A First Look at Poggio di Sotto’s 30th Vintage
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021

With the 2021 harvest, Poggio di Sotto (link) celebrates thirty years of Brunello di Montalcino.

The debut vintage – 1991 – marked the beginning of a journey devoted to listening to and enhancing the expression of Sangiovese in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, one of the most suitable areas of the appellation. The 2021 vintage reaffirms the estate’s essential, rigorous style, offering a clear interpretation of the vintage’s delicate balance between ripeness and tension.  Shaped by a growing season of marked personality, Brunello di Montalcino 2021 captures the identity of a unique terroir – a mosaic of clay and galestro soils interwoven with a genetic heritage of over 180 Sangiovese biotypes.

The 2021 Harvest – Energy, Structure, and Tension

The 2021 vintage was dynamic and complex, alternating spring frosts, intense summer heat, and a rainier-than-average end of August.
This sequence allowed for a gradual and complete ripening of the grapes, preserving integrity and aromatic freshness.

Harvest began on 10 September and concluded on 4 October, following Poggio di Sotto’s customary parcel-based approach to respect the diversity of microclimates, with rigorous selection in the vineyard.

“2021 was a year of great density and tension on the palate,” explains winemaker Leonardo Berti. “The wines show a firm tannic texture supported by vibrant acidity, which ensures precision and longevity. This is a Brunello that combines structure and finesse – a true reflection of our clay-rich, galestro-based soils. On the nose, red fruits and dried flowers mingle with citrus and balsamic notes; the palate is deep and taut, with a saline, iron-tinged finish of remarkable persistence.”

Terroir, Vinification and Ageing

The Poggio di Sotto estate, located in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, spans 48 hectares – 20 of which are under vine – at altitudes ranging from 190 to 440 meters above sea level. Sheltered by Mount Amiata, the vineyards benefit from strong diurnal temperature shifts and constant winds, fostering healthy fruit and balanced ripening.

Soils alternate between white and red clays, galestro, and grey marls, forming a geologically complex landscape. This diversity is enhanced by the vineyard’s clonal biodiversity: 182 Sangiovese biotypes, identified and studied in collaboration with the University of Florence, constitute a living archive of the grape’s genetic memory.

The grapes, from vineyards with an average age of 25 years, are hand-harvested at naturally low yields.
Fermentation takes place in wooden and concrete vats, with extended macerations and aerated pump-overs, a hallmark of Poggio di Sotto’s winemaking approach that allows for a gradual and harmonious extraction of phenolic components.
The wine then ages for 36 months in 30-hectolitre Slavonian oak casks, before bottling in April 2025.

Poggio di Sotto – Thirty Years of Brunello

Founded in 1989 and part of the ColleMassari Wine Estates, Poggio di Sotto focuses exclusively on Sangiovese.
Its first Brunello vintage, 1991, marked the beginning of a journey defined by precision in the vineyard and sensitivity in the cellar – values upheld with unflinching discipline over time.

Since 2012, Poggio di Sotto has pursued a clonal research and massal selection program in partnership with the University of Florence, aimed at safeguarding and enhancing the Sangiovese biotypes present in its vineyards.

Over three decades, Poggio di Sotto’s Brunello has established a style defined by balance, depth, and longevity.

A Celebratory Release – To mark the 30th vintage of Brunello di Montalcino (1991–2021), the wine will feature a special commemorative label, elegantly finished with hot-foil gold embossing – a discreet tribute to the continuity of a winemaking project that has remained true to its principles for over three decades.