San Polo, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

San Polo, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Vintage: 2015

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2015SP605B156 x 75Natural CorkAvailable
Producer

San Polo was purchased by Marilisa Allegrini in 2006, who has since invested heavily in the estate. This investment is now evident in the ever-increasing quality of the wines. Situated in the eastern part of Montalcino, the San Polo estate comprises 22 hectares of which 16 are planted under vine. They produce classic wines, with a bit more weight than those made in the north of Montalcino. The winery has been certified sustainable, by the respected Casa Clima organisation, since 2013. It has also been organic certified from 2017 and vegan certified from 2019.

The Brunello di Montalcino is a fine example of this regions modern style, rich and cedary with fine-grained tannins and excellent length. The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a step up in quality and illustrates why San Polo is often considered to be one of Brunello’s top producers. They also produce two Brunello’s released only in the best vintages. The single vineyard ‘Podernovi’ is an energetic, elegant and deep expression, hailing from one of the most beautiful and iconic vineyards in Montalcino. The ‘Vignavecchia’ hails from 30 to 40-year-old vines in a western-facing vineyard, planted on galestro soil. It is intense and complex and has great potential for lengthy ageing. The Rosso is delicious and offers fantastic depth for the price, while the perfumed Rubio is made from a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Vineyards

Poggio San Polo's vineyards cover approximately nine hectares planted between 1990 and 2000. They are situated at an altitude of 450 metres above sea level, facing south-southwest, on chalky, clay soils. The average age of the vines are 5-15 years and they are spur-cordon trained with a density of 7,000 plants per hectare. The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is made in exceptional vintages from the best grapes grown in the estate's oldest vineyards planted in 1990.

Vintage

One of the best vintages in the last twenty years. The entire growing cycle of the vine took place under the best possible conditions. A cold winter with frequent heavy rainfall and low temperatures gave way to a dry spring with temperatures slightly above average, enabling uniform budburst and perfect flowering. Showers in the summer months were scarce but fortunately heavy, which made it possible to carry out sustainable and environmentally friendly pest and disease management. Hot, sunny days with excellent day to night temperature variations enabled the bunches to achieve ideal ripening by the end of September. The berries were perfectly healthy and acidity was high, despite elevated sugar concentration, with a very thick skin.

Vinification

Grapes were hand harvested in small 17 kg crates on September 16th. After careful selection of the berries (only the best of the whole estate goes into the Riserva), there was a gentle crushing. Fermentation occurred in concrete tanks at temperatures of 28 to 30° degrees for 22 days. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in new medium-toast 500-600 litre tonneaux and 10 hectolitre oak casks. The wine spent 36 months there and then spent 8 months in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

Intense ruby red with garnet highlights. The characteristic aroma is pronounced, persistent, broad and ethereal. There are marked nuances of forest undergrowth, wood and spices and lighter notes of small red berries, a hint of vanilla and jammy fruit. The palate is dry and warm, with good tannic structure and flavours of plum, black cherry, aromatic wood, wilted rose an tobacco. The wine is robust, highly-structured and long-lasting, but at the same time elegant and balanced.

Alcohol (ABV)

14.5%

Acidity

6.25 g/l

Residual Sugar

1.7 g/l

pH

3.48