le Ragnaie, I notice less pinch or bite from the acidity. This helps the wine to be absolutely approachable now or within the next 10 years. Fruit comes from a vineyard positioned high in the hills of Castelnuovo dell'Abate. Only 3,500 bottles were made, and the wine will go to market in February 2020.
Wine Spectator
Compelling, featuring cherry, raspberry, plum, loamy earth and mineral aromas and flavors. Plush, harmonious and vibrant, with a long, complex finish. Combines all the ripe, sweet fruit of the 2015 vintage with terrific focus. (BS)
Wine & Spirits
This comes from the southern Castelnuovo dell’Abate zone, where the soil is richer and the elevation lower than the vines at Le Ragnaie’s home vineyards in central Montalcino. The sappy morello cherry flavors feel earthbound, with notes of tobacco and licorice gripped by thick, chewy tannins. A streak of salinity brightens the red fruit tones and draws out the finish.
James Suckling
Lots of ripe-berry, white-pepper and sliced-mushroom character. Full body, round and ripe tannins and a deep and intense palate. Shows layers of fruit and structure. From organically grown grapes.
Vinous
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is laced remarkably pretty display of zesty bright cherry, offset by savory herbs and spice, as dusty minerals and dried florals add further depths. On the palate, silky textures give way to ripe cherry and spice, as saline-minerals and juicy acids add tension, while a hint of fine tannins slowly saturate, yet the 2015 never loses its vibrant persona. The finish is long, resonating with n dried cherry and cranberry over a coating of mineral-laced tannins. This is such a precise Brunello. I’m a huge fan. -- Eric Guido Deep red. An utterly superb Brunello that echoes long in the memory thanks to aromas and flavors of red cherry, minerals, pomegranate and black pepper. Smooth, with very polished tannins and a multifaceted personality. Leave a long creamy but lively mouthfeel behind. (ID)
Region Summary
Tuscany is one of the most iconic and prolific wine regions. It’s home to celebrated newcomers like Super Tuscans, as well as revered sub-regions steeped in centuries of tradition like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. The wide selection of age-worthy wines combined with affordable entry prices and strong historical performance makes Tuscany the rare region with something for everyone.
Why We're Investing
Tuscany is an embarrassment of riches. The idyllic Mediterranean climate plays host to many of Italy’s more than 350 authorized grapes. That includes native varieties like sangiovese as well as international staples like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah. The inherent diversity gives local winemakers the ultimate viticultural sandbox. The best example of Italian innovation is the Super Tuscan. First released in the 1970s, the red wine blends native grapes with international ones unsanctioned by the Italian legal system. Eventually, this style became so popular that lawmakers yielded and gave Super Tuscans their own designation. Today, Super Tuscans, such as Sassicaia, Solaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello, rank among the most sought-after wines on the secondary market. Tuscany is far from a one-trick pony, though. Brunello di Montalcino has an ever-expanding global audience. With the success of the 2015 and 2016 vintages, estates like Biondi Santi, Casanova di Neri, and Poggio di Sotto have become household names. Meanwhile, Chianti has undergone its own renaissance. In 2011, it had zero labels traded on the secondary market. Today, buyers have dozens of Chianti options such as Castello di Ama and Fontodi. Critics have taken notice of Tuscany, too. James Suckling called Masseto his Winery of the Decade, with its pure merlot heralded as “the Petrus of Tuscany.” That’s not all. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has given Italian wines more perfect scores than all but three countries. The positive reviews are a good omen since Tuscan wines have a strong correlation with critic scores. Now, wine buyers should be hearing alarm bells in their heads. “High quality wines. International demand. Glowing critic scores. These wines must cost a fortune.” Not so fast. Tuscany offers the second most affordable entry point into the fine wine market, behind only the Rhône. In fact, its reasonable prices and high quality have allowed Tuscany to siphon interest from merchants and collectors away from stalwarts like Burgundy and Bordeaux.
What's the Latest
This tectonic shift is best seen in the secondary market. In 2013, Italy accounted for less than 2 of trade by value. By 2018, it reached 8.5 and today enjoys a double-digit share of the market. That makes Tuscany the most traded wine region outside of France. Even with a volatile global economy, the Liv-ex Italy 100 index notched 9.2 growth in 2022. That ranks third amongst all indices last year. It gets even better. As the name suggests, the index features a range of wines from Italy. The Tuscan components - such as Masseto, Sassicaia, and Solaia - outperformed their counterparts from Piedmont during that span, 12.2 to 5.3. When the economy slowed in 2022, buyers flocked to invest in Super Tuscans. Their blend of history, high liquidity, and strong relative value made Super Tuscans attractive portfolio diversifiers. The red wine had such high demand that it accounted for a whopping 22.1 of all Italian wines traded on the secondary market.
Looking Forward
If the future of the fine wine market were summarized in one word, it would be “broadening.” Ten years ago, Bordeaux had a stranglehold on the industry, accounting for 96 of trade. In recent years, that grip has loosened as buyers seek out great wines from other regions, including Tuscany. The increased interest has resulted in the number of traded Tuscan labels doubling every two years. There’s no reason to think that trend will slow anytime soon. Super Tuscans have cemented the region at the highest echelon of fine wine, while Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti keep buyers coming back for more. Tuscany is also well-positioned to handle the climate crisis. The Mediterranean climate and undulating landscape should mitigate some of the severe consequences of a constantly warming planet. The region’s widespread embrace of sustainable practices doesn’t hurt, either. Time will tell how the heat and rain, or lack thereof, will impact Tuscan viticulture. For now, the region’s future remains as bright as ever.