Avignonesi Poggetto di Sopra Nobile di Montepulciano 2020

Avignonesi Poggetto di Sopra, the imprint of Sangiovese

In this Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2020, everything starts from a specific plot: Poggetto di Sopra, planted in 1978. I like how this tells the story of Montepulciano through a singular place rather than a simple label. The Sangiovese gives a red aged in barrel, organic and vegan, whose tension is described as delicate as it is intense. A bottle to choose if you want to approach the terroir with precision, without losing sight of the pleasure of the table.

A plot in Montepulciano, at Avignonesi

Avignonesi is based in Montepulciano, in Tuscany, and is one of the six estates grouped in the "Alliance Noble", an initiative aimed at promoting the region's quality wines. Avignonesi's winemaking project dates back to the 1970s; it gained new momentum in 2009 under the leadership of Virginie Saverys, with a firm commitment to biodynamic viticulture. The estate is presented as the largest biodynamic winery in Italy. For this cuvée, the facts are more circumscribed: the wine is certified organic and vegan, and comes from a single plot of Sangiovese.

At Poggetto di Sopra, the vines are rooted in alkaline clay soils, rich in silt, limestone and prehistoric marine sediments. The grapes are harvested and hand-selected at optimal ripeness. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, with skin maceration lasting up to 28 days; the wine then ages for 24 months in oak barrels. The available notes do not detail the color or specific aromas, so I prefer not to attribute imagined nuances to it. They do, however, highlight a beautiful tension, both delicate and intense. On an indicative scale, the wine leans toward the spicy side, marked by wood and endowed with a certain body. It scored 94/100 from James Suckling.

At the table, with robust flavors

I would serve it with game, red meat or a characterful charcuterie, pairings suggested for this cuvée and well suited to its extended aging. Aged cheeses offer another option, especially if you want to extend the meal around the table rather than seek a formal occasion. The Sangiovese and the 24 months of oak invite generous cooking, without the need to complicate the plate. If you are curious about Tuscan wines linked to a plot and its soil, this 2020 Poggetto di Sopra deserves a place in your selection: a bottle to open for a shared dinner, taking the time to follow its balance between intensity and delicacy.