Poggio Antico, Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva 2015

A very opulent style with loads of black-cherry, plum, chocolate, cookie, and dark-chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and very layered with loads of fruit and spices. Extremely long and flavorful. Needs time to come completely together, but so gorgeous. Drink now or hold.

The Poggio Antico 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,000 bottles going to market in January 2021) is a thickly textured and rich wine with fruit-driven flavors and extra fiber. The wine sings with the characteristics of this vintage that will be remembered for the sunshine, the warmth and the picture-perfect fruit. Each cluster hung from the vine with glorious perfection. There is more warmth and dark plum intensity here for sure, and you also get greater latitude in terms of those savory tones of leather, tobacco and tilled earth. The Riserva is sourced from the Il Vignone site at a high 500 meters above sea level where summer breezes keep the grapes healthy and ripe.

Totally moreish, blackberry and black cherry fruits, generous yet subtle and at this point the tannins are welcoming and integrated, practically begging you to begin drinking the wine. Smoked caramel and butterscotch as it opens, trace of heat on the finish but Sangiovese’s acidity balances it out, and there is a silky texture. Two more additional years of ageing compared to the Poggio Antico.