Wines
Summary
Le Ragnaie is a dynamic Montalcino estate which has steadily risen to prominence since its current owner, Riccardo Campinoti purchased the estate in 2002. The estate’s name, Le Ragnaie, derives from the word for “bird-catching nets” which were historically used in Italy for catching small birds which were considered a culinary delicacy in the past. The winery is situated at the high elevation Passo del Lume Spento “Pass of the Extinguished Lantern.” This pass is the highest point in the Montalcino appellation; it got that name because, historically, the lanterns people used when traveling through the area would be extinguished due to the strong winds at the high elevation. This area has gained attention in recent years as wineries seek out higher, cooler areas within the Montalcino appellation to combat climate change.
Riccardo’s wines are known for their purity, focus and elegance. They display beautiful aromatics, deep, lifted fruit, and a lithe and well-integrated tannic structure. He is quite fortunate to own parcels in some of the region’s most prized vineyards but interestingly, rather than craft all his single-parcel wines as Riservas, he vinifies and ages all his Brunelli in the same manner – much like in Burgundy - allowing the unique characteristics of each parcel to shine through.
Back in 2013, Antonio Galloni said, “If I had to bet on an estate with the clear potential to enter Montalcino’s top echelon over the next decade, Le Ragnaie would be at or near the top of my list.” Ten years later, Eric Guido wrote for Vinous, “It should come as no surprise that owner/winemaker Riccardo Campinoti produced some of the most successful wines of the 2020 vintage.” All in all, Le Ragnaie is a true gem of an estate in an appellation that is going through an exciting and continual transformation of quality.
