Il Poggione is a Brunello superstar and a vintage like this reveals every reason why that affirmation is true. From the second the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino pours into the glass, you know you are in for something special. The wine is darkly saturated and rich in appearance. Absent are those slightly amber or browning hues you often get with Sangiovese in a hot vintage. Nor does the wine show flat or tired characteristics. Instead, the quality of fruit is vibrant and rich. This is a healthy, generous and exuberant Brunello with dark density and succulent fruit flavors that are followed by integrated spice and tobacco. The balance is impressive and one thing you get here is fresh acidity. This is not to be underestimated, because the acidity quota in the 2012 vintage across the appellation is not as high or evident as usual. This is one of the year's best Brunellos. - Wine Advocate #229, February 2017

This is the first sample tasted in this historic retrospective. The Il Poggione 2012 Brunello di Montalcino makes for a beautiful surprise and is a fitting preface to the older vintages to follow. The wine reveals nice tannic structure at the back with lots of spice and mature fruit layered over. The quality of the silky tannins stands out especially. There is dark richness and concentration with leather and tobacco. This vintage saw its challenges, mostly due to scorching summer heat and dry winds, but the wine is all pleasure at this point in its drinking evolution. In fact, this is sheer delight.

Good full red. Medicinal red cherry, raspberry, sweet spices and mint on the fresh, precise nose. Bright and sweet, with a penetrating, austere quality to its flavors of red fruits, minerals and medicinal herbs. Harmonious acidity nicely frames the pure, long, youthfully tight finish. Lovely young Brunello that will repay cellaring.

Sant'Angelo in Colle. Dark garnet. Intriguing mix of fresh veg and compost on the nose, plus a bit of charred meat. Round on the palate – already very suave, and very Brunello. Confident expression of the vintage’s combination of ripeness and freshness. (JR)

Tasted blind. Subtle, earthy cherry on the nose. Very backward yet elegant and almost lithe on the palate. Perfect balance, very poised and yet with a muscular structure. (WS)