La Velona is an estate in Località Velona in Castelnuovo dell’Abate in the far south-east of the Montalcino region of Tuscany. In February 2016, owner Eugenio Buontempo sold the estate to Claudio Tipa of ColleMassari in the neighbouring Montecucco DOC who incorporated La Velona’s 12 hectares (29.6 acres) of vines into his Tenuta San Giorgio estate, also in Montalcino, in late 2016. The La Velona estate’s main building is called Podere Pietranera, a 19th-century farmhouse located about 3km from Castelnuovo dell’Abate in the south-east of Montalcino used for winemaking, ageing and tastings. Under Eugenio Buontempo the estate produced Sant’Antimo DOC, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wines.

Winemaking: 100% hand picked. At the time of the sale to ColleMassari in 2016, La Velona had been employing Mauro Monicchi as consultant.

Red wines

Sant’Antimo Rosso DOC, La Velona: 2004 Sangiovese and Merlot. | 2011 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 15,000 bottles. Stainless steel. Mint, lacks fruit, green (Anteprima 2014). | 2012 Bright, slightly peppery (Anteprima 2015). | 2013 20,000 bottles.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC, La Velona: 2011 30,000 bottles. Fermented in steel. 12 months in botti. Bit uneven, green, lacks fruit, dull, no light in this (Anteprima 2014). | 2012 25,000 bottles. | 2013 Bit blurred, bit green (Anteprima 2015).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, La Velona: Fermented in 50hl wooden vats. Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, then 18-24 months in vats and/or barrels. | 2000 Modern extracted style, bit dull and short (Anteprima 2005). | 2009 14.5%. L03/13. 28,000 bottles. Sweet and sticky (Brunello 2014). Light to light-medium cedar garnet with a bright rim. Open nose, not much of it but and a hint of greeness to the fruit/tannin on the palate which is light to medium-bodied. Bit simple and lacking in polish at the Consorzio Tues 27th May 2014 with Ian d’Agata and others. | 2010 20,000 bottles. Ripe fruit, not bad (Anteprima 2015).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva, La Velona: 2007 Dried out nose, tea leaf, acetic, but did have nice sweet fruit once but not now (Anteprima 2014).

Location

La Velona

Podere Pietranera, 30

Castelnuovo dell’Abate (SI), Italy