Poggio di Sotto : Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020

Tasting Characteristics and Advice for Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a pale, bright ruby hue.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex, evolving bouquet. Floral notes of violet and rose intertwine with aromas of red and black fruit, notably red cherry and wild berries. Savory nuances reminiscent of richly concentrated meat are joined by subtle citrus touches. With aeration, the bouquet opens onto notes of tobacco, coffee, cocoa, and leather, enhanced by spicy hints of cinnamon, licorice, and mint. A zesty balsamic character adds an extra dimension to this fascinating aromatic complexity.

Palate

On the palate, this wine stands out for its remarkable structure and harmonious balance. The silky, finely woven tannins integrate seamlessly into the whole. Vibrant acidity brings freshness and energy, creating a solid framework that will support the wine’s development for many decades. The mid-palate is broad and generous, with beautifully pure red and black fruit. The finish is long, savory, and mineral, moving from fruity flavors to spicy and herbal notes, then on to more complex tertiary aromas, promising a long life in the cellar.

Food and wine pairings

This Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020 pairs beautifully with red meats in sauce, especially game such as wild boar, guinea fowl, or duck, as well as roasted veal and pork. It also pairs perfectly with traditional Tuscan pastas such as pappardelle or tortelli with wild boar ragù. For cheese, opt for Tuscan pecorinos aged in barrel or other well-structured hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Serve this Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for about one hour before serving will allow the aromas to fully open and the tannins to soften slightly. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve through around 2045.

An Exceptionally Elegant Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

The estate

Founded in 1989 by Piero Palmucci, Poggio di Sotto quickly established itself as one of Montalcino’s most prestigious estates in Tuscany. Located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, in the southern part of the appellation, the estate now spans around twenty hectares of vineyards devoted to Sangiovese. Since 2011, the property has belonged to Claudio Tipa and his sister Maria Iris Bertarelli, who uphold the standards of excellence set by the founder. Poggio di Sotto is internationally recognized for its elegant, refined style, producing wines with a Burgundian character that rank among the most sought-after expressions of Brunello di Montalcino.

The vineyard

The vines of this Brunello di Montalcino are planted on steep, south-facing slopes at elevations between 200 and 440 meters. The exceptional terroir of Castelnuovo dell'Abate benefits from a warm climate tempered by the nearby Monte Amiata to the north, the Orcia River to the east, and sea breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. This combination creates an ideal balance between ventilation and protection, encouraging slow, gradual ripening of the Sangiovese. The soils display remarkable geological diversity, composed of schisty galestro, stony red clays, compacted gray marls with mineral conglomerates, as well as varying proportions of clay and limestone. The estate has practiced certified organic viticulture since its inception, with yields strictly limited to thirty to thirty-five quintals per hectare. A unique feature lies in the presence of 182 distinct Sangiovese biotypes, identified in partnership with the University of Florence, grown in a mass selection blend to maximize complexity.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Tuscany began with a mild winter followed by an exceptionally rainy spring. Summer proved warm and generally dry, with high but not extreme temperatures and regular rainfall during critical growth periods. This balanced combination of heat and humidity allowed the grapes to ripen gradually and reach optimal maturity without suffering the stress of severe drought conditions. The harvest was carried out by hand from September 11 to 21, enabling the selection of grapes at ideal ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020 were destemmed but not crushed, preserving the integrity of whole berries for a gentler extraction. Fermentation took place in conical wooden vats and large-capacity cement tanks, with indigenous yeasts naturally present on the skins. Fermentation and maceration lasted a minimum of thirty days, with frequent, extended pump-overs to ensure uniform, intense extraction of aromas while developing the wine’s structure and tannin profile. After malolactic fermentation, this Italian wine was aged for fifty-two months in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks, allowing tertiary aromas to develop through controlled exposure to oxygen, without imparting a marked oaky character.

Grape variety

100% Sangiovese