Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2017 (75cl, 14.5%)

A full-bodied red wine from Tuscany made entirely from Sangiovese. The 2017 vintage was shaped by a hot, dry growing season that reduced yields by 15–20%, and all fruit originally earmarked for the estate's Riserva Vigna Paganelli was folded into this bottling. Hand-harvested from the estate's oldest Sangiovese vines, the wine was fermented at controlled temperatures with a small percentage of seeds removed to curtail unripe tannins, then aged in French oak barrels. The nose shows blackberry preserves, plum, dried black cherry, underbrush, camphor, new leather, grilled herbs and campfire ash. The palate is silky and pliant, with rich red and black fruit, chalky minerals, allspice, tobacco and licorice, plus penetrating acidity and fine-grained tannins. The finish is medium-length and structured, with licorice, hard red candies and dried thyme.