Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2019

Poggio Antico | Tuscany
Poggio Antico s.r.l. s.a. | Loc. Poggio Antico | IT 53024 Montalcino

09412919 · 0,75 l · 172,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

"The vintage we've all been waiting for" – this is how international wine experts in Montalcino unanimously describe the 2019 vintage, with a level of enthusiasm rarely seen in such unanimous agreement. Kerin O'Keefe declared the 2019 vintage to be, on the whole, even more impressive than the already legendary 2016 vintage. Andrew Jefford simply called it the best Brunello vintage he had ever tasted, even more dense and consistent than the much-lauded Barolo from the same year. Winemakers such as Francesco Buffi of Baricci spoke of a vintage that took them back twenty years; others drew comparisons with the legendary 1988 and 1990 vintages. A magical year in which rain and sunshine arrived at exactly the right time – and in which the Riserva selections once again stood out from the already exceptional Annata wines.

At Poggio Antico, "Riserva" does not refer to a specific terroir, but rather to the pure potential of the harvested fruit: a selection of those plots which, in a given year, display exceptional concentration, lively acidity and a firm tannin structure. A cool winter and an equally subdued spring initially delayed budbreak, but abundant rainfall during the growing season gave the vines precisely the balance they needed to accumulate large quantities of polyphenols. The decisive turning point came in September and October: sharp fluctuations in temperature between day and night sharpened the phenolic character of each individual vineyard. Harvested by hand on 4 October, this vintage fermented for ten days in tulip-shaped concrete tanks, followed by a further eighteen days of maceration, then thirty months in French oak barrels and six months in natural cement tanks, before the wine is bottled unfiltered in December 2023.

A deep, brilliant ruby red. The bouquet offers concentrated dark cherry and ripe wild berries, underpinned by the dry herbs of the Mediterranean maquis, subtle leather notes and a mineral foundation that reflects the dramatic temperature fluctuations during the ageing process. As it breathes, hints of violets and roasted coffee emerge. On the palate, it is dense and powerful, yet never heavy: the tannins are tightly woven yet silky in texture, the acidity is lively and supportive, and the finish is long, spicy and of remarkable clarity – a Riserva that showcases the exceptional completeness of its vintage in every facet. SUPERIORE.DE