Poggio di Sotto

Piero Palmucci bought Poggio di Sotto in 1989 and made his first Brunello in 1991. The estate sits near Castelnuovo dell'Abate in southeast Montalcino, with Monte Amiata rising behind it. The Tipa family, who also own Grattamacco in Bolgheri, took it over in 2011, and Leonardo Berti has made the wines since 2016.

Only 20 of the 48 hectares are planted, all to Sangiovese, in more than 20 small plots from about 190 to 440 meters. That spread lets the hand harvest run five weeks or more. A study here counted 182 Sangiovese biotypes growing among the rows.

This is one of Montalcino's warmest corners, yet the wines are fresh and fine-boned. Low yields and early picking do it. Fermentation uses native yeasts, and the wines age in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks. Barrels good enough for Brunello often go into the Rosso, which is why the Rosso is so good.