Bright ruby-red. Very forward but enticing aromas of peach nectar, apricot eau-de-vie and peony. Enters bright and juicy, with a strong saline nuance to the lively red berry and floral flavors, then becomes more taut and linear. Finishes long with youthful but noble tannins and noteworthy peppery bite.

Showing a thick, velvety texture and more aggressive tannins, the Poggio di Sotto 2012 Brunello di Montalcino comes from a dry and hot growing season. The vintage saw lower yields as a result. The bouquet is more compact and harder too, with dark berry fruits, earth, medicinal herb and crushed stone. Both the 2012 and the 2011 vintages share similarities. But I thought the 2011 vintage was a little bit more interesting compared to this wine. Poggio di Sotto pulled leaves in 2012 and in the 2017 vintage, and this turned out to be a mistake because both vintages were quite hot and the ripening fruit remained exposed to the strong sunlight. That mistake was not made in 2015.

Castelnuovo dell'Abate. Very pale crimson with some blue. Unusual spicy nose. Edgy acidity on the end. Bitter cherries. Rather confidently going its own way. Much fresher and lighter than most. (JR)