Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino

Poggio Antico is located in Montalcino, a small town in Tuscany about fifty kilometers south of Siena. The earliest written records of the estate date from the beginning of the 19th century, when the present boundaries were marked. At that time, the estate consisted of woodland, grassland, and three stone houses. The development of Poggio Antico started in the late 1970s, when electricity was brought in, vineyards were planted, and construction of the wine cellar began. The estate was purchased in 1984 by current owners Giancarlo and Nuccia Gloder, originally from Milan, who had fallen in love with the wines of Montalcino and the unique geographical position of Poggio Antico. Altero was created in 1983 with the intention of making a more modern style of Brunello. Altero is a proprietary wine that is distinguished by being aged in 500-liter French oak tonneaux for a period of two years rather than for three years in the large new Slavonian oak barrels used for the traditional Brunello. Altero completes its ageing requirement by spending two years in the bottle before release. In 2000, sixteen years after the first release of Altero, the new regulations for Brunello confirmed the validity of this innovative alternative. In effect the formula for Altero anticipated the new trend for Brunello. Since its introduction Altero has received very favourable reviews and enjoyed great commercial success, so every year an increasing part of the crop is set aside for it. 100% Sangiovese, Altero is a deep and intense ruby red wine which shows great concentration. The bouquet is wide, very fruity, persistent and elegant while the taste is full, warm, and round with a complex structure and fine ripe tannins. Very smooth on the palate with a long enjoyable finish it is suited for long bottle ageing. (12 x 75 cl)

Poggio Antico is located in Montalcino, a small town in Tuscany about fifty kilometers south of Siena. The earliest written records of the estate date from the beginning of the 19th century, when the present boundaries were marked. At that time, the estate consisted of woodland, grassland, and three stone houses. The development of Poggio Antico started in the late 1970s, when electricity was brought in, vineyards were planted, and construction of the wine cellar began. The estate was purchased in 1984 by current owners Giancarlo and Nuccia Gloder, originally from Milan, who had fallen in love with the wines of Montalcino and the unique geographical position of Poggio Antico. As per the D.O.C.G. regulations, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva must be aged for a total of five years as opposed to four required for the regular Brunello, while the Brunello Riserva Poggio Antico is only produced in exceptional vintages. In those years the grapes from the oldest and lowest altitude vineyard are processed and aged separately. The Poggio Antico Riserva then spends three and a half years in wood; the first year of ageing takes place in 500-liter French tonneaux while the remaining ageing is in new Slavonian oak barrels. The wine is then bottle aged for one and a half years before release to complete the mandatory five years of total ageing. The result is a mature, round and complex wine. The rather limited production of Brunello Riserva usually averages 18,000 bottles and due to its characteristics, it is a wine for which further bottle aging is encouraged. The Riserva is an intense ruby red, with garnet hues. Its bouquet is usually evolved and austere, with hints of wild berries, leather, and roasted coffee. In the mouth it has a fully developed rich structure, and is very elegant and smooth thanks to its rich tannins. It is extremely well balanced and rounded, with a persistent silky finish.

Founded in 1989 by Elisabeth an Piero Palmucci Fattoria Poggio di Sotto is located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate. The 33 hectare estate is currently uusing 12 hectares for vines and after ageing in Slovackian barrels it is relaease. Intense ruby red with some light hints tending garnet. The aromas are intense, rich and pronounced with ethereal and spicy notes. A vigorous, harmonious wine the tannins and robust structure deliver through to the enjoyable finish. (6 x 75 cl)

A modern style Brunello di Montalcino that was only aged in small oak barrels for 2 years. The result is a wine showing aromas of fine cedar and characterised by supple, velvety fruit that are well balanced and fresh through to the finish. (6 x 75 cl)

Castello Banfi POGGIO ALL'ORO Brunello di Montalcino from Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino by Castello Banfi Montalcino Toscana Powerful Reds (6 x 75 cl)

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany from Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino by Az. Agr. Casanova di Neri Montalcino (6 x 75 cl)

In 1978 John and Harry Mariani, successful American importers, joined forces with Italy's leading enologist, Ezio Rivella; their objective was to produce top-quality wine on a scale never before attempted in Italy. Castello Banfi is a rarity among Italian wine estates, not just because of its size , its composition of single vineyards, or its state-of-the-art winery, but because it was started from scratch a little over 25 years ago. At that time the Mariani Brothers were looking for an estate where the climate and soil had to be ideal for the cultivation of many of the world's noble grape varieties, and it had to be within a region of Italy that already had a tradition of quality winemaking. The 4,500 acres that the Mariani Brothers first found were near Montalcino, and eligible for the status DOCG of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most prestigious of all Italian wines and it met the other criteria as well. By good luck the adjacent estate, of 2,600 acres, became available shortly afterwards and in 1984 the 11th century castle was the final purchase, and the estate was renamed Castello Banfi. Today Castello Banfi is producing a wide range of wines including Brunello di Montalcino that was Italy's first wine to be accorded D.O.C.G. status, a testament to its aristocracy, balance and fabulous proclivity for ageing. On the famed estate of Castello Banfi, where traditional practices are carefully blended with modern technology, rests the vineyard named La Pieve, from which this spectacular wine originates. Here, the near perfect conditions of climate, soil and sun, combine with the celebrated Brunello grape to produce wines of great power, depth and complexity. This wine is made from 100% Brunello grapes carefully selected for superior quality. Finally, the wine is aged for a total of five years, including a minimum of two years in French oak barriques. Very intense and deep in colour this, wine has an extremely complex bouquet, with characteristic Sangiovese aromas of soft tobacco, licorice and cacao. On the palate, it's full bodied and well structured with good acidity, elegant tannins, and a long finish. An admirable synthesis of power and elegance with the potential for long ageing. (6 x 75 cl)

This red from Italy is big chewy and delicious. Open with beautiful, multidimensional aromas of ripe berries, mushrooms and chesnuts, while on the palate, its full-bodied and very velvety, with a long, long fruity finish. (1 x 1.5 Litres)

In 1978 John and Harry Mariani, successful American importers, joined forces with Italy's leading enologist, Ezio Rivella; their objective was to produce top-quality wine on a scale never before attempted in Italy. Castello Banfi is a rarity among Italian wine estates, not just because of its size , its composition of single vineyards, or its state-of-the-art winery, but because it was started from scratch a little over 25 years ago. At that time the Mariani Brothers were looking for an estate where the climate and soil had to be ideal for the cultivation of many of the world's noble grape varieties, and it had to be within a region of Italy that already had a tradition of quality winemaking. The 4,500 acres that the Mariani Brothers first found were near Montalcino, and eligible for the status DOCG of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most prestigious of all Italian wines and it met the other criteria as well. By good luck the adjacent estate, of 2,600 acres, became available shortly afterwards and in 1984 the 11th century castle was the final purchase, and the estate was renamed Castello Banfi. Today Castello Banfi is producing a wide range of wines including Brunello di Montalcino that was Italy's first wine to be accorded D.O.C.G. status, a testament to its aristocracy, balance and fabulous proclivity for ageing. Under the direction of Banfi's master winemakers, the Brunello grapes are transformed into a remarkable world-class wine, perhaps the most respected red of Italy. Aged for a total of up to four years, including a minimum of two years in oak barrels, Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of robust character. It possesses a rich garnet colour, and a depth, complexity and opulence that is softened by an elegant, lingering aftertaste. The 1995 vintage produced grapes of surprising richness thanks to a summer season without water stress. This allowed for complete development of the polyphenols, while the cool August lengthened the overall maturation. Uncommon variations in temperature between night and day helped develop an exceptional bouquet. At first complex aromas of red fruit and licorice with a discrete hint of vanilla are evident however, a minute or two of patience is rewarded by aromas of coffee, hazelnut, and plum jam. Its softness is well balanced on the palate; it is silky and caressing, giving the sensation of fullness and tone. The long finish is marked by notes of spice and jamminess. (6 x 75 cl)