Brunello di Montalcino “Poggio al Vento” Riserva DOCG 2016 (BIO) · 6 bottles in OWC

Col d'Orcia | Tuscany
Col d'Orcia s.r.l. s.a. | Via Giuncheti | IT 53024 Montalcino

09132516 · 4,5 l · 147,56 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping3 units available
Limitation of 1 articles per customer

Not every year gets a name. 2016 has earned it – and Montalcino does not award such honours lightly. A mild winter, a spring with heavy rainfall that got the growing season back on track. Then, from the second decade of June, a gradual, gentle rise in temperatures throughout July. And finally an August that brought everything together: large daily temperature fluctuations, no rain, perfect ripening conditions. The Consorzio called 2016 one of its best vintages in decades. And Col d'Orcia turned the best site into a Riserva. The Poggio al Vento vineyard is located in the heart of the Tenuta, halfway up the hill above the Orcia Valley, at 350 metres. Planted since 1974. The name – "hill in the wind" – is the programme: constantly ventilated, south-facing, on calcareous, skeleton-rich soils. Grapes are grown here that Col d'Orcia reserves for the most demanding category in the cellar, and even then only when the vintage poses the question: Is this more than a Brunello annata? Can this wine last for decades? In 2016, the answer was yes.

Vinification follows the unyielding rhythm of the house. Manual harvest, selection at harvest. Fermentation at 25–28°C in 50 and 60 hl steel tanks – smaller tanks than for the Annata in order to vinify the different parcels of the vineyard separately. 18 to 20 days of maceration with daily pumping over and long délestages. Malo in cement tanks. Then the long road: three years in large Slavonian and Allier barrels (25 and 75 hl), followed by at least four years of rest in the bottle under controlled conditions. From autumn 2016 to retail: at least eight years of maturation – much longer than required by the regulations.

Intense ruby red, still a long way from autumnal garnet notes. The nose requires time. It opens slowly – dust-covered roses and dried cherries first, then dark berries, leather, sandalwood, a hint of blood orange and spicy cedar. On the palate, the 2016 presents itself with the unmistakable authority of a monumental vintage: powerful tannins, fine-grained and polished by long ageing in wood, carried by vibrant, fresh acidity. Long, structured, with a finish that is not in a hurry, but then more than just impresses. If you drink now, you will get something extraordinary – and those who wait will get something legendary. We won't get involved. SUPERIORE.DE

"Powerful, bright ruby colour with a fine garnet sheen. Memorable nose with notes of plums, some cranberries, dark cherries, very clear. Firm, full-bodied tannins on the palate, opens with a lot of pressure, coated in ripe berry fruit, savoury and brooding, subtle earthy notes on the final." Falstaff

"Brilliant, medium to deep ruby red with only light orange tones. Some development on the nose, but otherwise still very closed. Supple and concentrated, with fine, tangy acidity and astonishing balance. Finely chiselled tannins and supple, concentrated fruit on the finish. An elegant wine whose 15% alcohol is imperceptible." Jancis Robinson

"The organic Col d'Orcia 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is beautiful, to be honest, with a unique sense of direct power, medium-rich texture and evolved fruit. This Riserva takes us back in time to one of the most successful vintages in Montalcino's history. The bouquet is characterised by dried fruit, rose potpourri and roasted chestnut shells. The tannins are dissolved and the wine ends on a soft, silky note." Wine Advocate

"The nose is primarily spicy, with aromas of old leather, dirt and mixed spices, like a general shop in the old west with cherry and liquorice candy in bins. The palate is more fruit-driven, with notes of cherries and figs mingling with coffee and sambuca flavours to create a subtle hint of spiciness. The tannins and acidity oversee the proceedings without imposing themselves, like a good host at a party." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Vento is a classic wine that takes its time in the glass, slowly gaining depth and nuance: dusty roses and leather give way to dried strawberries, then notes of cedar and spiced blood orange. It is elegant and refined, with polished red berry fruit and a silky texture contrasted by notes of sour orange. A core of lively acidity provides a wonderfully fresh appeal. The finish is long and colourful, but also youthfully structured. A layer of fine tannins holds on to the remnants of redcurrant and spice. Ultimately, the 2016 Poggio al Vento leaves the taster longing for another sip and regretting its incredibly youthful state. It will be many years before we can fully enjoy the depth and complexity it currently harbours, but I hope to be there when that day finally comes." Vinous

"Packed with vibrant cherry, strawberry, rose, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavours, this red wine is racy and pure, with an excellent aftertaste. It is characterised by strong acidity and precise fruit flavours and still has some tannins to resolve. It is so youthful and fresh that you get the feeling that it has barely moved in its development." Wine Spectator

"Super classic Brunello from a classic vintage that is now coming onto the market. The fragrance has it all: cherries, flowers, pencil and slight hints of graphite. This is followed by raspberries and black cherries with some sandalwood shavings. You just want to smell it. Clear and transparent. Full-bodied with very fine and incisive tannins that fill the mouth and show great tension and shape. Extremely long and structured. Beautiful now, but it will age for decades to come." James Suckling