The tiny L’Aietta estate run by the young Francesco Mulinari (above), a stone’s throw from Montalcino’s city walls, is at the same height as Le Potazzine. At well over 500 m Mulinari has planted bushvines here, somewhat haphazardly on no fewer than 18 different terraces, with a drop of 115 m between the highest and the lowest. The vineyard (pictured above) is in parts so steep that the lowest terrace is invisible from the top. Mulinari explained that he could not plant in neat rows because of several impenetrable rocks underneath the surface which would prevent the vines from forming deep roots. Planted in 2004, the vineyard easily adapts to hotter growing conditions such as those of 2011.