IL Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2016

VM 97 / JD 96 / WS 96 / Decanter 95 / WA 95 pts

97 points Vinous
I’m not sure how Il Poggione manages to remain one of the largest producers of Brunello, maintaining such a high level of quality and turning out some of the best wines of the vintage year after year – but they do. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is yet another stunning example. Depths of mineral-encased black cherries, sage, allspice, licorice, tobacco and crushed violets lift up from the glass. It’s seamlessly silky, even as the palate is peppered with tart red and black berries, nervous acids and savory exotic spices. This shows the density and weight of the vintage in a youthfully monolithic stance, yet with all the necessary components to maintain perfect balance. The 2016 Il Poggione seems to fold in upon itself through the finish, which is dark, mysterious and structured, with only hints of black tea and licorice to tempt the imagination. It’s a classic in the making.

96 points Jeb Dunnuck
Located in Sant’Angelo in Colle, the 2016 Brunello was aged for over 30 months in large French oak. The nose is exuberant with confectionary aromatics of kirsch, sweet herbs and lavender. The palate is energetic and fresh, with bright cherry fruit and oolong tea. This is a polished style with focus and clarity that lends itself to enjoyment in drinking these now, though this will not be one that tires easily.

96 points Wine Spectator
This Brunello leads with black cherry, black currant and violet aromas, augmented by flavors of iron, tobacco and spice. Dusty tannins emerge on the lingering finish, while the sweet fruit persists. Should be compelling in a decade.

95 points Decanter
Among Montalcino’s largest estates, Il Poggione continues to impress in 2016 under father and son winemaking duo, Fabrizio and Alessandro Bindocci. The wine wears its warm, southwestern origins assuredly on its sleeve, exhibiting dark bramble fruit intertwined with baked thyme and rosemary, fragrant wet earth and leather. It is weighty but not weighed down, and sports the grip and zip of the vintage, the lingering finish full of tobacco and spice.

95 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The Il Poggione 2016 Brunello di Montalcino opens to a medium dark appearance with pretty Sangiovese shine and a little ruby sparkle. This vintage shows a slightly untamed or wild side with a dense and heavier fruit profile. The focus here is on blackberry, dried cherry, tobacco and even a touch of smoky tobacco or horse saddle. The wine shows the firm grip and tannic backbone that is a common trait in this vintage, especially with the vineyards on this southern, sunlit side of the appellation. I also get a considerable flash of acidity on the close, almost too much, that certainly needs a few more years to soften. You really need to wait with this one.