2019 saw a cold winter with some snow, but rarely sub-zero temperatures. When spring came it gave a dry March and adequate rain in April and May. Warm dry conditions throughout summer were nourished by some rainfall in early September, with a gentle warm September leading to a beautiful harvest marked by an abundance of fruit, approachable style and captivating finesse.
17.5 points – Jancis Robinson “Dark ruby with bricky rim. Deep, alluring cherry nose with exotic spice hints. Sinewy and long with juicy cherry fruit that just starts to unfurl and fine-ground, coating tannins. Great balance but still needs to settle, so wait.” (Walter Speller)
96 points – James Suckling “Intense aromas of black cherries, black truffle, orange peel and Indian spices. The palate is full yet reserved, with very fine tannins that fly linear and deep in the wine. Caressing texture. Reserved at the end. A real beauty. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2027”.
93 points, Michaela Morris, Decanter "From San Polino’s holdings in the northeast on loamy clay soil. Exuberantly youthful and becoming, the 2019 rings out with violet and oily balsamic herbs. It gives a midweight impression – yet is packed with brambly fruit. An orange peel flourish is heightened by zesty acidity. And as this opens, savoury iron depths are revealed. Promising but needs to come together. Solid, clayey tannins clamp down on the finish."
92 pts, Eric Guido, Vinous. November 2023. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino wafts up with a dusty blend of dried flowers and strawberries enhanced by lemon oil touches. This is racy and sleek with cooling acidity and vividly ripe wild berry fruits lifted by orange and cedary spice. Its acidity wins the day, maintaining amazing freshness despite the grippy tannins that resonate throughout. The 2019 finishes long and staining with a pretty air of inner violet flowers that linger. San Polino continues to raise the bar; this is lovely.
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2036
The much heralded 2019 vintage shows San Polino at its best, capturing a complete reflection of the biodiversity of their terroir on their biodynamically farmed vineyards northwest of Montalcino. Luigi Fabbro and Katia Nussbaum’s wines are praised by peers and critics alike, for having incredible clarity and purity of fruit unequaled in the region, and particularly evident in a vintage of this quality.
Using a variety of organic agricultural techniques, they farm 8 hectares of Sangiovese vineyards which lie on 3 different plots at 450, 350 and 250 metres in altitude to the north of Montalcino. The geology and soils of the vineyards vary from late Miocene to early Pliocine, from ancient sea beds to volcanic soils. Limey shale, clay, sandy loam, mineral rocks are all found in different proportions in the different vineyards ; and each soil type and altitude tells its story in the characteristics and personality of the grapes and wine. They have an holistic approach to viticulture believing that they must respect and encourage all biodiversity possible in the vineyard, as the larger the pool of diversity, the greater possibility for natural pest control and the healthier the grapes. To fertilise the fields they produce their own compost using the stalks of the grape bunches, the pressed grape skins, all the green cuttings, from grass to prunings and animal dung. Grasses and beans are planted to add nitrogen and nutrients to the soil.
The resulting wines have been gaining incredible momentum in the market and are comfortably considered in the top tier of Brunello producers thanks to the meticulous attention to detail in Katia and Luigi’s work. We are very excited to share this very special vintage with you.
Available in May 2024
