The late Lionel Cousin established the exceptional Cupano estate as a second career with his wife Ornella, following on from a prolific few decades working as a cinematographer and filmmaker. His love of wine brought him to Tuscany, where, under the guidance of bona fide Burgundian legend Henri Jayer, he planted 7a ha of vines on a hill above the Ombrone river in the south western corner of Montalcino. It had never seen any chemicals and from day one, they decided never to use them, which went nicely with Jayer's philosophy too.
An artist as much as a craftsman, Cousin made some of the most authentic and sought-after wines in Montalcino with the most remarkable eye to detail. He moved literal tonnes of stones up from the Ombrone river to improve drainage within the rows when establishing the site, and was known for using nail scissors for precision pruning in challenging years. Cupano’s style is powerful, but sensual. These are unforgettable wines that pluck the heart strings and leave the drinker with a sense of having tasted something profound. After his passing in early 2021, the estate is in a safe pair of hands with his daughter and wife Ornella at the helm aided by long standing colleague, Andrea Polidoro.
