Nearco Sant'antimo DOC

As one of the original estates of Montalcino and among the largest certified organic vineyards in Tuscany, Col d’Orcia is a leader in Brunello di Montalcino. Tradition, integrity, and sustainability are the pillars of the estate, whose classic style wines are marked by balance and elegance. Nearco is a demonstration of the power, quality, and singularity of the Montalcino terroir when planted with international varieties. This blend benefits from the Mediterranean climate of the region, which aids in the structured wines that are also soft and fruity.

The estate’s name translates to “the hill overlooking the Orcia River,” due to its position in between the undulating hills of the Orcia River and Sant’Angelo in Colle. Here, vineyards are comprised of limestone and marl soils. At 1,500 ft a.s.l., the estate is favorably positioned against Mount Amiata, which helps protect against floods and hail. The climate is typically Mediterranean, with limited rainfall coming in from the Tyrrhenian coast, 21 miles away. The 2019 vintage in Montalcino experienced a mild winter, excepting January when the temperatures dipped. A rainy second half of February continued into a rainy and cool spring. June and July were sunny, with only one major rainfall. August was seasonally average. Thanks to the abundant water reserves and the lack of extreme heat, the foliage remained efficient all season long. This resulted in slow, consistent ripening of the grapes, excellent for obtaining a perfect balance of phenolics, acidity and tannin compounds.

Grapes are hand-harvested and selected based on perfect ripeness, except for the Syrah, where slight over-ripeness is desired to increase the complexity of the wine. The three grape varieties are fermented separately in shallow stainless-steel tanks, designed to extract tannins and color efficiently but delicately. Each wine is aged separately for 12 months in French oak barrels. In order to enhance the fruit, the Merlot is aged in 500L French oak tonneaux. No further racking until the wine was blended. Once blended, the wine undergoes additional bottle refinement.

Intense ruby red, with brilliant violet hues. The nose is ample and intense with delicate scents of currant, blackberry jam, and tomato leaf complemented by hints of toasted aromas from the oak. Excellent structure, ripe and persistent tannins. The classical toasted notes coming from the barrels lead to a sweet and balanced aftertaste.