Le Potazzine

Why we follow Le Potazzine

The estate

Gigliola Giannetti founded the estate in 1993 with her husband Giuseppe Gorelli, and runs it today with their two daughters, Viola and Sofia. The name is theirs. Potazzine is Montalcino dialect for the small birds that appear on the label, and also what locals call young children. It has stayed deliberately small: five hectares of vines, Sangiovese only, everything picked and worked by hand.

The vineyards

Two parcels, both high and both cool, which is the whole point of the place. Le Prata is the home vineyard in the south-west below the town of Montalcino — 3.5 hectares at a little over 500 metres, among the highest planted ground in the appellation. The second parcel is 1.5 hectares at Sant'Angelo in Colle in the south, at 420 metres. Planted at 6,000 vines to the hectare and cropped to roughly a kilo of fruit per plant. The estate is in conversion to organic certification, having worked with minimal chemical input for years.

In the glass

Spontaneous fermentation on native yeasts, maceration running past a month, then ageing in Slavonian oak botti of 3,000 to 5,000 litres. No barrique. Altitude does the rest. These are perfumed, high-toned Brunellos that hold their acidity through hot vintages, which is why the estate's standing has climbed steadily rather than spiked. The 2021 Brunello drew 98 points from Eric Guido at Vinous, 97 from Kerin O'Keefe and 96 from Jeb Dunnuck.

With Lamont’s

Offered through the Private Cellar Selection, generally following the July release. Register your interest and we will contact you when the next allocation is confirmed.

Five hectares in total, so the quantity that reaches Perth is always small. The 2021 Brunello and 2024 Rosso have landed. Register your interest and we will contact you ahead of the next release.