Giuseppe Gorelli: Carrying Forward the Legacy of Giulio Gambelli
Minimalism, transparency and respect for Sangiovese in Montalcino.
From the teachings of a great master to the development of a personal vision: wines that tell the story of terroir, vintage and the most authentic identity of Sangiovese.
Giuseppe Gorelli, the man who knows how to tell the story of Sangiovese
Winemaker, oenologist, consultant. But above all, a man deeply in love with wine.
The story of Giuseppe Gorelli as a producer officially begins at the family estate, Due Portine.
Yet his true formation started much earlier, when as a young man he worked alongside one of the greatest interpreters of Sangiovese: Giulio Gambelli.
At just 18 years old, Gorelli began accompanying Gambelli on visits to wineries across Montalcino, walking through vineyards and cellars, learning to listen to wine even before interpreting it.
An apprenticeship that would shape his vision forever.
The School of Giulio Gambelli: Listening to the Wine
For more than twenty years, Gambelli collaborated with the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino, first as a key member of the tasting commission and later as an external consultant.
During the 1980s and 1990s he strongly defended the use of pure Sangiovese, opposing the growing trend of international grape varieties.
From him, Gorelli learned:
- the art of “listening to wine”
- a non-invasive winemaking philosophy
the value of simplicity
- absolute respect for Sangiovese, a sensitive and transparent grape variety
Today Giuseppe Gorelli is considered one of the most important heirs to Gambelli’s school: wines that are clean, elegant and refined, capable of expressing both territory and vintage without disguise.
Experience Among the Great Estates of Montalcino
After many years working as an oenologist and consultant, Gorelli has left his mark on several important wineries:
- Tenuta Le Potazzine
- Le Chiuse
- Casanuova delle Cerbaie
- Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona
- Paradiso di Cacuci
- La Roccapesta (Maremma)
I had the privilege of visiting most of these estates, and Gorelli’s enological signature can clearly be felt: precision, balance and identity.
Sangiovese and the Terroir of Montalcino
Sangiovese is often described as a “transparent” grape variety: it changes dramatically depending on soil, altitude and climate.
In Gorelli’s vineyards, located mainly on the north-eastern side of Montalcino, the cooler climate produces wines characterized by:
- vibrant acidity
- floral notes
- elegance rather than power
The result is a Brunello that is vertical, refined and never heavy.
Sangiovese is also extremely sensitive to vintage conditions:
- in warm vintages sugar levels can rise quickly
- in rainy years the thin skins make it vulnerable to humidity
The key, as taught by Gambelli and embraced by Gorelli, is waiting for perfect ripeness, avoiding green or coarse tannins.
Viticulture: Minimalism and Respect
Giuseppe Gorelli farms around six hectares of vineyards, mostly located in the northern area of Montalcino.
Vineyard management is based on:
- low environmental impact
- no chemical fertilizers, herbicides or synthetic pesticides
- organic conversion in several vineyards
- very low yields per hectare
- strictly manual harvesting
- careful grape selection directly in the vineyard
For Gorelli, the quality of the wine begins first and foremost in the vineyard.
In the Cellar: Technical Minimalism
The same philosophy applies in the cellar: minimal intervention and maximum precision.
- indigenous yeasts
- long macerations (30–40 days)
- no aggressive fining or filtration
- meticulous cleanliness, as taught by Gambelli
- large Slavonian oak casks (30–50 hl, Garbellotto and Pauscha)
The cask should never dominate the wine, but accompany it.
The Transparency of Sangiovese
Gambelli’s philosophy always sought transparency in Sangiovese: wines that express the vintage as it truly was, without forced concentration or cosmetic adjustments.
This is exactly what we find in the wines of Giuseppe Gorelli.
Rosso di Montalcino 2020 – Podere Cerrino
The Rosso di Montalcino 2020 comes from vineyards located on the north-eastern side of Montalcino, in the area of Podere Cerrino.
The soils consist mainly of:
- galestro
- clay
which give the wine its characteristic mineral note and natural savouriness.
The vineyard is leased from Fabrizio Lambardi, considered one of the historic crus of the Canalicchio area.
Vinification
- indigenous yeasts
- maceration for 30–35 days (unusually long for a Rosso di Montalcino)
Ageing
- partly in stainless steel and partly in oak
- about 10 months in large Slavonian oak casks
- bottled without fining or filtration
Tasting Notes
In the glass, aromas emerge of:
- morello cherry
- sour cherry
- forest floor
- orange peel
- clove
The tannins are powdery, elegant and silky.
The palate is juicy, long, fresh and beautifully vertical.
A Rosso di Montalcino that combines:
- finesse
- energy
- transparency
- strong territorial identity
A wine that does not raise its voice, but clearly expresses who it is and where it comes from.
