Impressing from the first tilt of the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known, with a heady burst of exotic spice and crushed ashen stone giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. This combines the energy of the vintage with the dark balsamic-tinged fruits of Montalcino’s southern reaches, as zesty acidity maintains balance throughout, and flinty minerals saturate toward the close. It finishes long, savory and structured, yet its tannins are more rounded than anticipated, creating both a classic feel, but also leaving a mouthwatering sensation that tricks the taster back to the glass for more. Easily one of the top wines of the vintage, the 2018 is not to be missed.
96+ points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Dec 2022)
The Il Poggione 2018 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a dark and savory character with more fruit weight and concentration than you might find in many of its peers. This wine shows a dense center of gravity that is padded with dark cherry, blackberry, toasted spice, mahogany smoked meat and tilled earth. Despite the robust aromas, this Sangiovese is actually quite streamlined and polished in texture. The tannins are soft and veering toward accessibility. This is an ambitious production of 200,000 bottles. The estate's Riserva Vigna Paganelli was not made in 2018, so fruit from that wine went here instead.
94 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Mar 2023)
Layers of black cherry and spice emerge in the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino along with hints of polished leather, sassafras, and cedar. It is medium to full-bodied, though it remains somewhat compact and coiled with tension and energy on the palate, and offers red berries, orange peel, clove, and tightly wound tannins throughout. Give it another couple of years in the cellar and drink 2025-2040.
94 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)
The dense structure sets the pace for this red, with cherry, raspberry, mint and tar flavors that are appealing and expressive. Reveals rose hip, orange peel and earth details as this winds down on the long, expansive aftertaste. Built for the long term. Best from 2026 through 2046. 16,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.
94 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Jun 2023)
Il Poggione’s 2018 Brunello offers saturated flavors of black cherry and raspberry studded with notes of dark spice and dried herbs. The fruit tones are ample and bold even in this light vintage, showing the richness, power and aging potential great Brunello can deliver.
94 points, Wine & Spirits (Apr 2023)
This is a flavorful, layered Brunello with aromas of fresh and sour cherries, plums, bay leaves, rosemary and olives. Cloves and licorice, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Sleek and well-integrated, with a lengthy and deliciously savory finish. Drink from 2023.
94 points, James Suckling (Dec 2022)
The Il Poggione estate is in the hotter, south-west part of the Montalcino DOCG. Fabrizio Bindocci was the chief winemaker here for many years and now his son Alessandro fulfills this role, while Fabrizio has become president of the Brunello Consorzio. This 2018 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino has smoky, tarry aromas that I often find on this producer’s wines becoming more like a waxy, lifted note as it opens up and then becomes more oaky. What I like about this Brunello is that there is an intense, nervy, energy to this wine. It is tightly wrought like a coiled spring. The tannins have become much more refined in recent vintages from Il Poggione and in addition there is a kind of lively, energy to this wine.
94 points, Susan Hulme, Wine Independent (Feb 2023)
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