A dark and brooding Brunello with lots of blackberry and blueberry character. Full body, a wealth of fruit and a flavourful finish. Kir-like. Made from biodinamically grown grapes.

A wonderful expression of Brunello with orange rind, citrus and red cherries, but there's also an overlay of riper, roasted herbs and incense. Medium to full body, ripe but very structured tannins and a very flavorful palate with lots of dried nutmeg and spice undertones. Everything is where it should be, in balance.

Tasted blind. Mid to deep ruby. A nose that is still a little closed on the fruit but with lots of interest. Minerally notes. Slow to reveal itself on the palatte, too. At this stage more savoury than fruity, but it is brooding and the fruit needs time to come out. Sensationally balanced.

A 2011 with plenty of ripe fruit and spices. Chocolate-covered-cherry character too. Lovely pure fruit here. Full-bodied, chewy, round and savory. Better in 2018.

 Attractive aromas of cherry, dark mushroom, bark and walnut follow through to a full body with lots of ripe cherry and berry character in the center palate. Firm, chewy tannins draw you down the palate. Extremely long. Drink after 2023 and onwards.

[Susan Hulme] The San Polino estate lies directly to the south of the town of Montalcino in one of the original growing zones for Brunello. Winemaker and owner, Luigi Fabbro originally from Friuli and his English wife Katia have always made a friendly, fruity, enjoyable stye of Brunello but in recent vintages their wines are getting better than ever. The 2018 San Polino Brunello shows very good fruit concentration and well-integrated oak. Aromas of woodsmoke, cream, and sweet spice are gently wrapped around ripe, dark cherry fruit. On the palate this Brunello has all the firmness and assertiveness of all that you could wish for but the tannins are refined and harmonious and the wine is delivered with plenty of appealing aromatics and charm.

 Phenomenal nose of perfectly ripe sangiovese with an aroma of raspberries and other berries that goes on for minutes. Full body with a fabulous purity of fruit, and a fresh, fruity finish. I love the purity of fruit here. Wow. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Very complex aromas of ripe fruits with hints of leather and spices. Full body, with very fine tannins and a silky finish. The polished texture of the tannins is impressive for the vintage. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Ash and spices, with hints of plums and dark fruits. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and lots of wood. Impressive intensity of ripe and balanced fruit. 

I like the nose of crushed berries, flowers and black licorice. Full bodied, with a dense palate of ultra fine tannins. It’s all there and just making me happy. Best after 2014.

Made with organically grown Sangiovese and fermented with wild yeasts, this fragrant, earthy red has intense aromas of rose petal, forest floor, new leather, woodland berry and balsamic whiffs of camphor. Full bodied and savory, the palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, blood orange, licorice and tobacco alongside bright acidity and a backbone of noble tannins. It's still youthfully austere, with great aging potential. Drink 2026–2046.

Lustrous mid ruby. Brooding cherry fruit with top notes of spice, minerals and a hint of soy sauce. Gorgeous mouth-filling fruit with fantastic firm, chewy tannins. Succulent, perfumed raspberry notes on a gripping, tactile finish. Fantastic balance. (WS)

Brunello that shows the ripeness of the vintage. At the same time the rich plum and cherry character is buttressed with bright acidity and dusty tannins. It’s chewy yet polished. Fresh at the end. Drink in 2023 and onwards. From organically grown grapes.

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. (WS)

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.

This has a gorgeous nose of rosemary, tobacco smoke, cherry stones, raspberries, peaches, cinnamon stick and five spice. Layered and seductive, with a full body and firm, very fine tannins. Persistent firmness and focus. From organically grown grapes. Try this in 2024.

Lustrous ruby. Sour cherry, raspberry, pine and iron hints, but still rather subdued on the nose. Pure and focused on the palate and with proper concentration to it. Great balance and with rustic tannic bite on the finish. Can be approached now, but much more is to come. (WS)

Balsamic aromas of camphor and pine forest mingle with truffle and plum cake on the fragrant 2019 Brunello from San Polino. It’s also delicious, with flavors of raspberry tart, plum cake, cinnamon and nutmeg accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins that lend seamless support. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced.

Medium ruby red in colour. Elegant aromatics of red rose, violet, peony with dried cherry. Bing cherry, wild strawberry, loganberry, mint, salty liquorice, Mediterranean herbs, exotic spice, lime leaves and orange peel. Silky and agile upon entry. Rich palate shows freshness and harmony. Berry character. Medium bodied. Interwoven ripe tannin structure, with fresh vivid acidity. Good length on the close.

Deep ruby. Intense and a little balsamic with a touch of leather. With aeration, pure cherry and raspberry. Fragrant, perfumed, cherry and raspberry palate with perfectly integrated acidity. Gorgeous chew and length. (WS)

Baked plum, crushed violet, dark spice and wild berry aromas are front and centre. It,s full bodied and youthfully austere, showing marasca cherry, tobacco leaf and star anise set against taut tannins and bright acidity. Give it time to fully develop.

Bright ruby red. Raspberry syrup, milk chocolate, violet and mocha on the fresh nose. Silky smooth, intense and very ripe; lively but harmonious acidity energizes the raspberry, floral and sweet spice flavors. Finishes with mounting but polished tannins and noteworthy length, not to mention intriguing floral perfume. Still very youthful, this needs time to develop fully and show all it can really give. (IA)

Deep, lustrous ruby. Brooding richness on the nose. Mouth-filling, bitter sweet tannins and supple tangy fruit.

Ripe berry, tilled soil, new leather, iris and balsamic aromas merge with chopped herb on this vibrant full-bodied red. The palate is still young and tight, showing wild raspberry, dried cherry, star anise and tobacco while a hint of orange zest closes the finish. It's youthfully austere and will age well for years. Drink 2020–2032.

Shiny, intense ruby red. Intense nose with rich notes of ripe plums and blackberries. Firm and full-bodied in color, dark berry fruit, opens with thick, dense tannins.

Clear ruby red with a slight garnet rim. Intense nose, lots of dark cherry and plum, with some pepper behind it. Present, dense tannin on the palate, good consistency, quite rough at the back, still needs time.

Wine Enthusiast:  Made with organically farmed grapes, this opens with classic Sangiovese aromas of woodland berry, fragrant blue flower, baking spice, new leather and an earthy whiff of forest floor. Reflecting the nose, the polished palate offers juicy wild cherry, raspberry compote and star anise accompanied by bright acidity and taut but polished tannins. 

Aromas of tomato paste and dried red peppers lead to cinnamon and cherry paste. The palate has a tart, juicy and quite firm feel. Let this settle some more and try from 2021.

Bright ruby red in colour. Black berries, cherry, pomegranate, forest floor, dried meats, saturate the palate with stunning depth and volume. Youthful tannins and fresh acidity give tension and energy. So polished.

Ripe red berry, new leather, truffle and botanical herb aromas take center stage on this fragrant, fabulous red. Full-bodied and delicious, the palate is a seamless combination of structure and finesse, delivering juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and hints of mocha framed in velvety, enveloping tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and balanced.

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. Solid, clayey tannins clamp down on the finish.

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.

Pretty aromas of raspberries, peaches and citrus fruit follow through to a medium to full body with crunchy fruit and tannins and a juicy finish. Rather velvety texture with a slight punchiness to the phenolics. From biodynamically grown grapes. 

Lustrous. Mid-ruby. Brooding nose that is slow to open up but with plenty of depth. Minerally, saline notes. Sappy, juicy fruit that is still a little embryonic and lines with gorgeous chewy tannins. Great balance and lots of potential. Full spread on the finish. (W.S.)

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. A concentrated, earthy cherry nose that is almost a little rich with savoury, minerally, meaty notes. Lush cherry fruit with a full aromatic spread on the palate with tons of chewy tannins. Long and with lots of stuffing. (WS)

Ruby red in colour. Red cherry, blackberry, refined floral aromatics. Balanced but with energy. Harmonious. Great finish.

San Polino’s classic bottling hails from a five-hectare plot in the northeast of Montalcino. The relatively flat vineyard sits on deep clay soil. In 2018, harvest of ripe grapes began on 23 September to avoid botrytis. A flinty reductiveness lingers from recent bottling, however a few swirls unlock exotic hints of smoky incense, cumin and cardamom. Crunchy red fruits pack the core, melding effortlessly with appetising acidity. Fleshy, tactile tannins give a hearty punch, but this isn’t a heavyweight bruiser. It should be drinking beautifully by the time it hits the shelves - and beyond.

Pale ruby red in colour. Super concentrated bouquet of rose petal, violet florals and dried lavender.White cherry, plum, pomegranate, Loganberry, orange peel and balsamic notes come and go. Metallic minerality. Cool entry. Elegant body. Saline infused energy. Harmonious with precision. Loiters on the close.

The nose is rather shy but eventually offers truffle, leather, ripe black-skinned fruit and crushed mint. Full-bodied and concentrated, the chewy palate doles out fleshy black cherry, raspberry jam and licorice alongside velvety, close-grained tannins.