Il Poggione 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Vigna Paganelli

The wines of Il Poggione are a benchmark for Brunello di Montacino. This Riserva is sourced entirely from their single Vigna Paganelli vineyard and is vinted only in the best vintages and is the pinnacle of their production.

This  2012 has received  outstanding accolades. Including 95 points from the Wine Advocate who said "Here's a beautifully rich and succulent Brunello that drinks very nicely straight out of the gate. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli delivers a warm, inviting and velvety presentation. This bold wine is redolent of black cherry and dried blackberry with sweet almond, toasted spice and balsam herb on the long finish. What stands out most, however, is the wine's rich texture that floods the mouth from front to back. That richness is fueled by the warmth of the vintage but also by the magnificent oak integration. This Riserva is aged in botti grandi for four long years."

95 points from the Wine Spectator who said "Rich and evocative of cherry, currant, mineral, spice and tobacco flavors, this tightly knit red is harmonious and solidly built. Remains vibrant and persists on the mineral-inflected aftertaste. Fine length. Best from 2023 through 2038."

96 points from Decanter Magazine who said "Only produced in the best vintages, Vigna Paganelli is a 12ha single vineyard planted in 1964. It represents the estate's oldest vines, which serve as a source for clonal material for new plantings. The nose seduces with exotic spice, rosemary, pepper and tobacco. Though all the elements are deftly balanced, the palate is still somewhat austere, locked in a firm, tannic grip. Lingering leather and dark cherry notes promise more to come, and this demands ageing."

and 97 points from James Suckling who said "Rather sweet due to the super ripe vintage. But there's also great subtlety, enormous depth and a ton of tannin behind the opulence. The super long finish is incredibly focused. Try to wait until at least 2020. This stunning Brunello has decades of life ahead of it."