Rosso di Montalcino
DOC
Rosso di Montalcino is a wine with its own unique identity and a strong personality. This wine’s style highlights the freshness and integrity of the Sangiovese from this terroir and balances intensity with an immediate appeal.
Climate trend
The winter was not particularly cold, and spring arrived slightly earlier than usual, with temperatures slightly above average, giving the vines’ shoots the opportunity to uniformly develop. The following weeks saw frequent rainfall, which allowed the land to build water reserves, alternating with periods of dry weather, enabling the vines to continue growing without any problems. The damp conditions during flowering led to the formation of bunches that were slightly more sparse than usual and with rather small berries, ideal preconditions for reaching harvest time with perfectly ripe and healthy grapes. However, the feature that will make vintage 2016 particularly memorable is the excellent temperature range that characterized the months of July, August and September, with sunny days and cool, breezy nights. We therefore reached the beginning of October with grapes that exhibited a superb combination of maturity, acidity and aromatic potential, perfect conditions for the production of wines with a distinct personality and a great balance of concentration, elegance and longevity; a perfect reflection of the production philosophy of San Polo.
Vintage rating
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Grape varieties
100% Sangiovese
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Vineyard
Vineyard Rossa and vineyard d'Oriente
Harvest
Grapes are hand harvested in small 17 kg crates during the last days of September
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Size
750 / Magnum
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Vinification
Soft pressing of the grapes after careful selection of the bunches
Ageing
12 months in lightly-toasted large barrels (2000 L and 4000 L). Bottle-aged before market release
Fermentation
In concrete tanks
Malolactic fermentation
In large barrels - 2000 L and 4000 L
Awards
Wine Spectator
There’s a lot of oak here for a Rosso di Montalcino with clove and spice character. But this actually rather adds to the complexity and depth of the nose, which also shows brambleberries and black raspberries. Full-bodied and quite chewy with a drying finish. A plush style. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast
The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a chiseled and fruit-driven wine that awakens and satisfies the palate. Although delicate and slender, the bouquet reveals fresh strawberry and blueberry aromas with light spice and potting soil. There is a fine touch of tannic structure that serves to hold the wine tightly together. - Monica Larner
Wine Advocate
COMMENTO CONCLUSIVO GUIDA 2021: Fra i migliori della denominazione già il Rosso di Montalcino 2018 di San Polo, i suoi Brunello svettano per limpidezza d'aroma e morbidezza gustativa. Note di valor viticolo ed enologico che il Brunello di Montalcino 2015 profonde con balsamica persistenza d'aroma, e che il Brunello di Montalcino Podernovi 2015 rivela con mirabile, vivida suadenza e con grande limpidezza olfattiva. Complimenti.
Jancis Robinson
Aromas of cocoa, sunbaked earth and toasted almond lead the way. It's ripe and chewy, with taut polished tannins that accompany juicy black cherry, raspberry and ground clove. Drink now through 2022. – Kerin O'Keefe
James Suckling
Dense dark red fruit aroma with dried herbal spice, firm structured palate.
Decanter Magazine
Good red color. Fresh, straightforward red cherry, herb, and gentle pepper aromas. Then firmer cherry and berry skin flavors are framed by dusty tannins and complicated by earth tones. The cherry note lingers on the refreshingly energetic finish. Made with organically grown grapes from the south-eastern section of Montalcino, this is a declassified Brunello. - Ian D'Agata
James Suckling
Dense dark red fruit aroma with dried herbal spice, firm structured palate.