Cupano 2019 Brunello di Montalcino

The Wine

First, allow me to remind you how exceptional the 2019 vintage was in Tuscany! Montalcino has been challenged in recent decades by high temperatures that are increasingly unfriendly to agriculture. But the 2019 vintage was a most welcome exception.

Take this wine, for example - a modern version of Brunello that showcases the expected power and depth of the region, with a structure that supports aging for another decade or more. Look for notes of ripe plum, black cherry and spices like clove, cinnamon and subtle wood spice. The wine finishes with tertiary notes of soy sauce, very well aged Balsamic, leather and beef jerky. 15% ABV

Fermented with native yeasts and aged in Burgundian barriques without filtration, this is a wine that doesn’t try too hard because it doesn’t have to. If opening in the next year or two, decant, decant, decant!  This wine will show its best after a day in your decanter - seriously.

Pairings: Pair it with grilled lamb, mushroom risotto, slow-cooked beef short ribs over blue cheese polenta, or the kind of conversation that starts with “remember that time in Montalcino…” and ends with someone booking a flight.

The Winery

Cupano is a boutique estate tucked into the southwest corner of Montalcino, founded in 1994 by the late Lionel Cousin—a French filmmaker turned vigneron—and his partner Ornella Tondini.

The land, once abandoned pasture, revealed itself to be a geological gem: stony, mineral-rich soils shaped by ancient tectonic shifts and marine sediment, perched above the Ombrone River, which is key in this increasingly hot region, as the river brings cooling breezes that help prevent over-ripeness in the estate vineyards. Inspired by Burgundy legend Henri Jayer, Lionel embraced a philosophy of minimal intervention, eschewing chemical farming for organic and biodynamic practices, native yeast fermentations, no filtration, and aging in Burgundian barriques.

The first vintage was released in 2000, and from the outset, Cupano wines were crafted with aging and elegance in mind. Today, the estate is stewarded by Lionel's wife, Ornella, and Lionel's protege - winemaker Andrea Polidoro (photo). Andrea, founder of “Long Live Brunello,” brings both reverence and vitality to the cellar, continuing the tradition of plot-by-plot vinification and extended lees aging. The wines—whether Rosso, Brunello, or the Super Tuscan Ombrone—are soulful, structured, and unmistakably Cupano: a reflection of place, philosophy, and the quiet conviction of those who tend the vines.