*Martoccia Brunello di Montalcino*

During World War II, armies were marching through the small town of Montalcino leaving the village in despair. Many winery owners at the time hid their wines in walls and under floorboards to protect them from being drunk by the soldiers while the town was under siege. Some of these wines weren't discovered again until many years after the war had ended. When they were opened, they had held up really well considering how long they had been stored. Winemakers then decided that aging of Brunellos should be done before release. Laws were later passed that required Brunellos to be aged for a minimum of 2 years before release. These wines show remarkable character due to their long aging requirements.

Brunello, meaning "little brown one" in Italian, describes the Sangiovese grapes that surround the medieval fortress that is on the Martocci property. It has survived both the First and Second World Wars and still stands as an important historical piece. It’s open for tours if you ever find yourself in Italy. Drink now or in 7 years from now at a temperature or 18 ºC.