Although this wine was very shy initially, the Poggio di Sotto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino eventually hits all the high notes of Sangiovese. This is a wine of enormous inner tension, showing a punchy, lifted personality with aromas of cherry skin and blackberry. You get brandied cherry, strawberry glazed pie with the gelatin, underbrush, blue flower, forget-me-nots, balsam herb, mint and licorice. A few hours later, the wine had developed into a classic beauty with slender lines, firm structure and a sparkle of brilliant acidity. The oak is integrated to the point of invisibility, the tannins are elegant and fine and the acidity is that proverbial cherry on top. Ultimately, I liked this village bottling more than the 2018 Riserva.

The aromas of the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino are captivating, unfolding layers of floral elegance with hints of rose, violet, and lavender, complemented by notes of ripe strawberry and aromatic herbs. On the palate, it offers a silky, refined tannins paired with understated strength, seamlessly balanced by a remarkable vibrancy and freshness that lingers effortlessly on the balanced finish, which seems to never end. Winemaker Leonardo Berti states that the 2019 was almost "too easy" and as the differentiation for Rosso, Normale, and Riserva are made in the cellar, it was a difficult year to decide as the quality was so high throughout.

Despite heavy rain, there was very little disease in 2019 and the hot summer brought the grapes to full ripeness. The subdued cherry aromas reflect the wine's youth, though they became more expressive with aeration. The palate is rich but sleek in texture, with polished tannins and fine acidic lift. The texture is grainy without being tough, and there's so much energy and grip here that the wine clearly has great ageing potential. Very long, with a lightly peppery finish. A majestic end to the decade.