Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Paganelli 2016

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Paganelli 2016 is a single-vineyard Brunello di Montalcino DOCG made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso in a 750ml bottle. Awarded 98 points by Eric Guido of Vinous, this expression earned additional scores of 96 points from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Decanter, placing it among the most acclaimed Brunellos of the exceptional 2016 vintage.

Quick Facts: Varietal: 100% Sangiovese Grosso  |  Origin: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy  |  Vintage: 2016  |  Producer: Tenuta Il Poggione

Production & Heritage

Tenuta Il Poggione, owned by the Franceschi family, farms vineyards between 200 and 400 meters elevation around Sant'Angelo in Colle on the southern slope of Montalcino. The Vigna Paganelli bottling draws from vines planted in 1964 — the oldest on the estate — whose clone serves as the reference stock for all new plantings across the property. Following manual harvest and controlled-temperature fermentation, the wine ages for 48 months in large French oak casks ranging from 33 to 52 hectoliters, a traditional approach that preserves varietal character rather than imparting heavy wood influence. Extended bottle aging follows before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with camphor and minty herbs before revealing deeper layers of black raspberry, licorice, and autumnal spice. Worn leather and crushed stone emerge with time in the glass, adding mineral complexity to the aromatic profile.

Taste: The palate strikes a balance between intensity and elegance. Dense black cherry and blackberry fruit arrives on entry, followed by savory mid-palate notes of campfire ash, tar, and ferrous earth. Spiced plum, cured leather, and a procession of dried herbs — marjoram, tarragon, basil — develop through the mid-palate with a richness and sweetness that never turns heavy.

Finish: The finish is long and structured, carried by ripe, granular tannins that provide a firm but velvety framework. Licorice, balsam herb, and dark mineral tones linger well after the final sip.

How to Drink Vigna Paganelli 2016

This wine is best served at 60–65°F after decanting for at least an hour to let the complex aromatics fully unfold. It rewards patient sipping on its own, though it pairs superbly with food. Serve alongside bistecca alla fiorentina, where the wine's tannic grip and dark fruit cut through the char and fat. Wild boar ragù with pappardelle mirrors the wine's savory, earthy depth. Aged Pecorino di Pienza provides a textural counterpoint, its sharp saltiness drawing out the wine's herbal complexity.

Best For

• Cellaring for a milestone occasion — this wine has decades of aging potential ahead
• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector who appreciates single-vineyard Brunello
• Anchoring a formal Tuscan dinner pairing around rich, slow-cooked meats
• Adding a benchmark 2016 vintage Brunello to a curated wine library

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Vigna Paganelli 2016 taste like? It delivers dense black cherry and blackberry fruit layered with campfire ash, tar, licorice, cured leather, and a suite of dried herbs including marjoram and basil. The tannins are ripe and granular with an unexpectedly smooth, velvety texture.

How does Vigna Paganelli compare to Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello? Both are benchmark Montalcino producers using traditional large-cask aging, but Il Poggione's Vigna Paganelli tends toward denser, darker fruit and more pronounced savory earth, while Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo typically emphasizes austerity, transparency, and long-term structural tension. The Vigna Paganelli 2016 scored 98 points from Vinous, placing it at the top tier of the vintage alongside Biondi Santi's best releases.

Is Vigna Paganelli good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine built for contemplative drinking, ideally after a generous decant, where its layered aromatics and evolving palate reward undivided attention.

Where is Vigna Paganelli made? It is produced at Tenuta Il Poggione near Sant'Angelo in Colle, on the warmer southern slope of the Montalcino hill in Tuscany, Italy. The estate's vineyards sit between 200 and 400 meters above sea level within the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.

What foods pair well with Vigna Paganelli? Bistecca alla fiorentina complements the wine's tannic structure and dark fruit. Wild boar ragù with pappardelle echoes its earthy, savory depth. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary match its herbal aromatics. Aged Pecorino di Pienza draws out mineral and herbal complexity. Grilled portobello mushrooms highlight the wine's umami and tar notes.

What sizes does Vigna Paganelli come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, though Il Poggione has historically offered select Brunello bottlings in magnum (1.5L) format for certain vintages.

Is Vigna Paganelli 2016 worth the price? Vigna Paganelli positions as a premium single-vineyard Brunello from one of Montalcino's most respected estates, sourced from vines planted in 1964. With scores of 96–98 points across major publications and production limited to exceptional vintages, it represents strong value relative to other elite, small-production Brunello di Montalcino bottlings.

Why Vigna Paganelli?

The 2016 Vigna Paganelli stands apart because of its source material: vines now over 50 years old that Il Poggione considers the genetic benchmark for the entire estate. The 98-point score from Vinous and the additional 96-point ratings from Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Decanter confirm that this bottling met the extraordinary promise of the 2016 vintage. Traditional 48-month aging in large French oak casks allowed the Sangiovese Grosso to express site and season rather than cooperage. For collectors and serious drinkers seeking a Brunello that combines old-vine concentration with textural finesse, this is one of the most critically lauded bottles Montalcino produced in 2016.