Antinori - La Braccesca : Bramasole Syrah 2021

Tasting characteristics and recommendations for the Bramasole Syrah 2021 by Antinori - La Braccesca

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep red hue with bright purple highlights.

Nose

Complex and fresh, the nose opens with aromas of cherries, blackberries, and plums. These fruity notes are complemented by subtle touches of pepper and licorice. With aeration, the bouquet reveals nuances of vanilla, cocoa powder, and toasted notes, joined by floral impressions of violet, oregano, and tobacco.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is broad and generous, with a beautiful fruity expression of plums, blackberries, and juicy cherries. The palate is energized by peppery, spicy notes that bring vibrancy and complexity. The texture is smooth and supple, carried by refined, well-integrated tannins. Balanced acidity lends elegant structure to the whole. The long, persistent finish lingers on delicate notes of licorice and ripe fruit, lifted by hints of vanilla and violet.

Food and wine pairings

This Bramasole Syrah 2021 is an ideal match for grilled or roasted red meats, game, and spicy meat dishes. It also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses with pronounced character. Mediterranean dishes based on tomatoes and meats, as well as saffron risottos, also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

The Bramasole Syrah 2021 benefits from being decanted one hour before serving to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. It is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but has cellaring potential through around 2034.

An outstanding Tuscan Syrah from the Cortona terroir

The estate

Acquired in 1990 by the Marchesi Antinori family, La Braccesca spans 508 hectares, including 334 hectares of vineyards in Tuscany, on the border between Montepulciano and Cortona. Under the leadership of Albiera Antinori, President, and Renzo Cotarella, CEO and Chief Winemaker for forty years, the estate expresses a dual identity: the Montepulciano parcels (103 hectares) produce traditional Vino Nobile DOCG based on sangiovese (prugnolo gentile), while the Cortona terroir (237 hectares) is dedicated primarily to Syrah, the grape variety that has established the estate’s international reputation. This territorial duality, combined with precision viticulture and meticulous respect for the terroirs, places La Braccesca among Tuscany’s most highly regarded estates.

The vineyard

Bramasole comes from the sunniest plots of the Cortona vineyard, located between 290 and 300 meters in altitude. The soils, composed of clay and silt, offer optimal drainage and balanced water retention—ideal conditions for Syrah to thrive. The vineyard benefits from the moderating influence of nearby Lake Trasimeno, which regulates temperatures and promotes optimal ripening of the grapes. The Mediterranean climate, marked by hot, dry summers and rainfall concentrated in spring and autumn, allows for a natural concentration of aromas and phenolic compounds.

The vintage

Winter and spring 2021 in Tuscany were mild with little rainfall, allowing for budbreak in late April, slightly later than usual. May brought warmth and generous sunshine, encouraging even flowering. Summer proved hot and dry, punctuated by a hailstorm in late June which, while reducing yields, concentrated the quality of the remaining grapes. August offered ideal conditions with excellent day-to-night temperature swings, enabling optimal phenolic ripeness. Harvest took place on September 10, when the grapes showed a perfect balance of ripeness, structure, and freshness.

Vinification and aging

After hand-harvesting, the grapes for Bramasole Syrah 2021 were destemmed and gently crushed before being transferred to temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled temperature not exceeding 28°C. Maceration, lasting around 15 days, was carried out using gentle mechanical techniques designed to extract aromatic compounds while developing a supple tannic structure. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to new and second-use French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Aging then continued in barrels for 12 to 16 months before bottling in spring 2024.

Grape variety

100% Syrah