IL POGGIONE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2003 Through the use of a rigorous selection process, winemaker Fabrizio Bindocci crafts the highest quality Brunello, made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes. Only the best fruit is hand-selected from the estate’s southern exposed prime vineyards at elevations of 150 to 400 meters from vines that are at least 20 years old. www.ilpoggione.it THE SCORES While the 2003 Il Poggione Brunello has not been rated yet, the last vintage made, 2001, got a W.S. score of 94. Parker recently did a tasting of past vintages. Here are the result: 1982 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 95 1985 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 93 1988 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 94 1990 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 94 1995 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 94 1997 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 93 1999 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 95 2001 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 95 “Il Poggione is one of Montalcino’s historic wineries. The estate, which is owned by the Franceschi family, traces its lineage back over 100 years. Leopoldo Franceschi was one of the founders of the Brunello producers’ consortium, the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, and also served as its first president. Today the Il Poggione is run by Franceschi’s grandson, also named Leopoldo. I recently had a chance to sit down with Winemaker Fabrizio Bindocci to survey an incredible collection of the estate’s older vintages. Bindocci has spent more than 25 years at Il Poggione and learned his craft during the years he worked alongside Piero Talenti, widely recognized as one the leading winemakers in Italy of his era. He is also the fourth generation of his family to work for the Franceschis at Il Poggione, insuring a level of continuity that is practically unheard of in today’s day and age. To say Bindocci lives, eats and breathes these wines with extraordinary passion would be a massive understatement. The man has Sangiovese running through his veins. Bindocci has recently been joined by his son Alessandro, a graduate of the University of Pisa, who is being groomed to lead the estate in the future. Il Poggione is located in Sant’Angelo in Colle, in a part of Montalcino known for its warm, yet well-ventilated micro-climate. In top vintages the wines are capable of extraordinary development in bottle. Even better, prices have remained very fair considering the quality of what is in the bottle.” Robert Parker |