An impeccably balanced wine, and a perfect partner to a big Tuscan steak (air-dried for extra softness), the Tenute Silvio Nardi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Poggio Doria offers rich dark fruit intensity, good concentration and vivid aromas. It shows extra power and depth with plum, blackberry and a woody red fruit tone that recalls pomegranate or cassis. Even the appearance of this wine is a tone or two darker, albeit with that pretty Sangiovese shine and gloss that radiates from inside the glass. This Brunello delivers.- ML

Emilia Nardi and her team produce three Brunellos with fruit from two estates in different sectors of Montalcino. Poggio Doria, from a single plot of vines at the Casale del Bosco estate in northwestern Montalcino, is rosy and red-fruited, brimming with fresh cherry and raspberry flavors framed by fine, sweet tannins. It’s a beautifully bright expression for this warm vintage, with plenty of staying power for the cellar.

While both Poggio Doria and Manachiara are typically released a year later than the classic Brunello, in 2015 all three have been put onto the market at the same time thanks to the roundness and concentration of the vintage, according to oenologist Emmanuele Nardi. Poggio Doria is crafted from Nardi's Oria vineyard in the extreme northwest of Montalcino. It is a warm site in a cool area. The 2015 is particularly fragrant, offering exotic herb and balsamic notes. The palate is still quite tight but the tannins are silky in texture. Well-proportioned with lovely length.

Nardi's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Doria was not be aged as a Riserva in 2015, but that just means we get to enjoy a more primary expression of this amazing cru. Here I find a dark and dusty display of black cherries, encased in smoky minerals, with spiced orange peel, dried florals, undergrowth, and a hint of animal musk. It enters the palate with a satiating display of creamy textures; yet it's not heavy, coasting across the senses with notes of herbal-infused black cherry, minerals and dark spices, all kept in check by brisk acids. The finish is long, buzzing with energy from its zesty acids. The 2015 Poggio Doria can be enjoyed already on its bouquet, textures and energy, but it promises to do well in the cellar over the medium term. It was expertly aged in a combination of tonneau and Slavonian oak for thirty-six months. - By Eric Guido on February 2020