Poggio Landi Brunello di Montalcino 2021

Poggio Landi Brunello 2021, the patience of Sangiovese

In this Brunello di Montalcino 2021, I first note the time given to the wine: thirty-eight months in French oak barrels, then six months in bottle. Made from Sangiovese and grown organically, it is for those who love characterful reds, built around a broad body and tannins that give it backbone.

Montalcino, its hillsides and its appellation

Poggio Landi is located in Montalcino, in the province of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. The vineyards selected for this Brunello are spread across different areas of the village, between 174 and 500 meters above sea level. The vineyard landscape combines limestone, marl and stony soils; the climate is described as Mediterranean, hot and rather dry, with rain falling mainly in spring and autumn. These conditions favor concentrated and balanced grape clusters, according to the estate's description.

Brunello di Montalcino is made from Sangiovese, the traditional grape of the DOCG appellation. Vinification follows a classic approach: natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks, then aging in French oak barrels. The thirty-eight months in wood exceed the regulatory minimum of twenty-four months; the six months in bottle complete the path indicated for this vintage. Here, aging is not a detail: it places the wine in a structured style, where the fruit of the Sangiovese is accompanied by the time spent in wood.

For tasting, the available information describes an ample, well-structured red, with tannins that provide structure. The data sheet does not specify the color of the wine or any particular aromas, so I prefer not to attribute notes of cherry, spice or undergrowth that are not documented. What can be expected with greater certainty is a wine for meals, shaped by a robust grape and extended aging, rather than a light red to open without thinking. I would serve it while taking the time to let it express itself in the glass.

At the table, with dishes of character

I readily picture it alongside red meat, game or aged cheeses, pairings consistent with its structure. It can also accompany a risotto, pasta or a rice dish, as the pairings suggested for this Brunello indicate. For an evening when the meal deserves to linger, serve it with flavorful cooking and give it time to find its place at the table. If you are looking for an organic Sangiovese from Montalcino, aged long in barrel and then in bottle, Poggio Landi 2021 is worth considering.