San Polo Amphora Vignamasso I.G.T 2020

$94 or $88 per bottle when you buy 6

Single vineyard sangiovese is whole bunch fermented in amphorae, with indigenous yeast and relatively minimal intervention. A four-month maceration period is followed by racking and 10-month maturation period prior to bottling.

A lively, energetic sangiovese with aromatic clarity and an element of ethereality. Wild strawberries and cherries lace nose along with more savoury notes of liquorice and earthy undergrowth. The medium-bodied palate strikes the balance between structure and finesse, making it incredibly approachable now but an equally apt prospect for later.

The San Polo vineyards were first planted in 1990, at one of the highest points on Montalcino’s southern slope. Elevation is key here: situated at 400-450 metres above sea level, the vines are well-placed for creating wines that typically exhibit more elegant, red-fruited characters and lower alcohol levels, while still retaining the tannic structure and unmistakable character of textbook Brunello di Montalcino. That the region’s flagship producer (Biondi Santi) is a mere two kilometres back towards town gives you an idea of just how special this site is.

 San Polo represents the Allegrini family’s second foray into Tuscan winegrowing and has gone from strength to strength since Marilisa Allegrini took over the estate in 2007. In 2013, it became the first Tuscan winery – and just the second in the world – to receive the CasaClimate sustainability certification, before commencing organic management in 2014. The estate became certified organic in 2017.

San Polo’s altitude paid dividends in 2017, a year of extremes. This Brunello di Montalcino exhibits the site’s hallmark characteristics of violets, red berries and earth, underpinned by coffee notes and an exceptionally long finish. Beautifully ripe tannins provide a glimpse into just how long this wine will live.