Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (2015)

About this wine

The 2015 Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva from Castello Banfi offers a complex bouquet of forest floor, new leather, pipe tobacco, violet, and coffee bean aromas. On the palate, it presents ripe black cherry, blackberry jam, licorice, and a hint of espresso, supported by polished, fine-grained tannins and tangy acidity. This wine is known for its elegant structure and age-worthy potential, with a recommended drinking window starting from 2025 through 2045. The 2015 vintage was particularly favorable, contributing to the wine's depth and complexity. Castello Banfi's meticulous vineyard management and winemaking techniques have resulted in a Brunello that exemplifies the best of Montalcino's terroir.

About the grape

Sangiovese, whose name translates to "blood of Jove," is a red grape variety deeply rooted in Italy's winemaking history, particularly in Tuscany. In the Montalcino region, a unique clone known as Sangiovese Grosso, or "Brunello," has been cultivated to produce Brunello di Montalcino wines. This clone thrives in Montalcino's diverse soils and favorable climate, allowing the grapes to ripen fully and consistently. The 2015 Castello Banfi Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is crafted exclusively from this Sangiovese Grosso clone, showcasing the grape's adaptability and the region's commitment to producing high-quality, age-worthy wines.

Quick facts

• 🏞️ The name 'Poggio all'Oro' translates to 'Golden Knoll,' reflecting the vineyard's prime location on the southern slopes of Montalcino, Italy.
• 🌟 This wine is produced exclusively in exceptional vintages, ensuring each bottle represents the highest quality of the harvest.
• 🏆 The 2015 vintage received high praise, including a 96-point rating from Wine Enthusiast, highlighting its exceptional quality.
• 🛢️ Aged for at least five years before release, with a minimum of two and a half years in French oak barriques, this wine develops a complex and refined character.
• 🪨 The vineyard's soil is fine lime topsoil, very calcareous and rocky, contributing to the wine's unique flavor profile.

Palate profile

Producer

Castello Banfi, located in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, was founded in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani. They transformed the historic Poggio alle Mura castle into a state-of-the-art winery, pioneering research on Sangiovese clones to enhance Brunello di Montalcino production. The estate spans approximately 2,830 hectares, with about one-third dedicated to vineyards, and the remainder comprising olive groves, fruit trees, and forests. Notably, in 2007, the fossilized remains of a Pliocene-era whale, estimated to be around 4 million years old, were discovered on the property, highlighting the region's rich geological history.