Casa Raia produces a beautifully classic Brunello using all natural methods.  The grapes are grown without herbicides or pesticides in their estate vineyards planted just below the historic town and Fortress of Montalcino.  All of the vines are at least 45 years old, with some being far older, and are surrounded by olive trees on a promontory sitting at an altitude of 365 meters.  All vineyard management and harvest is done by hand.  The Brunello (Sangiovese Grosso) grapes are allowed to ferment naturally without any added yeast, in a combination of stainless steel tanks and french oak barrels.  The finished wine is gently racked and left to age in large oak tonneaux for as long as 4 years, then bottled without filtration. 

As one of only 10 natural Brunello producers in Montalcino, Casa Raia's wine is a welcome safeguard against the increasingly loud and overstated wines of some other estates.  This is not over-extracted or heavily oaked but has a humble and quietly commanding presence, much like the Fortress of Montalcino itself. 

Grape: Sangiovese Grosso 

Viticulture: Organic 

Soil: Stony soils with marl and limestone bedrock

Pairings: Game hen roasted and stuffed with herbed rice and pancetta