2018 Il Poggiolo Rosso di Montalcino 'Sassello'

100% Sangiovese Grosso. Fermented in steel and aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. Podere il Poggiolo is a small farm in the southwest of Montalcino, the heart of the oldest part of the appellation. The vineyards were first planted by Roberto Cosimi in 1971 at a time when there were just 25 producers of Brunello. His son Rodolfo (known as Rudy) took over the estate as a teenager when his father passed away. The soils here are pale clays, with stony marl and schist over limestone, generically known as ‘Galestro’. It is on the slope below the cellar, falling away with a southwest exposure.  This is a big, bold Rosso with a medium-full body, tons of black plums, blueberries, peppery herbs, and hints of cedar and vanilla from the oak aging.  Bone dry, with high acidity and medium to medium-plus tannins.