Il Poggione’s 2005 Rosso di Montalcino is a lovely, feminine wine redolent of crushed flowers, raspberries and spices. It shows notable clarity and freshness in a mid-weight, classic style. Normally I prefer Rossos on the younger side but this wine has enough freshness and acidity to drink well for at least another decade. A recent tasting of the 1985, 1990 and 1995 found all three wines in great shape, not to mention that they were sublime. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020. Few classically-minded producers have been as successful as Il Poggione in giving their wines a moderate dose of modern aromas, flavors and textures without essentially compromising what is still a fairly traditional approach to winemaking. Today the wines are made with the submerged cap method. Malolactic fermentation takes place in stainless steel after which the wines are racked into 33- and 52-hectoliter French oak barrels where they age for three years. A recent tasting of the estate’s wines back to 1967 showed the extraordinary capacity they have to improve with age. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Straightforward, with berry and cedar character. Medium body with tangy flavors. Drink now. 12,500 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Rosso di Montalcino Select to Add