2003 Poggio Antico Rosso di Montalcino

Poggio Antico is in the Tuscan appellation of Montalcino. The estate dates to the 19th century, but in 1984 it was purchased by a couple from Milan and today it is run by their daughter, Paola Gloder Montefiori and her husband Alberto Montefiori. About 80 acres of the 500-acre estate are vineyards, and at 1,476 feet above sea level, Poggio Antico is one of the highest altitude producers of Brunello. Most of the vineyards are planted to Sangiovese with a few acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, used to make the estate’s super Tuscan blend called Madre. The estate’s signature wines are its Brunello di Montalcinos, which have regularly earned Gambero Rosso’s top award of 3 Bicchieri. Wine Advocate has awarded the estate’s wines scores in the mid-90s, and notes that “Poggio Antico is one of Montalcino’s most consistent producers. The wines are made in a rich, fruit-driven style.”

Rosso di Montalcino is a DOC than encompasses the exact same area as the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, the difference being that Rosso de Montalcinos require only one year of aging. Located in south central Tuscany below Chianti, the wines of Montalcino, both the DOC and the DOCG, are made of a Sangiovese clone called “brunello,” which means “little dark one,” a reference to the brown tones in the skin of the grape. Unlike some Tuscan appellations that allow other grapes to be blended with Sangiovese, appellation status Montalcinos are entirely Sangiovese. Montalcino itself is a picturesque, hill-top town not especially well known for wine production until the mid-19th century, when a local vineyard owner isolated the brunello clone and planted it. Other growers followed suit. Nevertheless it wasn’t until 1970s that wine enthusiasts started paying attention to Brunello di Montalcino, which by then was becoming an outstanding wine. Today there are 120 estates in the DOCG, up from about 25 estates in 1975.

This red grape is largely grown in central Italy. As the sole component or in a blend, it gives us Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino and Super Tuscans, among other favorites wines. The name is derived from the Latin for “blood of Jove.”