2015 San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia DOCG, Tuscany

Produced from the original 30-year-old vines on the steepest Galestro soils. The thin, poor, but well-draining soil is mainly of calcareous and sandy limestone composition. Mineral-rich shale and sandstone formations, as well as marly limestone, are also present. The clayey component of the soil is enriched with fossil deposits. Vignavecchia spends 24 months in oak and at least 12 months in bottle prior to release. This wine displays Intense ruby red colour. The nose expresses notes of ripe red fruits, floral aromas of violets, forest undergrowth and finishes with pleasant hints of aromatic wood. In the mouth it is warm, with a dense texture and persistence. San Polo’s Brunello Vignavecchia is perfect for long aging and improves in the bottle, thanks to the characteristics of the land it comes from.

100 points James Suckling jamessuckling.com

Released in numbered bottles, the Poggio San Polo 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia is a true beauty with the elegance, distinctive intensity and savory sophisticated flavors that you only get in this storied appellation in the southern half of Tuscany. I tasted bottle number 1,390 of 1,500 total bottles released. With fruit from old vines, the wine is naturally denser and richer. This expression also shows more oak shadings, with pretty spice and smoke that frame the dark fruit. These various elements come together with impeccable precision and focus. I suggest giving this wine a few more years of cellar rest.

Marilisa Allegrini and the team at Poggio San Polo have decided to create three distinct identities for their Brunello wines. These are San Polo (with the red label), Podernovi (with the green label) and Vignavecchia (with the black label). The estate is now in its second year of conversion to organic farming

95 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia DOCG is a beautifully poised and expressive Brunello drawn from one of the estate’s most prized single vineyards. Vignavecchia sits on the eastern side of Montalcino at higher elevation, where galestro, clay and limestone soils combine with cooler nights to give Sangiovese remarkable perfume, structure and natural freshness. It is a site that produces Brunello with both power and finesse.

San Polo was established in the 1990s and quickly became known for meticulous vineyard work and a deep respect for terroir. Under the guidance of Stefano Rosi and a strong commitment to sustainable and organic farming, the estate has carved out a reputation for producing some of the most precise and age worthy Brunellos in the region. Vignavecchia represents the pinnacle of their work, made only from the best parcels of this special vineyard.

In the glass, the wine shows sour cherry, red plum and wild berries, layered with dried herbs, violet, tobacco and subtle spice. The palate is firm and finely structured, with bright acidity and elegant, persistent tannins carrying the flavours through a long, savoury finish. There is intensity here, but it is always balanced by clarity and poise.

This is a wonderful wine for the table. Braised beef, roast lamb, wild mushroom dishes, truffle pasta or aged pecorino all bring out its depth and Tuscan character.

San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Vignavecchia is built for the long term. In great vintages it will easily evolve for twenty to thirty years, gaining layers of earthy, leathery and savoury complexity as it matures. It is a serious, terroir driven Brunello that captures both the beauty of Montalcino and the quiet mastery of San Polo.