San Polino Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum 2015

The history of San Polino goes back at least 1,000 years to when the gravel road that runs down past the farmhouse constituted the main road which connected the area of the Monte Amiata to Siena. It could be that the farmstead of San Polino was founded as early as in the 10th century, following the Barbaric invasions which had forced the inhabitants of the Etruscan city of Roselle to seek refuge in the protective areas of the rich and powerful Abbey of Sant’Antimo.

Taking its name from an aromatic wild herb, San Polino Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum comes from the highest vineyards on the San Polino site. It is always elegant, opulent and structured.

97 Points - James Suckling

Ripe boysenberries, tar, chestnuts, orange peel, dried cherries and tobacco. There’s a beautiful interplay between the more subtle, citrus notes and darker red fruit, and nothing’s out of kilt to the ripeness. Lots of powerful tannins take the full-bodied palate by storm, coating the mouth in layers of intense but fragrant red fruit and steamrolling this Brunello to a long, chewy conclusion.

95 Points - Decanter

Helichrysum is crafted from San Polino's high-altitude vineyard in the southeast. With views towards Monte Amiata, it receives winds from the Sahara. The summer days are hot, giving mature sweet fruit with lots of structure, while the nights cool down substantially, helping to preserve heady perfumes. This is replete with fragrant florals, chamomile, thyme and fennel. It's quite brooding on the palate, the dense fruit framed by terracotta-like tannins. It boasts a long, succulent and saline finish.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of fragrant purple flower, new leather, underbrush and mature plum form the nose. The concentrated palate doles out blackberry jam, orange rind, licorice and tobacco framed in densely woven, close-grained tannins that leave a firm, drying finish.

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The San Polino 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum shows loads of dark fruit and depth. If the estate's other Brunello from this vintage (both of them 8,000-bottle yields) is all about the red fruit, the Helichrysum embraces black fruit aromas of prune and plum instead, giving the wine a heavier center of gravity, more determination and momentum. This warm vintage would make a fantastic pairing to the classic Tuscan bistecca alla Fiorentina.