# Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vignavecchia (2016)

- **Producer:** San Polo
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Sangiovese
- **Region:** Tuscany, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €285
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–19 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, dried herbs, raspberry, black cherry, black plum, vanilla, tobacco, cedar, cloves, mushroom, leather, forest floor, earth

## About this wine

San Polo Vignavecchia 2016 is a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG from Tuscany, Italy. Produced by San Polo, an estate owned by the Allegrini family with a focus on sustainable and regenerative agriculture, this wine originates from the estate's smallest and most prized vineyard, Vignavecchia. The vineyard, planted between 1988 and 1990, is situated on a west-facing hillside at an altitude of 400-450 meters, with calcareous and sandy soils. The 2016 vintage was characterized by favorable weather conditions, leading to grapes with excellent maturity and aromatic potential. The wine is a single-vineyard expression, made only in select vintages.

## Interesting facts

- Vignavecchia means 'old vine' in Italian.
- The vineyard is only 2 hectares (approx. 5 acres).
- The winery is built mostly underground.
- San Polo is certified organic.

## Food pairing

The wine's full body and firm tannins are well-suited to rich proteins, where they cut through fat and complement the meat's texture. The wine's inherent savory notes and potential for earthy complexity can echo or contrast with ingredients like game, mushrooms, and herbs.

## Wine making process

San Polo Vignavecchia 2016 is produced from 100% Sangiovese. Grapes are hand-harvested and undergo soft crushing with meticulous berry selection. Fermentation and malolactic fermentation both take place in 600-liter tonneaux over approximately 28-30 days at temperatures between 28-30°C. The wine is then aged for 30 months in lightly toasted 600-liter tonneaux with thick staves, followed by a minimum of six months of bottle aging before release. The estate practices organic farming and is certified organic.