POGGIO SAN POLO Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 This property was bought and established as a rising star in Montalcino by Silvia Fertonani and her husband Mario Calzolari. Poggio San Polo won a double Gold Medal at the 2004 International Wine Challenge and the 1999 Brunello was awarded the Sangiovese trophy. The estate was sold in 2006 to Marilisa Allegrini, who is investing heavily in the wines and has brought in winemaker Nicola Biasi to build on the already impressive levels of quality. The estate covers 22 hectares of which 16 are planted with vines. Poggio San Polo‘s vineyards cover approximately 8 hectares planted between 1990 and 2000. They are situated at an altitude of 480 metres above sea level, facing south-southwest, on chalky, clay soils. The average age of the vines is 5-15 years and they are spur-cordon trained with a density of 7000 plants per hectare. The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is made in exceptional vintages from the best grapes grown in the estate‘s oldest vineyards planted in 1990. 2004 was immediately considered one of the best ever in Montalcino, with an extraordinary official rating of 5/5 star. Good rainfall in the spring ensured the water reserves in the soil were sufficient to withstand the long, hot summer which followed. Dry, sunny days and cool nights created the perfect conditions and the grapes were hand-picked in the first week of October with yields of 34 hl/ha. The grapes were hand picked into 17kg boxes in the first week of October. After gentle pressing, fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with temperatures reaching a maximum of 28-30°C, with a long maceration on the skins lasting 23 days for the Riserva. The wine was aged in French and Slovenian oak barriques (225-300 litre capacity) for a period of 24 months, followed by at least 12 months in bottle before release. Deep coloured and intensely perfumed, the 2004 Riserva has aromas of violets and small red berries, with a hint of spice and coffee. On the palate, it is powerful and restrained, with a tightly-knit structure of mature fruit, supple but evident tannins and good acidity. Long and powerful, with perfumes of spiced berries on the finish. Vintage 2004 Grape varieties 100% Sangiovese Region Montalcino Winemaker Nicola Biasi Closure Cork Alcohol (ABV) 14.85% Acidity 5.67g/l Residual Sugar 1.1g/l Wine pH 3.43 Find this wine at www.winestore.co.uk Price: £67.00 (Including VAT at 20%)