~ The Entrance to the Estate ~
Ever since I’ve known what Brunello is, I’ve been a fan of the wines from Poggio Antico. For decades the estate was helmed by the husband and wife team of Paola Gloder and Alberto Montefiori. I met Paola during my first visit to Tuscany and the friendliness and charm she exhibited cemented my affection for the estate.
At an average elevation of 480 meters above sea level, Poggio Antico’s vineyards are among the highest in the Brunello region. The lofty altitude, combined with the close proximity of the Mediterranean Sea, provides a steady breeze which has many beneficial effects on the vineyards.
~ The view from Poggio Antico: Mozza il Fiato ~
Today we’re looking at the estate’s Altero Brunello. Produced along with the estate’s classic white label Brunello, Altero is slightly more modern in style. It’s aged in 500 liter French oak barrels for only 2 years and then spends 2 years in bottle prior to release.
The 2011 Poggio Antico Altero Brunello is an excellent wine. It’s a medium ruby in the glass with violet reflections but don’t be fooled by the lighter appearance. This is a full bodied, elegant red. I decanted the wine for an hour and it was a good idea. Not only was a fine sediment removed, but the texture of the wine improved noticeably.
Aromas comprise crushed wild cherry, hints of smoke, baking spice, tobacco and dark cocoa. It’s aroma really compels a taste! On the palate, the wine is very well balanced and fresh despite the hotter than normal year that 2011 presented. Lively, with cherry fruit glazed in dark chocolate, dusty tannins, pipe tobacco and warmed earth this is delicious without being overbearing. Can easily be cellared for another 5 years with no worries. 93 points. About $60. Find this wine.
~ The 2011 Brunello is balanced well from a vintage that was rather warm and which saw some estates not bottle a wine ~
It will be interesting to see how the quality and style of Poggio Antico’s wines progresses. The estate was sold in 2017 to a group of Belgian investors. However, there is a good team in place and since 2017 the estate has been practicing organic methods with their production. An application has been made for organic certification.
Salute!
Hi John,
I echo your comments. Have always enjoyed their complete lines for wines. Look forward to seeing how the vineyard and the wines evolve with the new owners.
BTW: Shared a very nice 2010 Campogiovanni from the cellar with my daughter’s significant other. It was drinking very well. future son-in-law is becoming a Brunello fan. yes, with him becoming a Brunello fan that means more bottles coming out of the cellar; but it also means opportunities to buy more wine to cellar!!!
Take care,
Joe D
Joe, did you need a reason to add? 🙂 2015 and 2016 are very tough vintages to ignore regardless of situation. I already have one case in the cellar and will likely add at least 3 more not counting samples I receive. They are wines that will be delicious for probably 20 years – 15 at the minimum and at that rate, it makes me 67 years old. So…. 🙂
John, you are right I don’t need a reason to add but it sounds good on paper. I am looking forward to a trip in March to Montalcino; will stop and see Samuele and a few wineries. By May there will be a “few” cases of 2015 in my cellar. I am looking forward to it.
Hah, 15 years gets me a little past 67!!!!
BTW. Our foundation in out 1880s house in RI is failing and we are having the house lifted next month for a new foundation. As a result my “future son-in-law” and I moved the whole cellar to a new temporary location the other day. Dam I didn’t know I had so many Brunello!!!! That full sized GMC pickup was loaded down a few times with wine. I actually found some gems I forgot I had.
That sounds like a nightmare…. the foundation I mean. As for the wine, drink up! Why don’t you and Donna come to my open house on 2/29. Road trip? Email me for details.
I visited the winery more than 15 years ago…and I remember Paola.
The 2015 Altero is stunning….but you know the price ??
Cheers ????????
Yeah, they’ll be about $65 and $75 probably….
I’ve said it before, but I think Altero is one of the very best wines. I’m not good with wine-words, but it’s a perfectly finished wine; balanced, flavorful, aromatic, perfect. The first time I drank Altero was an ‘ah-hah’ moment, I instantly knew this wine was very, very good. My wife said “I’ll have some more of that!”:). FWIW Poggio Antico has a very good direct sales program, easy to execute, fast delivery.
I’ve never ordered directly from them Steve. Are the prices compelling when factoring in shipping to the US? Normally Altero is $60-$75 around here so it would have to be a pretty deep discount to make the shipping worth it. Hmmm, in looking now, I don’t see it. Their website has been re-designed so I’m wondering if they’re no longer doing this under the new ownership?
Send an email and they will be happy to send you a ‘PO’ to fill in. For me direct order is a convenience thing as Poggio Antico wines are impossible to find here in Colorado. I’ll try to dig up my last order and see what I paid. I suspect the net pricing is ok.
I just looked at my last order. 2010 Altero was 55 Euros plus 14 Euros for shipping (based on shipping 6 bottles, would be less per bottle if 12 are shipped. Works out to about $77 dollars, price is 5 Euros less for other vintages. Overall a good deal, in my opinion. A very easy way to buy wine that is impossible to find where I live.
That’s a fair price given the direct provenance. But it’s about average around these parts. In your case, you go for it and it makes sense.