San Polino, Rosso Di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, 2023

Producer Profile

San Polino is a small ‘nirvana’ northwest of Montalcino, where Luigi Fabbro and Katia Nussbaum founded the estate nearly 30 years ago.

Using Luigi’s scientific experience of mapping the Amazon rainforest, the pair set out to create wines that would be “complete reflections of the biodiversity of their terroir”, as Katia puts it. This tiny estate of only 4ha is farmed biodynamically by this energetic couple, who have poured their heart and soul into producing a range of truly luscious and balanced wines. Praised by critics and peers alike, these wines have been described as having “an incredible clarity and pureness of fruit that is unequalled in the region”.

Viticulture

Organic and biodynamic farming, with an ethos of permaculture for managing the vineyard. Hand grown with specialised pruning to allow the growth of just the right amount of juicy yet thick skinned grapes on each vine, hand harvested in fields lying to the south-east and north-east of Montalcino at 450 m and 350m altitude respectively, in fields where no chemicals have ever been used.

Winemaking

Harvested in early October by hand. 3 day cold maceration then spontaeous fermentation in a mixture of large oak barrels and stainless steel. 21 days further maceration on the skins and following pressing spontaneous malolactic fermentation in stainless steel.

Tasting Note

Garnet and bright violet with a potent nose of wild fruit, blackberry and currant balanced with the freshness of strawberry and dark florals. The tannins are elegant, supple and present, with a compelling hint of Tuscan soil. A long finish roots this wine firmly in its terroir.

Food Matching

This is a wine to be enjoyed on its own or to accompany full-flavoured dishes.