San Polo, Brunello di Montalcino `Podernovi`
Vintage: 2017
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | SP606W17 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
San Polo was purchased by Marilisa Allegrini in 2006 after several years spent searching for a suitable property in Montalcino. Located in the eastern part of the region, the estate covers 22 hectares, with 16 hectares under vine. The vineyards lie between 400 and 450 metres above sea level on poor, stony soils composed mainly of galestro (schistous clay), which naturally limit yields and suit the production of high-quality Sangiovese. Detailed parcel mapping allows each vineyard to be managed individually to maximise the potential of this distinctive site.
The estate produces classic Montalcino wines with slightly more weight than those from the northern part of the appellation. Today, the property is run by Marilisa and her daughters, Carlotta and Caterina, with a focus on precise winemaking and sustainability. As part of this vision, the winery has been certified sustainable by CasaClima since 2013, organic since 2017 and vegan-certified since 2019.
The Brunello di Montalcino shows the hallmarks of the region’s modern style, with ripe fruit, cedar notes, fine-grained tannins and impressive length. The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva offers greater depth and demonstrates the estate’s standing within the region. Two additional Brunello wines are produced only in the best vintages. ‘Podernovi’, from a single vineyard, is an energetic and elegant expression from one of Montalcino’s most recognised sites. ‘Vignavecchia’ hails from 30–40-year-old vines in a west-facing vineyard planted on galestro soils and is intense, complex and suited to long ageing. The Rosso di Montalcino offers excellent depth and approachability, while ‘Rubio’, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, is fragrant and supple.
Vineyards
The Podernovi vineyard is a three hectare single vineyard site with excellent south-east exposition situated at 450 metres above sea level. Here, the vines planted in 1990, have found their perfect habitat with a soil rich in galestro and minerals, with a good presence of clay, giving grapes that are extremely concentrated.
Vintage
The winter and spring were mild and very dry. This led to an early bud-burst. A major frost in mid-April caused damage across much of Europe. Luckily, due to the location of San Polo's vineyards the vines suffered no damage. The summer saw high temperatures and no rainfall which created some challenges in the vineyard. Once again, the location of the vineyard became very important as excellent day to night temperature variations relieved the vines from the heat. A final rain near harvest restored the land's water reserves and was perfectly timed to assist the final stages of ripening for the Sangiovese grapes.
Vinification
Harvest was carried out by hand. On arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully sorted and then softly pressed. Fermentation took place in 25 hectolitre Slavonian oak vats at temperatures of up to 30°C for about 30 days. Malolactic fermentation took place in 40 hectolitre casks. The wine was aged for 30 months in lightly toasted 40 hectolitre casks. Finally, the wine rested in bottle for six months before release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
In the glass, this wine is ruby red with light garnet reflections. The nose is enticing with floral aromas of violet, cyclamen and jasmine, along with notes of fresh fruit and spices. On the palate, it is well balanced, with good structure, bright acidity and smooth tannins. Flavours of violet, plum, cherry and sweet spice. The finish is long and lingering
Alcohol (ABV)
14%
Acidity
6.13 g/l
Residual Sugar
1.7 g/l
pH
3.51
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Polo | Rosso di Montalcino | SP601 | R | Factsheet | |
| Brunello di Montalcino | SP602 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Rubio | SP604 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Brunello di Montalcino Riserva | SP605 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Brunello di Montalcino `Vignavecchia` | SP607 | R | Factsheet |