Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli 2012

Il Poggione is a Brunello superstar and a vintage like this reveals every reason why that affirmation is true. From the second the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino pours into the glass, you know you are in for something special. The wine is darkly saturated and rich in appearance. Absent are those slightly amber or browning hues you often get with Sangiovese in a hot vintage. Nor does the wine show flat or tired characteristics. Instead, the quality of fruit is vibrant and rich. This is a healthy, generous and exuberant Brunello with dark density and succulent fruit flavours that are followed by integrated spice and tobacco. The balance is impressive and one thing you get here is fresh acidity. This is not to be underestimated, because the acidity quota in the 2012 vintage across the appellation is not as high or evident as usual. This is one of the year's best Brunellos.

97 Points - James Suckling

Rather sweet due to the super-ripe vintage. But there's also great subtlety, enormous depth and a ton of tannin behind the opulence. The super long finish is incredibly focused. 

95 Points - Decanter   

The 2012 vintage was extremely dry in Montalcino, mostly on the southern side. Despite several clean, sound examples of the vintage, the finished product is often chalky and dry at the end. However, Vigna Paganelli benefitted from its old vines to produce one of the best 2012s of the entire appellation. It's meaty on the nose with some cherry notes, leaning towards an underlying blood orange aroma. There's also an overt oaky character which is still remarkably present, and a powerful, extracted palate with firm yet velvety tannins. Refreshing acidity balances the 15% alcohol. 

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Here's a beautifully rich and succulent Brunello that drinks very nicely straight out of the gate. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli delivers a warm, inviting and velvety presentation. This bold wine is redolent of black cherry and dried blackberry with sweet almond, toasted spice and balsam herb on the long finish. What stands out most, however, is the wine's rich texture that floods the mouth from front to back. That richness is fueled by the warmth of the vintage but also by the magnificent oak integration. This Riserva is aged in botti grandi for four long years. 

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast

Big, but polished, this full-bodied wine offers subtle, alluring aromas of baked plum, fragrant blue flower and pipe tobacco. The succulent, chewy palate brings juicy Morello cherry, raspberry jam and licorice tones framed in firm, velvety tannins. 

95 Points - Wine Spectator

Rich and evocative of cherry, currant, mineral, spice and tobacco flavours, this tightly knit red is harmonious and solidly built. Remains vibrant and persists on the mineral-inflected aftertaste. Fine length. 

93 Points - Vinous

Deep red. Sweet spices, ripe red cherry and licorice on the broad nose. Rich, ripe and suave, showing insidious sweetness to the red cherry and herbal flavours, this big wine is balanced enough to hide its 15% alcohol very well.