Tenuta Col d'Orcia - Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento 2004/2008/2012 (3-Pack) Vertical

The Col d’Orcia winery has set the standard for excellence in Tuscany’s renowned Montalcino region. Though one of the oldest Tuscan wine estates, with the original farm dating back to the 14th century, today Col d’Orcia leads the charge for cutting-edge, sustainable viticulture and winemaking, thanks to its innovative proprietors, Count Francesco Marone Cinzano and his son, Santiago.

A world traveler with boundless energy, Count Cinzano has instilled a simple philosophy for making Col d’Orcia wines since taking ownership of the estate in 1992 — 20 years after the arrival of his father, Count Alberto Marone Cinzano, in Montalcino.

This raison d’etre is represented by the winery’s now-iconic logo: three rows of hills symbolizing Montalcino, rising to a hand that points toward a star. It is a steadfast reminder of Col d’Orcia’s commitment to the land, world-class winemaking, and the never-ending quest for excellence.

Inspired by the region’s natural beauty and biodiversity, Count Cinzano believes that “Montalcino possesses something precious that must be preserved.” Under his leadership, Col d’Orcia has become EQUALITAS Sustainable Winery certified and also earned organic certification in 2013. A decade later, the estate received the prestigious SNAIL award from Slow Wine. This honor is reserved for small-scale Italian wine producers who practice traditional techniques, protect the environment, and safeguard biodiversity.

Since January 2018, over 405 hectares / 1,000 acres are now being treated according to biodynamic practices, with the goal to increase the natural balance, health, and productivity of the crops. Every year, the winery partners with the University of Florence for research and development efforts, which include clonal selection, cover crop experimentation, erosion control, and carbon footprint reduction. Additionally, the team has installed solar panels on the rooftop of the winery, extending their eco-friendly initiatives into the energy they use.

Given Count Cinzano’s focus on quality and sustainable winemaking, it should come as no surprise that Col d’Orcia wines regularly win 90+ point ratings from leading wine critics. The estate has 150 hectares / 370 acres of vineyards, predominantly planted with sangiovese, Brunello’s signature red grape. With every wine, Count Cinzano strives to highlight the grape varieties’ unique qualities and ensures that they showcase the elegance, structure, and finesse for which Col d’Orcia has become internationally celebrated.

Manual harvest with rigorous selection of the best grapes in the vineyard and cellar. Grapes from different parts of the vineyard were kept separate in order to select the best batches after fermentation. Fermentation occured in steel tanks at controlled temperatures, with a long, 25-day maceration period, ensuring optimal polyphenolic extraction. Malolactic fermentation in concrete. Aged three years in 25 and 75hl Slavonian and Allier oak barrels, followed by approximately three years refinement in bottle before release.

“The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Vento tempts the imagination with a whiff of tobacco and foreign spice, giving way to dried strawberries and hints of camphor. It displays a dark radiance, soft and pliant, with a core of fruit that's more black than red. Brisk acidity enlivens nuances of cedar and spice. Adolescent tannins still frame the experience as the 2004 finishes with excellent length and an attractive tinge of sour citrus. This continues to climb to peak maturity but is already quite pleasurable.” - 96 Points, Vinous

“A wine of remarkable finesse and nuance, the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is exceptionally beautiful. The 2008 is refined, silky and nuanced, especially within the context of the vintage. Freshly cut flowers, cedar, tobacco and anise are all beautifully delineated throughout. I am quite impressed with how well the 2008 has come together over the last few years. Two thousand eight will be remembered as the year of the devastating mid-August hail. Quite miraculously, the Poggio al Vento emerged pretty much unscathed.” - 95 Points, Vinous

“Poggio al Vento is a gently sloping south-facing ridge at 300 to 350 metres above sea level. It sits on an ancient seabed, so the soil is very sandy and alkaline. The name translates as 'windy hill', referencing the constant sea breezes. Tasted next to the 2013 Riservas, this is a completely different beast. It's dripping with exuberant aromas of rich dark plum, warm baking spices, fennel and dried Mediterranean herbs. The palate still needs time to catch up, although there is plenty of concentrated fruit here and layers of ripe tannins in support. It finishes with an appetising salinity.” - 95 Points, Decanter

Producer: Tenuta Col d'Orcia

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Sangiovese

Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino

Vintage: 2004, 2008, 2012

Size: 750ml