Wine Advisor
Poggio di Sotto, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006
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Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a towering wine of incredible grace. Frankly, it is hard to imagine how a wine can be so massively structured and finessed at the same time. The 2006 Riserva boasts remarkable depth and power in its dark red fruit, rose petals, licorice, crushed rocks and spices. Layers of fruit build to the huge, sweeping finish. This dramatic and dazzling wine from Poggio di Sotto is on its way to becoming an icon. It is also the last Riserva bottled by Piero Palmucci. Over the last decade or so, Poggio di Sotto has established itself as one of the cult producers in Montalcino. The wines have never been well-distributed in the US and are therefore nearly impossible to find, but insiders know Poggio di Sotto is the real deal. Last year Piero Palmucci sold the property to Claudio Tipa and promptly skipped town. Readers will recognize Tipa as the owner of Grattamacco and Colle Massari. The sale of the winery and the recent passing of long-time consultant Giulio Gambelli have created some uncertainty as to the direction of the wines in future vintages. Tipa told me he has every intention of keeping the house style intact. I am sure that is the case. But I also know that the Poggio di Sotto Rossi and Brunelli are intensely personal wines, and even with the very best intentions, it will be very hard to maintain the soul that made them so compelling. Winemaker Federico Staderini, who worked alongside Gambelli beginning with 2010, is now in charge. I can only wish Claudio Tipa and Staderini the very best with filling the void left by Palmucci and Gambelli. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A balanced and gorgeous wine with dried strawberries and flowers with full to medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. It goes on for minutes. Silky. Sexy. Class. Drink now or hold. Made from organic grapes.
About the Producer
Majestic Location of the Winery That is not a secret how much we all love Tuscany for its mesmerizing landscapes and rich red wines. Founded in 1989, near Montalcino, Poggio di Sotto is as a perfect embodiment of what wine tourists all over the world look for in Tuscany: 48 hectares of vineyards on the hills, sea breeze in the air, soils that remember the times when the nearby volcano was exploding. The vineyards are accompanied by olive groves and forest. Poggio Di Sotto: the Temple of Sangiovese For its fair organic practices and continuous loyalty to local winemaking traditions, the winery can be entitled as “”The Temple of Sangiovese””. 100% of grapes grown in Poggio Di Sotto are nothing but the most widespread grape varietal in Tuscany – Sangiovese. Brick red colored Sangiovese is obtained by aging the wine in Slavonian oak casks for 2 years, Dark Garnet – for 4 years, and Dark Garnet Riserva – for 5 years. The interesting fact: Sangiovese is also used for producing Grappa. It is characterized by cherry, tomato, oregano, and coffee aromas. Served at the temperature of 16-18 degrees Celcius, it is best paired with florentine steak and mushroom or truffle risotto. Top Ranked Wines The crown on the top of the brand emblem is not a coincidence. The wines of Poggio Di Sotto have a small range of wines, but all are of the highest and widely acknowledged quality. That helped those wines to receive the highest grades from Wine Spectactor, Wine Advocate, Vinous and many other honored wine assessment organizations.
