Il Poggione

Il Poggione's roots reach back to 1890 when Lavinio Franceschi purchased the estate in Sant'Angelo in Colle, then a small, undeveloped corner of Montalcino. The Franceschi family was instrumental in the early development of Brunello as a commercial appellation, and Il Poggione was one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino in 1967. Lavinio's grandson Leopoldo Franceschi guided the estate through the post-war era and the DOC era, and the family today is represented by Leopoldo's children Livia and Lavinio. The Bindocci family's involvement began in the 1970s when Fabrizio Bindocci joined as estate manager and winemaker; his son Alessandro now serves as winemaker and estate director, ensuring continuity of the house's traditional style.

• Founded 1890 by Lavinio Franceschi; the Franceschi family retains ownership today through Livia and Lavinio Franceschi
• Founding member of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino (1967) and one of the appellation's defining traditional houses
• Fabrizio Bindocci joined as winemaker in 1976; his son Alessandro now serves as winemaker and estate director
• Vigna Paganelli Riserva, first released from the 1971 vintage, is among the longest-running single-vineyard Brunellos

The Il Poggione estate sits in Sant'Angelo in Colle, a hamlet on the warmer southern flank of the Montalcino municipality. The estate covers more than 1,000 hectares of contiguous land including forests, olive groves, and approximately 125 hectares of vineyards planted between 200 and 450 metres elevation. The soils are typical of the southern sector: a mix of galestro (schistous marl), albarese (limestone), and clay over alluvial deposits, with stony patches that favour Sangiovese. The warmer, drier conditions of Sant'Angelo in Colle yield Brunello of generous fruit, ripe tannin, and balanced acidity, with bottling-grade quality across normal and riserva tiers. The single Vigna Paganelli vineyard is the source of the riserva and represents one of the estate's oldest plantings.

• Estate vineyards in Sant'Angelo in Colle, southern Montalcino, planted between 200 and 450 metres elevation
• Soils: galestro, albarese (limestone marl), clay, and alluvial deposits with stony patches favouring Sangiovese
• Warmer southern microclimate yields generous fruit ripeness, structured tannins, and well-balanced acidity in Brunello and Rosso
• Single vineyard Vigna Paganelli is the source of the riserva bottling and represents one of the estate's oldest plantings

Il Poggione is firmly aligned with the traditional school of Brunello winemaking. Fermentations are conducted with native yeasts in stainless steel and large concrete vats, with extended maceration on the skins for up to 25 to 30 days. Brunello di Montalcino is aged in large Slavonian oak botti for approximately 36 months, with no use of small French oak barriques. Vigna Paganelli Riserva sees longer aging in similar large casks. The house style yields wines of remarkable purity, with red and dark cherry fruit, fresh acidity, fine but firm tannins, and a savoury, mineral finish. Bottle aging adds tobacco, leather, and forest floor complexity. Il Poggione's wines are typically released at the start of their drinking window but reward 10 to 20 years of cellaring, with riserva bottles aging gracefully for 25 years or more.

• Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel and concrete; extended skin maceration 25-30 days
• Brunello di Montalcino: approximately 36 months in large Slavonian oak botti; no French barriques
• Vigna Paganelli Riserva: extended large-cask aging following botti tradition; single-vineyard parcel only in top years
• House style yields wines of purity, fine tannin, fresh acidity, and 20-plus years of cellaring potential

Il Poggione's range spans Sangiovese-based Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino at the heart of the production, plus Sant'Antimo DOC wines from other varieties grown on the estate. The Brunello di Montalcino is the volume-leading flagship and is consistently rated among the top traditional bottlings of the appellation; the Vigna Paganelli Riserva represents the estate's pinnacle and is produced only in exceptional vintages. Rosso di Montalcino, made from younger vine fruit and earlier-released lots, offers an accessible introduction to the house style. The estate also produces Brancato (a Sant'Antimo Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend), Lavischio (a Sant'Antimo Merlot), Sangiovese-based table wines, an extra virgin olive oil, and small bottlings of Vin Santo. Annual production totals approximately 600,000 bottles.

• Brunello di Montalcino: estate flagship, ~36 months in Slavonian oak, traditionalist benchmark style
• Brunello Riserva Vigna Paganelli: single-vineyard riserva first made 1971, produced only in exceptional vintages
• Rosso di Montalcino: younger-vine fruit and earlier-released lots, accessible style with strong house identity
• Sant'Antimo DOC range: Brancato (Cab-Merlot), Lavischio (Merlot); plus Vin Santo and extra virgin olive oil

Il Poggione welcomes visitors by appointment at its estate in Sant'Angelo in Colle, offering cellar tours, tastings across the range, and panoramic views over the southern Montalcino landscape. The estate is celebrated by critics as a benchmark traditional Brunello producer, regularly earning high scores from Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Antonio Galloni, and Gambero Rosso, with the Vigna Paganelli Riserva routinely cited among the top-tier riservas of the appellation. The Bindocci family also represents Il Poggione at international Brunello tastings and events, with Alessandro Bindocci serving as a frequent ambassador for the traditional style. The estate's commitment to its house identity through generational ownership has made Il Poggione one of the most reliable references in the appellation across decades and vintages.

• Visitor tastings and cellar tours by appointment at the Sant'Angelo in Colle estate
• Consistent high critic scores: Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Antonio Galloni, Gambero Rosso
• Vigna Paganelli Riserva regularly cited among the top-tier Brunello riservas of the appellation
• Alessandro Bindocci serves as international ambassador for traditional Brunello style at trade events