Col d’Orcia Poggio al Vento Brunello di Montalcino Vertical(’01/’06/’10) – 750ml Southern Wine & Spirits

2001

94pts Vinous-Antonio Galloni

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is all nuance and class. Delicate scents of tobacco, crushed berries, dried flowers and spices are woven together in a perfumed Brunello that emphasizes elegance over sheer power. In 2001 the crop was reduced by 50% because of hail damage. Today 2001 looks to be a relatively early maturing vintage for the Riserva.

92pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The estate’s 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is a gorgeous, layered wine that reveals nuances of menthol, licorice, sweet spices, leather and plums, all of which meld together in a Brunello of remarkable balance. The wine’s ripeness and structure insure it will last for many a year to come. In fact, the tannins may well outlast the fruit. In the meantime there is much to admire here, starting with an impeccable, long finish that begs for a second taste. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025.

92pts Decanter
Col d’Orcia is one of the estates which keeps commercial stocks of older vintages like this single-vineyard wine, and I include it as an example of just how well Brunello (at either ‘normal’ or Riserva level) can age. Still dark in colour, with refined aromas of cream, plum, warm stone and forest leaf. On the palate, the wine is dry, refined and elemental, yet brimming with energy and flavour resource.
Drinking Window 2020 – 2027

2006

96pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The same can be said about Col d’Orcia’s 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento. Col d’Orcia places a little more emphasis on structure than Valdicava, so I was surprised by how well the 2006 showed, considering it hasn’t even been released yet.

95pts Wine & Spirits

The top bottling of Col d’Orcia, one of Brunello’s southernmost estates, is harvested from Poggio al Vento (or “windy hill”), positioned at about 1,150 feet on a south-southwest-facing hill overlooking the Orcia River. It spent four years in large Slavonian and French oak casks and another two years in bottle, developing layers of baking spices, dried thyme and oregano and porcini mushroom. The texture is lithe and the flavors lifted, with tight black cherry notes edged in thyme, oregano and black spices, and fine mineral tannins that guide the flavors to a long and harmonious finish. Still fresh and vibrant, it is just beginning to hit its stride.

95pts Wine Enthusiast

This iconic Brunello seamlessly combines power and finesse. It opens with earthy aromas of underbrush, tobacco, tilled soil and blackberries. The dense palate delivers juicy black cherry and raspberry alongside black pepper, licorice and a balsam note. It’s impeccably balanced but still very young, and still showing racy acidity and assertive tannins. Give it time to soften and develop more complexity. Drink 2016–2031. Cellar Selection.

93pts James Suckling

Sophisticated aromas of dark fruits, lemon twists and lavender. Full body, with chewy tannins and a juicy, fruity finish. Notes of meat and spice. Drink or hold.

2010

97pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Released seven years after the harvest, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is a stunning wine. It soars to the highest altitudes in terms of elegance and power. These opposite forces—muscle versus grace—are what distinguish this classic vintage. Col d’Orcia has effortlessly captured and immortalized both sides of the continuum. The bouquet produces a long succession of aromas including dried cherry fruit, licorice, cola, lavender flower, cured meat and black truffle. The velvety finish is supple and long in persistence. This is a gorgeous creation.

95pts James Suckling

A big and rich Brunello with plenty of ripe fruit, chocolate and hazelnut. Full body and round and chewy tannins. Solid as a rock. Drink now or hold.

94pts Wine Spectator

Broad-shouldered and dense, with plum, cherry, leather, iron and tobacco flavors gaining intensity as this complex red evolves on the palate. The finish is very stony, with a lingering aftertaste of chalk and iron. Drink now through 2030.