2007 Brunello di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is zesty and intense, with a bright bouquet of dried strawberries and minty herbs complicated by exotic spice. It’s energetic with an intense tart red berry and sour citrus core, further elevated by a wave of vibrant acidity. Still gently tannic and with a cheek puckering tension, the 2012 finishes long yet also quite fresh, leaving a tart cherry pit resonance to linger. While from a similarly warm vintage as 2011, yet a bit rainier, the 2012 maintains abundant energy and continues to mature slowly in bottle. (EG)
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
An intense but very balanced and delicate style. Medium body, with ripe and dried strawberry character, hints of cocoa and hints of vanilla. Pretty finish. This is a wine that you so want to drink thanks to its intensity and delicacy.
Palish medium red. Flamboyantly high-toned, candied aromas of red cherry, coffee, dried flowers, licorice and marzipan. Lush, sweet and perfumed in the mouth, with intense, high-toned flavors of raspberry, cherry, spices, rose petal and saline minerality. Finishes ripely tannic and very long. Very expressive already, with lovely framing acidity, but I'm not sure I'd want to bury this penetrating fruit bomb in the cellar.
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino wraps around the palate with dark red fruit, licorice, anise and sweet herbs. Silky tannins frame the fruit as the wine shows off its breadth and volume. This is a very representative 2007 Brunello with generous fruit and an open, accessible personality. I don’t see the 2007 being a super long-term ager, but I doubt that will be much of an issue considering how delicious the wine is today. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. Over the last decade or so, Poggio di Sotto has established itself as one of the cult producers in Montalcino. The wines have never been well-distributed in the US and are therefore nearly impossible to find, but insiders know Poggio di Sotto is the real deal. Last year Piero Palmucci sold the property to Claudio Tipa and promptly skipped town. Readers will recognize Tipa as the owner of Grattamacco and Colle Massari. The sale of the winery and the recent passing of long-time consultant Giulio Gambelli have created some uncertainty as to the direction of the wines in future vintages. Tipa told me he has every intention of keeping the house style intact. I am sure that is the case. But I also know that the Poggio di Sotto Rossi and Brunelli are intensely personal wines, and even with the very best intentions, it will be very hard to maintain the soul that made them so compelling. Winemaker Federico Staderini, who worked alongside Gambelli beginning with 2010, is now in charge. I can only wish Claudio Tipa and Staderini the very best with filling the void left by Palmucci and Gambelli. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
About the producer
There are few names in Brunello di Montalcino that rank higher than Poggio di Sotto. The estate's obsession with clonal quality, combined with its incredibly elegant winemaking style has garnered a loyal fanbase.