Villa Patrizia is an organic estate in Roccalbenga, Grosseto province, in south-west coastal Tuscany, Italy. It makes wines under the Montecucco DOC and Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG.

Owner: The Bruni family.

Staff Vines: Maurizio Bruni (their son). Oen: Fabrizio Ciufoli. Consultant (2015) Luca d’Attoma. Agronomist Alessio Casamatta (since 2009. Romeo’s grandson). Sales Patrizia Bruni (Maurizio’s wife).

Background: The estate dates from the late 1960s when Romeo Bruni, a carpenter and his wife Maria Cinelli Bruni dropped their day jobs and went back to the countryside and sheep-farming. They sold wine from their vineyards in bulk and mainly for the local market. Estate bottling began in the mid-1980s. In the early 1990s Romeo and Maria’s children began working in the family business. Wine was exported for the first time, too.

Vineyards: Estate vineyards 25ha of land of which 14ha are vines. The vines straddle the Montecucco and Scansano DOCG’s. There are 10ha of vines (plus 1ha of olives and 7ha of woodland) in the Montecucco DOC, in the commune of Roccalbegna where the estate is located. The vines are at 350-380 metres. There are 4ha of Morellino di Scansano DOC in Località Pian d’Orneta. 4ha of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvigno and Ciliegiolo at Loc. Piandorneta in Fraz. Baccinello, Scansano. The Orto di Boccio vineyard is hilly [up to 480m I was told at Vinitaly March 2015], faces south-west, lies at 400 metres. The white grapes are grown here, plus Sangiovese and Merlot.

Organic certification: 2010 First fully organic vintage (vines, olives).

White wines

Toscana Bianco IGT, Sciamareti: First produced in 1989. From 50% Malvasia Bianco and 40% Procanico (Trebbiano), both from vines around the estate in Roccalbenga, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc from the Orto di Baccio vineyard at 400 metres. Named after a stream which separates the vines from woodland. | 2014 12.5%. Fresh crisp lime, nice and fluid at Vinitaly March 2015.

Pink wines

Toscana Rosato IGT, Helios: 100% Sangiovese in Roccalbenga. | 2011 Debut.

Red wines

IGT Toscana Rosso, 4-20: 2008 Debut. Made to celetrate the 80th birthday (four times 20) of the winery’s founder Romeo Bruni. | 2008 25% each Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet.

IGT Toscana Rosso, Albatraia: 100% Ciliegiolo.

Montecucco Rosso DOC, Orto di Boccio: Their flagship. First produced in 1984, before the Montecucco DOC was even created. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet. From the Orto di Boccio vineyard.

Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG, Istrico: 100% Sangiovese. Grapes from around the estate in Roccalbenga. | 2012 Bottled 6/2103. Rich, dense red colour and tannins, but worth drinking early (Patrizia says it can age) at Vinitaly March 2015.

Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Lorneta: The everyday Morellino. Grapes from loc Piandorneta. South facing. 250 metres. Windy. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo and Cabernet: 2013 Plump, youthful, OK, primary, some depth and some bitterness too (Vinitaly March 2015).

Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Villa Patrizia: 2003 95% Sangiovese, 5% Ciliegiolo. Stainless steel. Lightish fizzy cheese (Morellino Consorzio 2nd March 2005).

Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Le Valentane: Their top Morellino. Sangiovese. Grapes from Località Piandorneta. South facing. 250 metres. Windy. | 2000 Debut. Steel. Aged in 500-litre barrels.

Contact

Azienda Agricola Villa Patrizia di Bruni Romeo

Sede Aziendale [Montecucco]  Loc. Cana, Fraz Villa Patrizia, I-58050 Roccalbenga (GR), Italy

Tel+39 0564.982028 Website www.villa-patrizia.com