Armilla – Boutique Cellar Selections

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History

Armilla is the story of a promise. In 1980, after many years of effort, my husband Silverio Marchetti bought 4.5 Ha of a land and an abandoned house in Tavernelle, a lovely village situated 7 Km from Montalcino. The first thing we did was to renovate the house and in 1982 we moved in. My husband, who had worked for many years in a well-known winery in Montalcino and was close to retirement, decided to cultivate vineyards on our land. Step by step, we slowly planted the first hectare of vineyard, then we built the small winery. In the meantime, we started selling our wine from the cask: we could not call it Brunello di Montalcino yet, because it was not possible to join the DOCG at the time. In 1995 vigneto-1 our first 9,842m of land entered the DOCG: and so began the adventure. Our daughters, Ilaria and Fiorella, helped us and little by little our grandchildren, Nicola, Fiorella’s son, and Giacomo, Ilaria’s son, who in spite of his young age loves country life, also began to join in the family business with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, my husband died in 1997 and did not live to see his first bottle sold. The entire family, my daughters, their husband and children and I carried on his commitment and Armilla was born. In ancient Rome “armilla” was a golden bracelet worn by men and women alike; however, “armilla” also refers to a particular bracelet awarded to Roman soldiers for military merit on the field and worn on the left arm. For us, Armilla and its wine are a promise maintained to the man who created them and the “armilla” is the symbol of continuity: from Silverio to Ofelia, from Silverio to his daughters, from Silverio to his grandchildren.

Estate

Location: the winery is situated south-west of Montalcino in the direction of Grosseto. The altitude is about 320 metres above sea level.
Climate: the climate, dry and ventilated thanks to sea winds, allows the grapes to ripen perfectly.
Characteristics of the land: the land in this area originates from the decomposition of rocks from the Eocene Period. Geologically speaking, the soil is composed of polygenic conglomerates with a prevalence of calcareous (containing calcium carbonate; chalky), siliceous (containing silica) and arenaceous (consisting of sand or sandlike particles) elements more or less cemented and embedded with sandy layers. Rich of minerals and with an average level of fertility, the soil is suitable for the cultivation of vineyards.

Vineyards

Currently, the winery, run exclusively by our family according to Tuscan tradition, has reserved 2 hectares to Brunello di Montalcino. The vineyards have a density of 5,000 plants per Ha and cordon spur is cultivation used. The average age of the vineyards is 15 years.

Our Wines

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO – DOCG – 2012 – WE 95, JS 91, WA 90

Cellar: ARMILLA, Montalcino –Tuscany
Denomination: Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G.
Vineyards: The Brunello di Montalcino Armilla is coming from a vineyard planted in 1982.
Surface: 2 hectares and half.
Soil: Mainly clay – calcareous with marl and tufa (a porous rock composed of calcium carbonate and formed by precipitation from water, e.g., around mineral springs). The vines approximately thirty years of age.
Vinification: Fermentation and maceration in steel tanks for about three weeks.
Aging: After refinement of twenty-four – thirty months in oak barrels for 25 HL, Brunello ARMILLA continues to be refined in the bottle.
Bottle Aging: After aging, the wine moves to the bottle 18-24 months months of refining. The wine is released on the market five years after the harvest.
Features: Intense color, complex aroma of red fruits (plum and black currant), hints of tobacco and leather. Elegant with ripe tannins but very obvious characteristic of the soil from which it derives.
First vintage produced: 1997
James Suckling: (91) Dried berries and figs come through on the nose here, underlining the hot growing season. Full body, round and ripe tannins and a dusty finish. Hints of lemon peel. Better in 2019. (02/17)
Wine Enthusiast: (95) You could get lost in the enticing fragrance of this wine thanks to wild berry, blue flower, baking spice, chopped herb and saddle leather aromas. The smooth, elegantly structured palate is just as inviting, doling out juicy black cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and white pepper flavors. Polished tannins and fresh acidity lend balance and support. An impressive effort from this winery—one of Montalcino’s little known gems. (04/17)
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: (90) Here’s an interesting wine from Armilla. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino opens to a darkly saturated color and richly intense perfumes of dark berry, dried cherry and spice. The mouthfeel is thickly textured and robust. Yet, the wine also offers a refreshing point of acidity that ultimately gives it a more buoyant and approachable personality. This is a great wine to pair with hearty winter foods by the fireplace. (ML) (03/17)

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO – DOCG – 2011 – WE 93, JS 93

Download Armilla Brunello Di Montalcino 2011 Specification PDF

ROSSO DI MONTALCINO – DOC – 2015

Cellar: ARMILLA, Montalcino –Tuscany
Denomination: Rosso di Montalcino D.O.C.
Vineyards: Vineyard partially planted in 1998 and partially in 2001.
Surface: 1 hectare.
Soil: Predominantly calcareous with tufa (a porous rock composed of calcium carbonate and formed by precipitation from water, e.g., around mineral springs). The vines have an average age of 12 years.
Vinification: Fermentation and maceration in steel tanks for about three weeks.
Aging: Eighteen months in oak barrels for 25 HL.
Features: Despite being a pure Sangiovese, this wine combines the longevity of the vine to its ready drinkability at a young age due to the cultivation of this noble grape variety on a ground which gives a looser more soft and silky tannins. The fruity, full of red berries, makes it suitable for prompt consumption.
First vintage produced: 2004