Cortonesi
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Third-generation, two-terroir Brunello di Montalcino specialist.
Cortonesi is a family-owned Brunello di Montalcino estate whose roots trace back to 1970, when Tommaso Cortonesi's grandfather Leonardo, a lifelong farmer, replaced part of his olive groves with Sangiovese vines. The family made wine for themselves and local neighbors for two decades before beginning commercial sales in 1985, and formally registering the winery (Società Agricola La Mannella di Cortonesi) in 1986. Now led by third-generation winemaker Tommaso Cortonesi alongside his father Marco, the estate farms 56 hectares in Montalcino, of which about 8 hectares are dedicated to Brunello. Two distinct terroirs are vinified separately: La Mannella, just north of Montalcino town, with clay-limestone soils, and Poggiarelli, near Castelnuovo dell'Abate to the southeast, with rocky, marl-rich soils planted in the late 1990s. This site-by-site approach yields structured, mineral-driven Brunello di Montalcino (bottled as both La Mannella and Poggiarelli), a Rosso di Montalcino, and an IGT Toscana Sangiovese-based blend called Lèonus, made from declassified Brunello fruit. Tommaso describes himself as a classicist devoted to tradition and the purity of Sangiovese, while staying attentive to changing tastes among younger wine drinkers.
www.lamannella.it/ ↗Cuvées
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Who Is This For?
For collectors and enthusiasts seeking structured, terroir-transparent Brunello di Montalcino from a genuine family estate, with distinct bottlings from two separate vineyard sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who founded Cortonesi and when?
- The estate's roots go back to 1970, when Tommaso Cortonesi's grandfather Leonardo planted Sangiovese where olive trees once stood. The family began selling wine commercially in 1985 and formally registered the winery, Società Agricola La Mannella di Cortonesi, in 1986.
- What makes Cortonesi's Brunello wines distinctive?
- Cortonesi farms two separate terroirs, La Mannella (clay-limestone, north of Montalcino) and Poggiarelli (rocky, marl-rich soils to the southeast), vinifying and bottling each site separately to express its individual character.
- Who runs Cortonesi today?
- Third-generation winemaker Tommaso Cortonesi runs the estate together with his father Marco, continuing the family tradition started by Tommaso's grandfather Leonardo in the 1970s.
- What other wines does Cortonesi produce besides Brunello?
- In addition to Brunello di Montalcino (La Mannella and Poggiarelli bottlings), Cortonesi produces a Rosso di Montalcino and Lèonus, a Sangiovese-based IGT Toscana made from declassified Brunello fruit.