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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Birba carries a genuinely playful origin story — the wine began in 1988 as an experiment by Sergio Rossi, founder of La Gerla, a renowned Brunello di Montalcino estate. As one importer's copy puts it, Birba is essentially "Brunello di Montalcino 'missed,' aged in barrique" — a pure expression of Sangiovese Grosso built from vineyards deliberately subjected to intense pruning to keep yields very low, with must fermented under controlled temperature around 30°C, then aged in medium-toasted Allier-Vosges oak barriques, a third of them new. Sergio Rossi founded La Gerla in 1976, and though he passed away in 2011, his work continues today under his wife Donatella, alongside winemaker Vittorio Fiore and agronomist/director Alberto Passeri — the same team that's carried the estate's vision forward from the start. The property itself sits at 320 meters elevation, bordered by the Orcia and Ombrone valleys.
The 2021 vintage is 100% Sangiovese, aged 12 months in barrique (no new oak, per one German retailer's notes — a small discrepancy from the "one-third new" figure cited elsewhere), yielding roughly 7,000 bottles, with a suggested drinking window of 2024 through 2028.
Falstaff awarded a genuine 90 Points, describing "ripe cherry, tobacco and leather on the palate," with "rich, ripe fruit notes" alongside "hints of violet," "slightly rough tannins," an "earthy" character, "with a slight aftertaste," the wine showing "rich ruby red with a bright core." Woods Wholesale Wine's own tasting confirms "intense ruby red," "extremely fine and elegant on the nose," with "notes of cherry, licorice and cinnamon" emerging, "followed by nuances of black cherry jam and candied fruit," the taste "intense and deep, with great structure and complexity," the tannins "soft and well integrated," closing with "delicate notes of coffee, licorice and sweet spices," concluding it's "of great elegance," "extremely balanced and harmonious." This is genuinely refined, well-crafted Tuscan red — real Brunello-level winemaking philosophy applied to a more accessible, everyday-drinking IGT.
La Gerla 2021 Birba Toscana Rosso IGT is produced by La Gerla, a renowned Brunello di Montalcino winery founded in 1976 by Sergio Rossi, in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Following Sergio's passing in 2011, the estate continues under his wife Donatella, winemaker Vittorio Fiore, and agronomist/director Alberto Passeri. The property sits at 320 meters elevation, bordered by the Orcia and Ombrone valleys.
Birba was first produced in 1988 as an experiment by Sergio Rossi, made entirely from Sangiovese Grosso sourced from vineyards subject to deep pruning and limited production (80 quintals per hectare), hand-harvested and selected. Grapes are loosely pressed, fermented under controlled temperature (30°C), then aged 10-12 months in medium-toasted Allier-Vosges oak barriques (accounts vary between one-third new oak and no new oak), followed by further aging in bottle. Bottled at 14-14.5% ABV, with approximately 7,000 bottles produced for the 2021 vintage.
Falstaff — 90 Points (Falstaff Wine Guide Italia 2025):
"Ripe cherry, tobacco and leather on the palate, rich, ripe fruit notes with hints of violet, slightly rough tannins, earthy, with a slight aftertaste. Rich ruby red with a bright core."
Woods Wholesale Wine (official winemaker's note):
"Intense ruby red. Extremely fine and elegant on the nose. Notes of cherry, licorice and cinnamon emerge followed by nuances of black cherry jam and candied fruit. The taste is intense and deep, with great structure and complexity. The tannins are soft and well integrated, ripe red fruit stands out, black cherries and cherries in alcohol, followed by delicate notes of coffee, licorice and sweet spices. Of great elegance, it is extremely balanced and harmonious."
Grape Expectations (extended tasting note):
"Evolved fine fruits with aromas of vanilla and strawberry. The taste is dry, harmonious, round, velvety."
Nose
Intense ruby red with a bright core. Fine and elegant, with cherry, licorice, and cinnamon leading, joined by violet, black cherry jam, and candied fruit.
Palate
Intense and deep, with ripe cherry and black cherry carrying real structure, developing tobacco, leather, coffee, and sweet spice, framed by soft, well-integrated tannin.
Finish
Balanced and harmonious, closing earthy with a slight, elegant aftertaste.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Toscana Rosso IGT, Tuscany, Italy |
| Variety | 100% Sangiovese (Grosso) |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Producer | La Gerla |
| Founded | 1976, by Sergio Rossi |
| First Vintage of Birba | 1988 |
| Elevation | 320 meters |
| Aging | 10-12 months, French oak barrique (Allier-Vosges) |
| ABV | 14-14.5% |
| Production | ~7,000 bottles |
| Critics | Falstaff 90 |
| Style / Identity | A refined, elegant, barrique-aged Sangiovese — genuine Brunello estate philosophy in an accessible IGT wine |
| Aromas & Flavors | Cherry, licorice, cinnamon, black cherry jam, candied fruit |
| Drinking Window | 2024 through 2028 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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