By: Greg St. Clair
4/18/2017
K&L Staff Member
I first met Anna and Lodovico Ginotti in February of 2003. I was doing research on wineries on the Versante Senese (the slope towards Siena), and on the map I saw a producer called Poggiarellino that I’d never heard of. I had set up my week with five winery visits per day and I had one spot open, so I made an appointment. Poggiarellino is at the northern edge of the DOCG for Brunello di Montalcino. The
road into this property is just across the street from the road to Altesino, one of Montalcino’s most famous producers. Anna and Lodovico both had careers in Siena, Anna as a teacher and Lodovico
selling insurance. Then they inherited this estate. They had no relevant experience—it was a Tuscan take on the old TV show Green Acres! My visit was to evaluate this particular property’s character and see how it fit into the regional flavor profile. I had never tasted the wine or seen it in the market. They made a tiny amount of the 1997 vintage, preferring to sell most of their grapes rather than make and try to sell the wines. I tasted a couple of samples, thanked them and moved on. Then a year later they wrote to me asking if K&L wanted to be their importer. I returned the following February and tasted their wines again with a different intention and was really blown away by the intense character in their wines. Every year since, their wines have gotten more expressive and better balanced. The raw quality of the grapes from their property is awesome. You’ll see that in this 2011 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino. The nose of the wine is full of wild, marasca cherry notes with hints of leather, plum and earth. On the palate your first impression is of texture; this is a luxurious yet structured wine where the marasca cherry flavors swirl across your tongue. Sangiovese’s natural acidity lengthens and balances the finish. All you need is a Bistecca Fiorentina and you’re in heaven!
Drink from 2017 to 2025