Cupano
French influence in Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Cupano is a 34-hectare-family property located on a small hill to the southwest of the village of Montalcino (Tuscany). In addition to producing gourmet wine, with a strong personality Cupano offers to visitors a splendid view with a wide panorama including the medieval village of Camigliano, Castle Banfi and a lovely view of the river and its valley Ombrone.
The vineyards of Cupano were born of the marriage of an exceptional terroir and a couple of (Ornella Tondini and Lionel Cousin) Franco-Italian epicurean passion (and exciting) wines and gastronomy.
Focus on Ornella Tondini and Lionel Cousin
“Before producing wine here I was Director of Photography in Paris and my wife was a journalist and art historian. It was already in love with the area, we went in Tuscany regularly for holidays. And tired of our Parisian life we wanted to change our world.
After a little research, we found this property and immediately appealed to us because the previous owners were practiced breeding and non viticulture which allowed for soil protection / preserve all the chemicals used in the wine growers the 80 ‘and 90’. Thanks to this our earth retains its balance and biodiversity.
Certainly when we bought the land there were no vines on the property. But the elders of the area had the memory that since long wines were produced in this area and even then they were recognized for their quality! Our first vintage was 2000. In 2003 we built our basement / cellar.
We make wines in the vineyard, the concept of terroir is paramount. This is the priority before the barrel aging. We do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides, yields are limited and use of indigenous yeast for winemaking. Malolactic fermentations are on lees in oak barrels (French oak).
It does not exceed six hectares of vines because beyond this is more manageable as we want. We want to keep this approach for the terroir and wine as it exists in Burgundy. I was much influenced by winemakers such as Henri Jayer or François Bouchet.
We make wine like winemakes/winegrowers and not like an oenologist. You have to have an adventurous side in this job, learn to listen to his vineyard and follow what nature provides. This is what makes the size of a wine! »
Where does the name Cupano?
“The name simply comes from the land, the city on which we are. »
What is wine for you?
“This is an exciting product, a local product, a natural, heritage and a product of pleasure and sharing! It’s subtle wine! »
Do you have any plans for Cupano?
“We will plant an additional plot with Cabernet Franc. We also like to go back to farming, have some sheep. We also have plans to develop the winery in order to work by gravity. »
What is your print about wine? What allows to recognize Cupano wines in blind tasting?
“The terroir. Our wines express their terroir. These are wines for aging, with a beautiful maturity, good structure and length. Livestock is perceptible and provides a good structure to the wines. These are distinctive wines that resemble their lands. I like this kind of wine!
My approach, my idea of wine aging differs from the Italian approach. Where the Italians have a tendency to underestimate the contributions of the barrel, we use it to make the complexity, roundness and structure. At the end we use more French than the Italian way…”
In my opinion texture, delicious fruity complexity “accessible”, structure, breeding and assemblages characterize these wines. These are accessible wines and terroirs.
Side story:
“We find here in the soil the fossil of a whale and other fossilized marine animals. Before here was an ocean that with time has turned into a large river. When the river disappeared it dug its bed which allowed the filing of pebbles and small stones that make the character of our region.” (Lionel Cousin)
Thanks to Ornella Tondini and Lionel Cousin for their warm welcome.
Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan
Cupano
Podere Centine 31 Loc. Camigliano
53024 Montalcino (SI)
Tél: +39 0577 816055
