San Polo, Brunello Di Montalcino

Alcohol percentage: 14%

Organic

Area:
Montalcino is a hill-top town in the warm, open country in southern Tuscany, about 45 minutes down from Siena. Although the key grape is the same as for Chianti Classico further north, the style is broader and generally richer. San Polo are in the south east of the region, not far from the famous abbey at Sant’Antimo. They have 15 hectares in total, 14 of them Sangiovese, 1 of French varieties.

Grape variety:
100% Sangiovese. The grapes were hand picked into 17 kilogram crates at the end of September. Once at the winery, the berries were selected and softly crushed. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled concrete tanks for up to 22 days with temperatures reaching a maximum of 28-30°C. The wine was then aged for 30 months in a mixture of 10, 20 and 40 hectolitre oak casks. This was followed by a period of at least six months in bottle before release.

Producer:
The estate was bought by the Allegrini family (based in Valpolicella) in 2006.
They have been certified organic since 2017.

The Bottle Shop rating:
Aromas of violets and red berries are followed by hints of vanilla, cedar and coffee. On the palate, it is full-bodied and warm with a densely-woven texture and robust tannins, while the finish is persistent and rounded.