Loacker Corte Pavone is a certified organic estate practising Biodynamics located in Località Corte Pavone in the Montalcino region of Tuscany, Italy. The estate was owned by the Martini, a Montalcino family, from around 1940 to 1988. It was subsequently managed by the Swiss company ‘Terre Bindella’ (see Bindella). They sold the estate in 1996 to Rainer Loacker, a wine producer from South Tyrol. There were 4ha of vines around a winery at 500 m.a.s.l. that he called “Corte Pavone”. The estate is now managed by his Rainer’s son Hayo.

Owner: The Loacker family. See Loacker Tenute. Contact: Franz Josef and Hannes Loacker.

Staff: Oenologist: Hayo Loacker (+39 335.6766101). Public Relations: Sveva Consonni Folcieri (+39 333.6283363).

Vineyards: The estate comprises 91ha of meadow, bush and woods. 420-500m. 2020: 18ha of vines (90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot.) The Cabernet Sauvignon was grafted to Sangiovese. R110, 420A and Paulsen rootstocks. A meticulous study of the vineyards identified 6 unique terroirs. These generate the single vineyard Brunellos from Corte Pavone.cCorte Pavone is on the top of a hill where you arrive driving along a stunning road lined by cypresses.

Organics: Loacker wines have been made for almost 40 years now strictly following the principles of biodynamics and homeopathy. Hayo Loacker told me in the old comune in Montalcino (launch of the Biodistretto) in early 2016 that they began mapping the vineyard (checking the leaves for chlorophyll, excess or lack of vigour according to four levels of classification) in 2011. This has helped them modify cover cropping. Used to have a mix with 30-40 plants. Now have one mix with vetch, barley (‘orzo’), broad beans (Vicia faba) or ‘favino’, a nitrogen fixer or legume, and mustard (‘senape’); one with orzo (where no vigour is needed); and another mix where growth is very vigorous. I also met the vineyard manager Matteo Gentili.

Organic certification: 1996 Organics begins. | 2000 AIAB. | 2005 ICEA. | 2006 47ha (AB) BIOS. | 2007 47ha (AB) BIOS.

Biodynamics: 2019 Member of Renaissance des Appellations. The Loacker family had to plant a lot of new vineyards here on virgin land, and found the soil very poor in nutrients and humus. They decided to adopt biodynamic methods, and with a private consultant from Italy, spraying purchased 500 twice in spring at flowering; then after harvest, and 501 once at flowering and once near harvest. Both these sprays were still being used in 2011. Copper dynamiser. Until 2004 no solid biodynamic compost had been used, but effective mico-organism sprays were used instead. These can be mixed with anti-mildew sprays like copper sulphate and/or sulfur. The Loacker family have patented their own range of homeopathic products which they make and distribute. Can apply as a D8 or even much much more dilute.

Winery: A new, three-storey underground cellar following the criteria of bio-architecture was ready for the 2002 vintage. The Voltaia is located 20 meters under the soil, while the tasting room offers a beautiful view on Val d’Orcia and Montalcino.

Sparkling wines

Le Perle di Pavone Brut Rosè: A Sparkling bottle fermented rosè from 100% Sangiovese grapes picked early: 2011 Vino Spumante di Qualità. L1303. 3,000 bottles of this lot. Disgorged here. 13% alc + 6g/l residual sugar. Moscato Rosa is used as liqueur d’expedition which is grown here using cuttings from Alto Adige. €23 retail here. Nice bright salmon pink orange hue. Clean sherbet and with a neutral orange-tangerine sherbet palate. Well made. Will be a second bottling of the same wine with more time on lees and will be priced at 25 euros retail.

Pink wines

Rosa dei Venti: 2007 VdT. Moscato Rosa and Sangiovese. Tangerine and Turkish delight nose, fading (visit May 2014).

Red wines

Brillando: 2006 Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. See Rosso del Falco, below

Rosso del Falco: Previously called Brillando (see above). The wine is now blended from both the Loacker family’s Tuscan estates, Corte Pavone in Montalcino and Valdifalco in the Maremma. The Cabernet in Montalcino has since been grafted over to Sangiovese. | 2002 Toscana IGT Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese. 

Levante, Toscana Rosso: 2008 L1008 [the last vintage I think as they want to concentrate on the Sangiovese wines] 50% each Cabernet and Merlot. Blackcurrant and methoxy and new oak (visit May 2014).

Rosso di Montalcino, Corte Pavone: 2001 Clean, crisp, well made at (Brunello Tasting, London, 2004). | 2003 L0508. Described on the back label as Biodynamically grown with ICEA organic certification. Tasted quite firm and Cabernet-like (in Sant’Angelo in Colle, 15th October 2006). | 2005 Soft and creamy, decent, bit of wood (Millésime Bio 2008). | 2008 30,000 bottles. | 2009 Crisp and clear (Anteprima 2011). 30,000 bottles. Main markets Germany, Scandinavia and USA. | 2011 20,000 bottles. Bright deep ruby colour, means business, vat sample hence a bit fizzy but nice fruit (Anteprima 2013). | 2011 L1402. 15.5%. Bit medicinal, bit thick and not very elegant. Chewy blackberries, a bit disappointing (Visit, 30 May 2014). | 2012 10,700 bottles. Vat sample: smells quite primary, simple black cherry and mint, goodish-plus bog standard (Anteprima 2014). | 2013 11,830 bottles. Nice mid-ruby, good sappy red plum fruit, slightly primary, a bit of fizz, OK (Anteprima 2015).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Corte Pavone: Ages in Slavonian, French and Austrian casks. | 1998 Good, but 1999 is better they say. | 1999 Clean, nice fruit, well balanced crisp (Landmark Hotel, 2004. | 2000 Elegant black chocolate (Anteprima 2005). | 2005 Decent weight and depth, sweet black fruit (Anteprima 2011). Main market USA, plus Italy, Germany and Denmark. | 2006 Nice dense, minty fruit. 34,400 bottles. | 2008 25,000 Bottles. Well made, plum, bit simple, but very commercial (Anteprima 2013). | 2009 31,200 bottles. Nice freshness and width, bit minty from the oak, simple and satisfying (Anteprima 2014). | 2009 L13071. Quite open, savoury nose with plenty of ripeness. Quite tight tannin and fruit, savoury and a bit bitter from the oak (now tonneaux). A style to drink now or hold for 3-6 years (visit May 2014). | 2010 29,760 bottles. Nice broad fruit, sweet fruit, dry wood tannin, OK, savoury but not that typical (Anteprima 2015). | 2011 20% tonneaux. 70% botti. Very nice, really ripe fruit, darkish cherry, very bright and chewy, lovely sweet fruit, also finish nice and fresh, very appetising, one of the best they have made (Anteprima 2016). | 2012 Bit of funk on nose, then lovely rich savoury fruit, perhaps spoiled by a sense of bitterness (Anteprima 2017). | 2015 19,000 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Fiore del Vento: Their first single vineyard Brunello. 2015 3,500 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Fior di Meliloto: 2015 1,900 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Campo Marzio: 2015 2,500 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Corte Pavone: 2003 14.5%. L0611. Quite Porty and drying out on the palate, pretty hard work (Visit30th May 2014 with Ian D’Agata). | 2004 Good (Anteprima 2011).

Contact

Tenuta Corte Pavone

Località Corte Pavone (prev. Località Casanuova I think)

53024 Montalcino (SI), Italy

Tel+39 (0)577.848110 | Website www.loacker.bio

Directions: From Montalcino continue 3km to Grosseto and then turn right to Castiglione del Bosco; after 500 m at the crossroads drive for 2km up the stony road to the sign Corte Pavone (500m). 

Bibliography

Visit to the Loacker winery in Montalcino on 30th May 2014 with Ian D’Agata.