Poggio di Sotto

Open-hearted, lush bouquet of cherries and meadow flowers. A lot of fruit on the palate, subtly mineral and salty, good tannin, balanced, complex and at Brunello level. Super-expressive and a true pleasure for the next 10 years. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino will need some time to fully open up. The nose is reticent, requiring quite a bit of coaxing, before a bouquet of fresh sweet strawberry, cherry, Tuscan spice box, dusty florals and hints of mint lift from the glass. On the palate, soft textures flood the senses, offset by tart red fruits, minerals and spice, as the 2018 seems to hover - well poised, almost weightless, yet still fully satisfying. The finish is long and very pretty, as fresh red fruits resonate above a tactile mix of acid, minerals and light tannin, giving way to a singular red floral note that seems to go on for minutes." Vinous

Open-hearted, lush bouquet of cherries and flower meadow. Lots of fruit on the palate, subtly mineral-salty, good tannin, balanced, complex and on Brunello level. Super-expressive and a real pleasure for the next 10 years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Aromas of redcurrants, plums, mushrooms, iodine and roasted meat. It's medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins. Juicy, with a ripe, smoky note on the palate. Delicious finish." James Suckling

"In the lighter 2018 vintage, Rosso achieves great suppleness in the southern exposure of Castelnuovo dell'Abate, sheltered by the Amiata mountain. Based on 100% Sangiovese Grosso with a yield of around 3.5 tons per hectare, this Rosso is fermented spontaneously in 70hL oak casks. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine ages for two years in 30 hL oak casks, plus an additional six months in bottle. The plush fruit is vibrant, supported by complex spices. It's a wine focused on grace, with yellow fruit, smoky woodland notes, liquorice, roasted nuts and a balsamic hint. The palate is silky and lifted by elegant acidity. Perfect balance and impressive drinkability." Decanter

"The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a perfumed and feminine effort, blossoming in the glass to show dusty roses and violets with bright cherry and strawberry fruits. Hints of cedar and flowery undergrowth come forward over time to complete the expression. It's silky in feel and energetic with mineral-laced, ripe red berries, spice and inner florals motivated by juicy acids. Licorice and a sweet and sour twang of wild berries linger, along with a gentle coating of fine tannin that is only felt toward the close." Vinous

Vinified only in the best vintages, it surprises with a bright garnet red, almost making you think it was a rosé. Bouquet of blackberry and small sweet forest berries, cherry-like on the palate and then not at all arbitrary with a gripping acidity and fine-grained tannin. A great, intellectual Brunello for the advanced connoisseur who likes it profound and extraordinary. SUPERIORE.DE

"As always a hoard of tradition with its flowery notes of raspberries, violets and leather; still very youthful construction with fine-grained tannin, invigorating acidity, seductive finish on notes of plums, leather and tobacco. Pleases with its elegance." Vinum

"Sparkling, bright garnet red. Finely drawn, very clear nose of fresh cherries and plums, some china bark in the background. Rolls juicy and salty over the tongue, fine, handy tannin in many layers, much tension, very long finish." Falstaff

"Tasted blind. Just mid ruby. Gorgeous, perfumed red-fruit nose with an elegant note of oatmeal. Bright, concentrated red fruit with plenty of acidity. Very elegant and understated, with fine sandy tannins. Long and complex finish." Jancis Robinson

"There’s a real Burgundian feel here to the sour cherries, five spice, citrus, nutmeg and fresh oregnano. The tannins have a beautiful, porcelain-like feel; the acidity cuts a wide and long shape. Delicate, floral and refined. All about grace and elegance." James Suckling

"On steep slopes in the southeast of Montalcino, Poggio di Sotto's vineyards are cooled by breezes coming off the nearby Monte Amiata. The Brunello is crafted from plots that range in altitude from 200 to 450 metres. Fermentations are spontaneous, maceration lasts one month and ageing is in 30-hectolitre Slavonian oak casks. This demonstrates the generosity of the vintage but is still fresh and graceful. Sweet fennel, underbrush and thyme blossoms give intricacy to pure red cherry fruit. Abundant chalky tannins build stealthily across the palate and provide a welcome dimension of texture, while Sangiovese's appetising juiciness shines through." Decanter

"Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine." Vinous

"Poggio di Sotto doesn't miss a beat with this very special release. This is a glorious expression of the vintage, and the wine has absorbed the golden sunlight of Tuscany, delivering beautifully ripe, round and subtle fruit layers. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows concentration, but not too much, and richness, but not too much. You get the power and the opulence of the vintage presented with the elegance and grace that is the house style at this venerated estate. Poggio di Sotto is one of the benchmarks of Montalcino. There's a lot of red fruit energy deep inside that should stir this wine on course as it ages over the next two decades." Robert Parker

Vinified only in the best vintages, it surprises with a bright garnet red. Bouquet of blackberry, violets and small sweet wild berries, on the palate cherry-like and then not at all arbitrary with a gripping acidity and a fine-grained tannin. A great, intellectual Brunello for the advanced connoisseur who likes it enigmatic and extraordinary. SUPERIORE.DE

"Oh my, this is another seductive, elegant fragrance, reminiscent of a mix of the finest Burgundy and Piedmont. Ripe heart cherries and raspberries, engaging, distinctive ethereal herbal spice with juicy liquorice, but red-blue florality as well as a touch of blood orange. Wow, is this complex. On the palate, elegant, finely meshed style, great tension of transparent precise fruit and balsamic freshness. Once again one of the best of the vintage. Bravo!" Weinwisser

"Bright, sparkling garnet red. Seductive nose with distinct notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. Extremely juicy and clear on the palate, lots of cherry, plus pomegranate and some blood orange, lots of tension, very long finish." Falstaff

"Just mid ruby. Finely perfumed, minerally nose with touches of sweet raspberry and cherry. Compact palate of youthful sweet fruit. Stunning balance between embryonic sweet fruit, supple acidity and long, finely chiselled tannins. Real precision." Jancis Robinson

"A chewy, dusty-textured red with lots of intense tannins and fresh blue fruit, as well as black cherries and some orange-peel undertones. It's full-bodied and tight with firm tannins at the end. Closed. Try after 2023." James Suckling

"There is always something so recognisable and pure in Poggio di Sotto. The estate has made a great effort to preserve the genetic material of the vines, and the Sangiovese is a massal selection of its own biotypes. Aromas drip with ripe red cherry, Mediterranean herbs and white pepper. The fruit is sumptuous and very juicy - all raspberry and nectarine flesh. Beautifully weightless yet mouthfilling, it's racy and fluid with powdery tannins that cleanse the palate, and a lingering finish of orange blossom and tea." Decanter

"You can lose yourself in the bouquet of the 2016 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino. At one moment, the 2016 shows crushed cherries with autumnal spice; the next, it's exotic florals and candied orange peels, and at another time flowery undergrowth, white smoke and wild berries. It's unbelievably soft and pure, lifting the wine through saline-minerals, as sweet notes of cherry and raspberry begin to slowly saturate, yet what they leave behind is youthfully grippy tannins. With how structured the 2016 is today, it's still enjoyable due to nervous acids and notes of sour citrus, which keep the expression fresh. The 2016 Poggio di Sotto Brunello is really a terrific effort and a classic in the making." Vinous

"Alluring aromas of macerated cherry, strawberry and rose give way to a core of red fruit framed by iron, earth and tobacco in this elegant red, which is silky, but also well-structured, balanced and intense in a stylish profile. Very complex and promising." Wine Spectator

The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows remarkable depth and concentration. In the dense bouquet complex aromas of dark red cherries, plums, exotic spices and notes of menthol and black tea. Full-bodied on the palate, elegant, with infinite fruit, silky tannins and smooth texture. Long and balanced in the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, clear garnet red. Shows discreet smoky notes, some hazelnuts and flint, then pomegranate, cherries, goji berries, exciting. Compact and dense fruit on the palate, unfolds with a lot of polished, present tannin, starts in the back third once again fully through, long reverberation and sweet melt." Falstaff

"This wine floored me. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning beauty and a wine well worth the attention (if you can afford its lofty pricing aspirations). Thankfully, the beauty of the contents will help alleviate some of the sticker shock. This is a supple and silky expression with an infinite array of Sangiovese-based aromas. You'll recognize wild cassis, forest floor, autumnal leaf, button mushroom, grilled herb, rosemary, balsam herb and red rose petal. The effect is fragrant and delicate. The mouthfeel is equally ethereal and nuanced. With only 3,500 bottles made, not many of us will have the luxury of trying this beautiful wine. And, that is really too bad." Robert Parker

"Initially reserved, this ethereal red took some time to open but it was worth the wait, revealing enticing scents of violet, wild berry, rosemary and Mediterranean brush. The palate is all about extreme elegance, offering wild cherry, crushed strawberry, grilled herb and star anise alongside firm, refined tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"Mid ruby with orange tinges. Hints of undergrowth and malt. Almost a tad jammy on the palate and then tangy strawberry fruit. Exotic, zesty, rich, multi-layered finish that goes on and on. Beautiful, chewy tannins." Jancis Robinson

"Fresh and vivid aromas of cherry and flower with cream undertones. Full body, firm and very silky with a beautiful intensity and precision. Excellent winemaking here." James Suckling

"A total pleasure bomb, Poggio di Sotto's 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva races across the palate with layers of intense, perfumed fruit and striking aromatics. Macerated dark cherry, spice, menthol and deeply spiced layers built to the huge, intense finish. The typical Poggio di Sotto volatile acidity is pretty much buried by the sheer density of the fruit. Best of all, the Riserva remains incredibly fresh and saline, which is so remarkable for the year." Antonio Galloni

With the fruit-driven, round and almost perfect in all components 2015 vintage, the Riserva of Poggio di Sotto climbs new spheres. It is not only an enormously classic representative of the appellation, but it also presents that certain little bit more of all components, which makes it a very great wine and makes it stand out from the sea of very good 2015s. On the nose and palate, an inspiring potpourri of primary and secondary fruit. From cherry, crème de cassis, tar, liquorice and balsamic herbal spice to perfectly integrated tannin and a refined cedar component, we find everything here that makes a highly complex red. A classic that could not be more perfect. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, brightening ruby-garnet. Finely marked nose with distinct notes of ripe raspberries, juicy, fresh cherries and a hint of leather. Very impressive on the palate, fine, slightly grippy tannin in many layers characterises the wine, embedded in fine melting, ripe red berry fruit, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Extremely perfumed with black-cherry, plum and red-cherry aromas that follow through to a full body with very fine, pretty tannins that follow through to a flavorful finish. Pretty balance and refinement. All about finesse." James Suckling

"Poggio Di Sotto's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is undeniably elegant and feminine, impressing with an alluring bouquet which mixes spiced black cherry with hints of sage, mint, dried roses and white smoke. It enters the palate soft, lifted and youthfully understated, cascading bright red fruits laced with minerals across a core of stimulating acids as nuanced tannins slowly build. An air of red currant, licorice and inner florals linger, as the 2015 Riserva flexes its structural muscle throughout the cheek-puckering finale. This will require quite a bit of cellaring to fill out and settle down, yet is sure to be worth the wait. I followed the 2015 Riserva over the course of four days and it never declined." Vinous

"There's a leafy underbrush element to this red, punctuating the cherry, strawberry and earth flavors. Compact for now, yet balanced, with a taut, reserved finish. Offers tension and suppleness, with plenty in reserve." Wine Spectator

Vinified only in the best vintages, it surprises with a bright garnet red, almost making you think it was a rosé. Bouquet of blackberry and small sweet forest berries, cherry-like on the palate and then not at all arbitrary with a gripping acidity and fine-grained tannin. A great, intellectual Brunello for the advanced connoisseur who likes it profound and extraordinary. SUPERIORE.DE

"As always a hoard of tradition with its flowery notes of raspberries, violets and leather; still very youthful construction with fine-grained tannin, invigorating acidity, seductive finish on notes of plums, leather and tobacco. Pleases with its elegance." Vinum

"Sparkling, bright garnet red. Finely drawn, very clear nose of fresh cherries and plums, some china bark in the background. Rolls juicy and salty over the tongue, fine, handy tannin in many layers, much tension, very long finish." Falstaff

"Tasted blind. Just mid ruby. Gorgeous, perfumed red-fruit nose with an elegant note of oatmeal. Bright, concentrated red fruit with plenty of acidity. Very elegant and understated, with fine sandy tannins. Long and complex finish." Jancis Robinson

"There’s a real Burgundian feel here to the sour cherries, five spice, citrus, nutmeg and fresh oregnano. The tannins have a beautiful, porcelain-like feel; the acidity cuts a wide and long shape. Delicate, floral and refined. All about grace and elegance." James Suckling

"On steep slopes in the southeast of Montalcino, Poggio di Sotto's vineyards are cooled by breezes coming off the nearby Monte Amiata. The Brunello is crafted from plots that range in altitude from 200 to 450 metres. Fermentations are spontaneous, maceration lasts one month and ageing is in 30-hectolitre Slavonian oak casks. This demonstrates the generosity of the vintage but is still fresh and graceful. Sweet fennel, underbrush and thyme blossoms give intricacy to pure red cherry fruit. Abundant chalky tannins build stealthily across the palate and provide a welcome dimension of texture, while Sangiovese's appetising juiciness shines through." Decanter

"Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine." Vinous

"Poggio di Sotto doesn't miss a beat with this very special release. This is a glorious expression of the vintage, and the wine has absorbed the golden sunlight of Tuscany, delivering beautifully ripe, round and subtle fruit layers. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows concentration, but not too much, and richness, but not too much. You get the power and the opulence of the vintage presented with the elegance and grace that is the house style at this venerated estate. Poggio di Sotto is one of the benchmarks of Montalcino. There's a lot of red fruit energy deep inside that should stir this wine on course as it ages over the next two decades." Robert Parker

Vinified only in the best vintages, it surprises with a bright garnet red. Bouquet of blackberry, violets and small sweet wild berries, on the palate cherry-like and then not at all arbitrary with a gripping acidity and a fine-grained tannin. A great, intellectual Brunello for the advanced connoisseur who likes it enigmatic and extraordinary. SUPERIORE.DE

"Oh my, this is another seductive, elegant fragrance, reminiscent of a mix of the finest Burgundy and Piedmont. Ripe heart cherries and raspberries, engaging, distinctive ethereal herbal spice with juicy liquorice, but red-blue florality as well as a touch of blood orange. Wow, is this complex. On the palate, elegant, finely meshed style, great tension of transparent precise fruit and balsamic freshness. Once again one of the best of the vintage. Bravo!" Weinwisser

"Bright, sparkling garnet red. Seductive nose with distinct notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. Extremely juicy and clear on the palate, lots of cherry, plus pomegranate and some blood orange, lots of tension, very long finish." Falstaff

"Just mid ruby. Finely perfumed, minerally nose with touches of sweet raspberry and cherry. Compact palate of youthful sweet fruit. Stunning balance between embryonic sweet fruit, supple acidity and long, finely chiselled tannins. Real precision." Jancis Robinson

"A chewy, dusty-textured red with lots of intense tannins and fresh blue fruit, as well as black cherries and some orange-peel undertones. It's full-bodied and tight with firm tannins at the end. Closed. Try after 2023." James Suckling

"There is always something so recognisable and pure in Poggio di Sotto. The estate has made a great effort to preserve the genetic material of the vines, and the Sangiovese is a massal selection of its own biotypes. Aromas drip with ripe red cherry, Mediterranean herbs and white pepper. The fruit is sumptuous and very juicy - all raspberry and nectarine flesh. Beautifully weightless yet mouthfilling, it's racy and fluid with powdery tannins that cleanse the palate, and a lingering finish of orange blossom and tea." Decanter

"You can lose yourself in the bouquet of the 2016 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino. At one moment, the 2016 shows crushed cherries with autumnal spice; the next, it's exotic florals and candied orange peels, and at another time flowery undergrowth, white smoke and wild berries. It's unbelievably soft and pure, lifting the wine through saline-minerals, as sweet notes of cherry and raspberry begin to slowly saturate, yet what they leave behind is youthfully grippy tannins. With how structured the 2016 is today, it's still enjoyable due to nervous acids and notes of sour citrus, which keep the expression fresh. The 2016 Poggio di Sotto Brunello is really a terrific effort and a classic in the making." Vinous

"Alluring aromas of macerated cherry, strawberry and rose give way to a core of red fruit framed by iron, earth and tobacco in this elegant red, which is silky, but also well-structured, balanced and intense in a stylish profile. Very complex and promising." Wine Spectator

With the fruit-driven, round and almost perfect in all components 2015 vintage, the Riserva of Poggio di Sotto climbs new spheres. It is not only an enormously classic representative of the appellation, but it also presents that certain little bit more of all components, which makes it a very great wine and makes it stand out from the sea of very good 2015s. On the nose and palate, an inspiring potpourri of primary and secondary fruit. From cherry, crème de cassis, tar, liquorice and balsamic herbal spice to perfectly integrated tannin and a refined cedar component, we find everything here that makes a highly complex red. A classic that could not be more perfect. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, brightening ruby-garnet. Finely marked nose with distinct notes of ripe raspberries, juicy, fresh cherries and a hint of leather. Very impressive on the palate, fine, slightly grippy tannin in many layers characterises the wine, embedded in fine melting, ripe red berry fruit, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Extremely perfumed with black-cherry, plum and red-cherry aromas that follow through to a full body with very fine, pretty tannins that follow through to a flavorful finish. Pretty balance and refinement. All about finesse." James Suckling

"Poggio Di Sotto's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is undeniably elegant and feminine, impressing with an alluring bouquet which mixes spiced black cherry with hints of sage, mint, dried roses and white smoke. It enters the palate soft, lifted and youthfully understated, cascading bright red fruits laced with minerals across a core of stimulating acids as nuanced tannins slowly build. An air of red currant, licorice and inner florals linger, as the 2015 Riserva flexes its structural muscle throughout the cheek-puckering finale. This will require quite a bit of cellaring to fill out and settle down, yet is sure to be worth the wait. I followed the 2015 Riserva over the course of four days and it never declined." Vinous

"There's a leafy underbrush element to this red, punctuating the cherry, strawberry and earth flavors. Compact for now, yet balanced, with a taut, reserved finish. Offers tension and suppleness, with plenty in reserve." Wine Spectator