Leonardo LoCascio Selections (LLS), a Member of The Winebow Group, is Appointed Exclusive U.S. Importer of Il Marroneto

RICHMOND, Va., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leonardo LoCascio Selections (LLS), a member of The Winebow Group and America's leading importer of premium Italian wines, has announced that it is the exclusive U.S. importer of Il Marroneto, the highly acclaimed Brunello producer led by owner and winemaker Alessandro Mori. Il Marroneto joins a portfolio that represents more than 50 wineries throughout Italy.   

"Il Marroneto is widely regarded as one of the most respected and sought-after properties in Montalcino," said Ian Downey, senior vice president and general manager of LLS. "Alessandro's attention to detail and hands-on approach to winemaking result in wines that are deeply personal, artisanal gems. We are honored and thrilled to have his beautiful wines in the LLS portfolio."

Founded in 1974 by Alessandro's father Giuseppe, Il Marroneto is one of the oldest estates in Montalcino and takes its name from an old tower dating back to the 13th century where nuns used to store chestnuts to make flour for bread. The first vintage of Brunello was produced in 1980 by Alessandro and his brother Andrea who followed in their father's footsteps. Alessandro continued on at the winery, taking his passion for winemaking and turning it into a lifelong pursuit.  

Today Alessandro grows Sangiovese exclusively and oversees every aspect of winemaking with an approach that is both traditional and minimally invasive in the vineyard and in production. The vineyards are farmed naturally without the use of pesticides or chemicals and yields are kept low. Native yeast fermentation and traditional oak cask aging are utilized to showcase the variety's true character.

Il Marroneto produces only two wines: Brunello di Montalcino Il Marroneto and Brunello di Montalcino Selezione Madonna delle Grazie. These wines are considered to be among the most graceful and elegant Brunellos in the appellation. The wines are produced from estate grown grapes from two small plots located just below the town of Montalcino on the northern slopes at almost 1,200 feet elevation. The appellation's northern location with steep slopes and cooler temperatures creates ideal conditions for producing Brunellos of great complexity and aging potential with bright aromatics, classic tannic structure and lively acidity.   

First bottled in 2000, the Brunello di Montalcino Selezione Madonna delle Grazie is the winery's "grand cru" produced from a special selection of grapes. The 35-year-old vines have been planted with ample vine spacing of 3,400 vines per hectare. The wine is aged in 2,600-liter French casks for 41 months and further refined in the bottle for six months. This is a precise and pure expression of Sangiovese.

The Brunello di Montalcino Il Marroneto 2011 and the Brunello di Montalcino Selezione Madonna delle Grazie 2011 are the current vintages.  For more information about Il Marroneto and the LLS portfolio, please visit TheWinebowGroup.com.

About Leonardo LoCascio Selections 
Leonardo LoCascio Selections (LLS), a member of The Winebow Group, has represented Italian wines of impeccable quality, character and value for over 35 years. Each wine in the collection tells a unique story about the family and region that produced it. A taste through the portfolio is a journey across Italy's rich spectrum of geography, history, culture and cuisine. Whether a crisp Pinot Bianco from the Dolomites or a rich Aglianico from Campania, the wines of LLS will transport you to Italy's outstanding regions.

SOURCE Leonardo LoCascio Selections (LLS)