Verbena

Verbena is a Brunello di Montalcino estate making wine in a modern idiom: ripe, polished and approachable earlier than some of the more traditional producers in the appellation. Brunello, made entirely from Sangiovese Grosso grown in the hills around Montalcino, is one of Italy's great long-lived reds, but the style varies considerably depending on where in the commune the vineyards sit and how the winemaker chooses to age the wine.

Verbena's version shows intense dark fruit, a streak of cassis and the structural backbone that Sangiovese always brings. It is well made for those who want Brunello with a bit more immediate accessibility, without losing sight of what the appellation is supposed to deliver.