Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.

Vinous (95)

A taster would never know that the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino hailed from a warm vintage, with its bright and airy bouquet that blends mentholated herbs with exotic spice, worn leather and dusty dried strawberries. This coasts across the palate with ease, zesty and fresh, with tart red berries and sour citrus tones that add tension, yet also maintains a marvelous vibrancy. While long and gently structured still, there’s a finesse here that keeps me looking back to the glass for more, as the 2012 leaves the mouth watering with a tart cherry pit twang. Production was down around 30% in 2012, with a strict selection in the vineyards and a much earlier harvest that ended around September 15th. While drinking this today is certainly an option, there are still many years of evolution in store.

Wine Advocate (96+)

From a cool growing season with above average rain, the Poggio di Sotto 2013 Brunello di Montalcino appears a bit timid and closed at this time. It shows delicate aromas, chalky tannins and a nice evolution; however, it remains on the shy side throughout. You feel the tension and the acidity of the fruit, and indeed, the promise of long cellar-aging potential is apparent. This vintage is very fine and vertical, and in many respects, 2013 is very close to the house style desired at Poggio di Sotto. Only one cask of the 2014 vintage was produced (botte number 14) because that season saw excessive humidity and soggy conditions.

Vinous (96)

Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine.

Falstaff (99)

Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.

Wine Advocate (97)

Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.

Falstaff (98)

Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a jeweled ruby color and has more concentration than the 2018, but it's going to need time to reach its full potential of complexity. Rich notes of kirsch, licorice, sapid herbs, and dark stones are followed by a medium to full-bodied red that's deep and rich through the palate, with ripe and noble tannins, a seamless feel, and a long-lasting finish. A profound wine and one of the best of the vintage, give it some time while drinking the 2018s and 2020s.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a jeweled ruby color and has more concentration than the 2018, but it's going to need time to reach its full potential of complexity. Rich notes of kirsch, licorice, sapid herbs, and dark stones are followed by a medium to full-bodied red that's deep and rich through the palate, with ripe and noble tannins, a seamless feel, and a long-lasting finish. A profound wine and one of the best of the vintage, give it some time while drinking the 2018s and 2020s.

Wine Advocate (98)

The Poggio di Sotto 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows extra muscle definition, power and heady layers of rich fruit. This is all in line with the personality of the vintage, which was sunny and warm with golden sunlight throughout the summer season. This wine stands out for its fine-gained texture, which is smooth and polished. This Riserva offers aromas of cherry and blackberry and shows the depth that you should expect of a classic Riserva bottling.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (99)

This excellent wine is slated to be released in January 2025. The Poggio di Sotto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a point of brilliant fruit over a medium-plus texture. The wine exhibits dusty tannins from the galestro-rich schistic soils that have a huge impact on the elegance and complexity of this exceptional and cellar-worthy Sangiovese. The palate salivates when you taste this wine. The bouquet is refined and bright with floral tones, red fruit and pencil shaving. Everything is in perfect form and balance. The 2019 vintage has the power and muscle for a long bottle evolution.

Vinous (92)

The 2017 Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino will need some time to fully open up. The nose is reticent, requiring quite a bit of coaxing, before a bouquet of fresh sweet strawberry, cherry, Tuscan spice box, dusty florals and hints of mint lift from the glass. On the palate, soft textures flood the senses, offset by tart red fruits, minerals and spice, as the 2018 seems to hover - well poised, almost weightless, yet still fully satisfying. The finish is long and very pretty, as fresh red fruits resonate above a tactile mix of acid, minerals and light tannin, giving way to a singular red floral note that seems to go on for minutes.

Wine Advocate (95)

This wine has more in common with a Brunello than it does a Rosso. Made with certified-organic fruit, Poggio di Sotto's 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a very fine and smooth expression that caresses the senses. The bouquet is enlivened by forest berry, peat moss, lilac and wildflowers. The 2018 vintage is usually understated in personality, but this wine speaks of elegance and nuance. It's just stunning.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

Pouring a jeweled ruby color, the 2021 Rosso Di Montalcino offers up more compact aromas of black raspberries, wet stones, violets, and sweet earth. It's medium-bodied but has good extract and richness in this vintage, with ripe, structured tannins and a long finish. A rich vintage for this wine, it's going to have some real aging potential and drink well over the next 15 years.

Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity.

Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure.

With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition.

James Suckling (99)

A really exotic nose with so much dried herb character, ranging from thyme and sage to Thai basil. Then there’s more familiar and equally appealing dark blackcurrants, crushed stones and lavender. Full body with very refined tannins that both coat and caress the palate. A long, chewy finish. Drink in 2022.

James Suckling (97)

What a crazy nose of pure fruit, featuring pressed violets, lavender, dark plums, cherry compote, orange rind, lemon zest, boysenberries, vanilla, Thai basil and bay leaf. The fruit is so overt and generous, yet presented in an unimaginably sleek way, the firm tannins keeping it compact and silky throughout, while the tangy acidity cuts right through to the long, structured finish. Drink in 2023.

James Suckling (97)

What a crazy nose of pure fruit, featuring pressed violets, lavender, dark plums, cherry compote, orange rind, lemon zest, boysenberries, vanilla, Thai basil and bay leaf. The fruit is so overt and generous, yet presented in an unimaginably sleek way, the firm tannins keeping it compact and silky throughout, while the tangy acidity cuts right through to the long, structured finish. Drink in 2023.

James Suckling (95)

This is really fine and balanced with beautifully polished, silky tannins and an impressive depth of fruit. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Superb as always. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (95)

Wonderful aromas of sour cherries and orange peel follow through to a full body with layered tannins that are creamy and juicy. Intense finish with excellent structure. Give this time to soften and come more together. Drink after 2024.

Wine Advocate (95)

Great elegance and finesse already on the perfectly brilliant and aromatic nose shows Pol Roger's 2008 Blanc de Blancs Brut, displaying white and stewed apples with fine citrus flavors and discreet chalky aromas. The palate is dense and citric, as if limes and lemons are squeezed on a chalky rock. The purity, power and intensity is as remarkable, as is the finesse and persistence of the bubbles, the mousse on the palate and the long, persistent finish. Dosed with seven grams per liter, this extraordinary Blanc de Blanc Brut tastes drier than the Réserve Brut, but reveals a perfect ripeness of yellow fruits. The finish is lovely aromatic and intense, but also clear, fresh, firm and absolutely stimulating. This is a great Blanc de Blancs from the Grand Cru villages of Oiry, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize and Oger.

Decanter (93)

Richly biscuity on the nose, with steamed rice, fresh pear and citrus blossom complexity. Creamy mousse dissolves into red apple peel, lemon and stone fruits, with a depth of honeyed biscuits. The Reserve NV from Pol Roger is a blend of base wines from at least three vintages. With 6 months of post-disgorgement ageing, the wine is ready to enjoy now.

Jeb Dunnuck (95)

Made from 60% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, with 15% red wine from Les Riceys, the 2018 Champagne Vintage Brut Rosé pours a bright but deeper shade of pink with an orange hue and is forward with aromas of ripe raspberry, rose petal, orange peel, and a hint of spice. Medium to full-bodied, it has broad shoulders and a bit of tannic grip, with a fine mousse that fades to the background, allowing the wine's more serious side to show off its style. Chalky and powerful on the palate, with wonderful clarity and a long finish, it’s going to move into its more savory side with another couple of years in the cellar. It will pair well alongside roast duck and through the end of a meal. Drink 2025-2045.

James Suckling (97)

This is a deep and profound 2002 with such fine bubbles that have the texture of fine silk. Full body. Extremely dense and compact. Just rolls over your palate. Superb quality and satisfaction, after all this time. Drink now.

Wine Advocate (94)

Pol Roger's just-released 2013 Brut Vintage is a beautifully chiseled, incisive wine that will appeal immensely to purists. Unwinding in the glass with scents of citrus zest, white flowers, crushed chalk and hints of fresh sourdoughs, it's medium to full-bodied, racy and precise, with a nicely concentrated and tightly wound core, tangy acids and an elegant pinpoint mousse. After the rich, muscular 2012 vintage, the 2013 represents quite a contrast; I'm not sure we'll see its stylistic like again for some time, so readers with classically inclined palates will want to stock up—advice I'll be following myself.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

With its gold color and mature, toasty flavors, this is possibly the greatest Winston Churchill ever. It has weight and richness, with a dense, full and rich texture. It's in perfect balance, bringing together maturity and crisper apple and green plum fruit flavors that are cut with lemon. A mineral edge gives a nervy character that will allow this magnificent wine to age further.

Jancis Robinson (19)

Tasted blind. Mytik cork. Deep gold. Deep and rich on the nose and very appealing. Tightly laced with a tiny bead. Some savoury notes with a suggestion of gunflint. Real race and pace.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

This is the latest release of this legendary wine. A blend, although with a majority of Pinot Noir (Churchill's preference), the wine is rich, just beginning to show wonderful signs of maturity. It still has intense fruit along with the taut mineral texture that will allow the wine to age further. It is a standout Champagne from this vintage. Drink now, although this Champagne will age for many years.