Our Wine Of The Week is 2007 San Polino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, a full-bodied Sangiovese from one of Tuscany’s premier regions. When we accumulate a few bottles of wine in our cellars, refrigerators or bedroom closets, we often have one or two we value higher than the others. Maybe it’s our favorite because the wine is of substantial quality, it was a special gift from a valued friend, or maybe it was acquired at a special place or event. This special bottle was purchased at the Enoteca di Piazza in Montalcino in 2015 and shipped home in one of two mixed cases I purchased that day.

By law, Brunello di Montalcino wines age four years before release. It’s common to hold them ten years after that, unless you find yourself with a Rosso di Montalcino that is intended to be sipped relatively young. This San Polino went the distance at 14 years and opened up after a few hours of post-cork exposure. Deep cherry with a little pepper in the classic style the region is famous for producing. Alcohol is 14.5%. This is a hard wine to find today in the US, if available it sells around $100 to $130.

San Polino produces several variations of Brunello di Montalcino and a Rosso di Montalcino, most recent vintages retail $60 to $80. The producer’s distinctive logo comes from an 800 year old etching of the sun associated with the Etruscan sun goddess Catha.

Current travel restrictions may make booking winery tastings difficult if you plan to visit Italy soon. Most wine shops (enoteca) in the village of Montalcino stock a wide range of local and regional wines and can be a great place to experience a comprehensive tasting of the area. Enoteca di Piazza staff speak most European languages and provides shipping to the US.

Cheers!

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