I was invited by Carovin to a lunch at Brasserie Astoria (very good food) to meet Santiago Marone Cinzano from Col d'Orcia. The Marone Cinzano family has owned the estate since 1973, but wine has been made here for a very long time, the first vines were planted in 1568.
All vintages of Poggio Al Vento will be released on the 5th of November.
2024 Rosso di Montalcino
A cool, earthy nose with notes of hard cherry candy, Christmas spices and a fine floral note.
The taste is linear and fine with light cherry fruit, tobacco and red licorice. A fine acidity. Very, very good.
90p (tasted 2026/09)
2021 Brunello di Montalcino
The new vintage of this everyday Brunello (see all previous vintages tasted below). The nose is nicely perfumed with notes of black cherries, leather, rosemary and gravel.
The taste is young and medium bodied with sweet/sour cherries, dried herbs and coffee powder. Some dry tannins in the finish.
91p (tasted 2026/09)
2004 Brunello di Montalcino
I tasted this 13 years ago, see below, and wasn´t that impressed. But what about a pristine bottle from the estate 13 years later? A stunner. The nose shows some maturity but the key impression is of a wine bursting with fruit and energy. Handsome with notes of dried cherries, forest floor and hint of milk chocolate. A very fine warmth in the finish. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.
Will be released on the 8th of December.
94p (tasted 2026/09)
2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio Al Vento
A very deep, high and pure nose with notes of dry licorice, black tea, ripe cherries, fir wood and Tuscan gravel. Very young and strapping.
The taste is handsome and structured with taut tannins, stunning black fruit and a lenght that is counted in minutes. A brute that needs 10+ years, but boy, what a wine.
96p (tasted 2026/09)
2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio Al Vento
From mag. The nose is layered and ethereal with notes of dried cherries, undergrowth, vintage leather, dried rosemary and a ever so tiny hint of mint. Gorgeous.
The taste is dry and refined with beautiful mature cherry fruit, polished tannins and a long, warm finish. In a perfect drinking stage but could be cellared for 10+ years.
95p (tasted 2026/09)
.jpg)
2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio Al Vento
A warm, compact nose with notes of bonfire smoke, dried cherries, pipe tobacco and dusty earth. From time to time it has a Bordeaux feeling on the nose.
The taste is dry and masculin in character with fine dried black fruit, scorched earth and dried flowers. The tannins are on the dry side. Needs to be drunk.
90p (tasted 2026/09)
2008 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio Al Vento
From mag. I tasted this in 2018, see link below, and thought it to awesome. It still is. The nose oozes up from the glass with gorgeous notes of assorted spices, sweet/sour cherries, play dough, cedar and dark flowers. Lovely.
The taste is high and refined with balance, a low keyed intensity, focus and sweet cherry fruit. The finish is long and layered. In a perfect drinking stage but could go on for many years to come. Great wine.
97p (tasted 2026/09)
More bottles from Col d´Orcia tasted over the years:
Barolista: In Search of Brunello di Montalcino´s Soul - Chapter XXII (vintages 75, 77, 80 and 85)
Barolista: In Search of Brunello di Montalcino´s Soul - Chapter XV (vintages 99, 04, 07)
Barolista: In Search of Brunello di Montalcino´s Soul - Chapter XXVIII (Poggio al Vento 82, 04)
Barolista: In Search of Brunello di Montalcino´s Soul - Chapter XXXV (Poggio al Vento 01)
.jpg)
