La Melina is an estate winery in the Montalcino region of Tuscany. It is located on the outskirts of the town of Montalcino itself, in the area known as Scarnacuoia (after the Scarnacuoia road).

Owner: Loredana Tanganelli and Antonio Brandi.

Background: Loredana Tanganelli took over La Melina from her family in 2002, with her (future) husband Antonio Brandi. The place name ‘La Melina’ was the one her grandfather Alvaro had used, referring to the apple trees (‘la mela’) that once grew here. Alvaro, who was a builder by trade, had had his own small (0.5ha) vineyard at La Melina. In 2004 Loredana and Antonio married. Loredana already had some vineyards in nearby Cinigiano (in the Montecucco DOC, see below) but she was selling these grapes rather than making wine herself (she was focusing on honey). Antonio suggested they should start making wine. 2009 In 2009 Loredana and Antonio and their daughter Giana began renting 1.0ha of Sangiovese (planted 1978) from Angela Corioni whose Podere Scopetone vineyard is next door to the 1.5ha of their own land (Scopetone had its own tiny winery, too). The 2009 vintage was Loredana and Antonio’s their vinification, making Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and IGT, all from 100% Sangiovese, with Luca Felicioni consulting on the vineyard side and Maurizio Castelli on the winemaking. | 2015 In 2015 they vinified in their own winery for the first time.

Vineyards: 2018 4.5 hectares of vines in total. There are 1.5ha of vines in Montalcino. 100% Sangiovese, in three blocks. One was planted by Angela Corioni of Podere Scopetone in 1978, for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. One plot (0.5ha) was planted by Loredana in 2010. There are 3 hectares of Montecucco DOC in Cinigiano (100% Sangiovese of which 1.5 hectares of Sangiovese was planted by Loredana. She acquired this land in 2002, and initially she sold the grapes. The vines in Montalcino are on stony soil in the area of Scarnacuoia, on the north-western corner of Montalcino, facing south south-west. This overlooks the Montosoli zone. Neighbours are Il Marroneto, and (lower down) Pertimali. The Biondi-Santi family planted vines here in the 19th-century and these still belong to that estate. The altitude is between 450 and 500-metres.

Organic certification: 2018 First vintage with full organic certification.

Winemaking: Hand picked. Fermentation in stainless steel.

The name: Scopetone derives from scopo, the Italian name for broom, whose spiny shoots are used to make brushes with which to sweep.

Red wines

IGT Toscana Rosso, Podere Scopetone: 100% Sangiovese. Around 10,000 bottles. | 2009 Antonio and Loredana’s first vinification.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Podere Scopetone | 100% Sangiovese. | 2011 1,500 bottles. 6 months in botti. Sweet open style, lacks a bit of depth (Anteprima 2014). | 2012 1,300 bottles. Simple, light, bit confected and short with green tannin (Anteprima 2015). | 2013 Very juicy fruit, clean, clear, very nice and simple and fluid and without a hot end, good length too (Anteprima 2016). | 2016 L08/18. 14.0% alc. Clear, crunchy fruit, nice intensity and balance, refreshing, nice bright palish crimson, nicely understated (tasted in Oct 2018). | 2017 Around 5,000 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Podere Scopetone: Loredana told me during a visit to the winery on 5th Oct 2018 her Brunello wines were perfumed, light in colour and fluid. | 2009 Antonio and Loredana’s first vinification. 2,600 bottles. L07/13. 14%. Gentle ripe fruit, interesting in the way this is weighted and how the tannins glide, simple but effective, a well controlled warm/ripe style, bright and user-friendly at the Consorzio Tues 27th May 2014 with Ian d’Agata and others. | 2010 Lightish colour but decent tannin and soft cherry red fruit, simple, lithe, offers good drinkability and immediacy (Anteprima 2015). | 2013 L07/17. 14%. Bright clear fruit (Oct 2018). | 2015 Around 5,000 bottles.

Other crops: Extra-virgin. oil from an olive grove with three hectares of Leccino, Moraiolo, and Frantoio trees from which extra-virgin olive oil is produced.

Grappa di Brunello: Yes.

Honey: Several types: acacia, chestnut (‘castagno’), heather (‘erica’), lucerne (‘erba medica’), yarrow (‘millefiori’), sunflower (‘girasole’), sainfoin (‘lupinella’), cock’s head (‘sulla’), and clover (‘trifoglio’), plus forest honeydew (‘melata di bosco’).

Contact

Physical address: Podere Scopetone, Loc. Melina, 385

I-53024 Montalcino (SI), Italy | www.lamelina.net

Sede Legale: Azienda Agricola La Melina di Tanganelli Loredana: Via Moglio, 32

I-53024  Montalcino (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0577 849523