Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino:
[il poj-jo-neh]

Il Poggione emerged as one of the foremost producers of classic and elegant Brunello with the release of the 1965 vintage, an effort that received universal recognition as a consummate expression of Montalcino’s greatness.

Il Poggione is situated in the southern portion of the Montalcino zone, which generally receives the beneficent impact of a more full-fledged and generous Mediterranean climate as well as sandier soils, less wind, and lower altitudes than estates positioned in the northern zones. While the wines issuing from the south generally display a dense, fruity, low-acid character, microclimates do account for significant distinctions among the estates. Such is the case with Il Poggione, whose vineyards lie at a range of 200 to 400 meters above sea level. Thus, the estate’s wines tend to go against type—the regional proclivity— achieving a rare equilibrium between structure and balance.

The Franceschi family has owned the estate’s 100 hectares of prime vineyards around the historic village of Sant’Angelo since 1890, but the vines only began to live up to their full potential in 1958, when esteemed enologist Pierluigi Talenti was enlisted for his agricultural expertise. Over the next 40 years, beginning with the 1965 release, Il Poggione became synonymous with classic, elegant, structured Brunello. Though Talenti passed away in 1999, Fabrizio Bindocci—who spent more than two decades at Talenti’s side—carries on the tradition of excellence.

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino is stemmed from 20-year-old vines from the top vineyards. The wine is aged for three years in French Allier oak barrels followed by 12 months in bottle prior to release. Of note is the 2000 vintage, which is less acidic, less tannic, and more approachable than the well-structured 2001—which requires further bottle ageing. This traditional Brunello, which is more youthful than its neighbors, is a tremendous value for the cellar.