www.lechiuse.com | Download PDF | 
At a Glance
- Vineyards established: 1800s
- Domaine established: 1986
- Owner: Simonetta Valiani & Nicolo Magnelli
- Head of Winemaking: Lorenzo Magnelli
- Vegan: Yes
Vineyards
Red grape varities: Sangiovese
Average vine age: 15 years
Total area of estate: 18 ha
Total area under vine: 8 ha
Average vine density: 4500 vines/ha
Average yield: 85 hl/ha
Altitude: 330m – 550m
Soil:Oceanic origin, rich in marine fossils with streaks of clay and a notable presence of marl and tufa/
Timeline
2021 Wine Enthusiast 100pts for BdM 2016
2014 Wine Enthusiast, Enthusiast 100 (rosso)
2010 Wine Enthusiast, Top 100 Cellar Select (Ris.)
2005 organic certified
1992 & 1993 first release of Rosso & Brunello
1986 start of Simonetta’s era at Le Chiuse
1888 1st Brunello made by Fioruccio Biondi-Santi
C.17th origins of Biondi-Santi family
Agriculture
Organic certified
Hand harvesting, grape selection according to the size of the bunches. In normal years the largest bunches are picked first for Rosso di Montalcino; a few days later medium-small bunches are picked for Brunello di Montalcino and finally the smallest bunches from the oldest vines are selected for Brunello Riserva. Once harvested, in less than twenty minutes the grapes are destemmed, crushed and conveyed by gravity into steel and cement tanks for fermentation using indigenous yeasts.
100% destemmed, temperature controlled fermentation (max 29C) with indigenous yeasts in steel and cement containers.. After 18 to 25 days the wine is separated from the lees and left to settle for about three months, during which time it undergoes malolactic fermentation followed by several rackings. In January, the wine is transferred into large Slavonian oak barrels—of 20/30/50 hectoliters—where the Rosso di Montalcino will stay for 12 months, the Brunello for 36 months and the Brunello Riserva for 48 months
Awards and kind words
2021 – Wine Enthusiast Wine of the Year #2, Brunello di Montalcino 2016 (100pts)
2021 – Wine Spectator Wine of the Year #5, Brunello di Montalcino 2016 (98pts)
2018 – Wine Enthusiast Wine of the Year #2, Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (100pts)
2017 – Wine Enthusiast Wine of the Year #29, Brunello di Montalcino 2012 (96pts)
2016 – Slow Wine Guide “now an institution for anyone looking for a rigourous, classic expression of the Montalcino terroir”
Red wines
| Wine | Grape Variety |
|---|---|
| Arpaia IGT | 100% Sangiovese |
| Rosso di Montalcino DOC | 100% Sangiovese |
| Brunello di Montalcino DOCG | 100% Sangiovese |
| Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG | 100% Sangiovese |