96 points Bruce Sanderson (Wine Spectator): "A muscular red, with iron, almond, tar and underbrush aromas that provide a savory element to the core of cherry and blackberry fruit. Dense, dusty tannins and a vein of mineral lend austerity as this announces "hands off" on the tightly wound finish. Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino. Best from 2026 through 2045. 833 cases made, 400 cases imported. (10/31/23)"
96 points James Suckling: "So much lavender and sage with lemon blossom and cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with firm and fine tannins that give a crunchiness instead of a chewiness. Needs time to soften but already impressive and precise. A classicism that is hard to find in Italy. Drink after 2026. (6/26/23)"
96 points Falstaff Guide: "Bright ruby red colour with bright reflections. Great, inviting nose, nuances of wild strawberries, watermelon, wet stones, brown bread, as well as noble bright savouriness. On the palate offers great fruit, coupled with pleasant, vivid acidity, fine salty, tight-knit tannins, elegant drive. Alcohol 14.5%. (10/16/23)"
96 points Raffaele Vecchione (WinesCritic.com): "Extremely captivating and terse in the primary matrix showing notes of red prunes, wild strawberries and lemon peel. Spicy yet delicate at the same time this lively, exuberant expression made in Monsanto shows off immediately. Medium bodied, perfectly matured tannins and an incredibly linear, tasty finale. A 'crazy' Gran Selezione which has very few rivals in this vintage. (Jun 2023)"
95+ points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Poggio is 95% Sangiovese and the rest Colorino and Canaiolo. A subtle and attractive perfume floats from the glass with candied rose petal, wild raspberry, and sweet herbs. The palate is surprisingly more expressive and explosive, offering notes of ripe cherry, wild herbs, orange peel, and dusty earth. It has a warming feel and still has structure, with good depth and concentration, ripe and present tannins, and wonderful energy. This is another one to cellar and drink 2025-2040.Aldo Bianchi purchased this historic estate in 1961, and in 1986 they began excavation to build the incredible 300-meter tunnel that today is home to their historic cellar, with bottles dating back to 1962. (That vintage was the estate’s first as well as that of the denomination.) Il Poggio was the first wine in the region to be labelled with a single vineyard. The third generation is now in charge, with Laura Bianchi having taken over from her father Fabrizio. In the cellar, they work with Slavonian oak for the aging of the wines. Drink: 2025-2040. (1/28/23)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna il Poggio is a medium-bodied wine that is going to need a few years for the tannins to soften. In this tasting, the 2018 comes across as a Poggio with compelling aromatic presence but perhaps a bit less textural breadth than the very best years. Dried herbs, cedar, tobacco and scorched earth linger on the savory finish. Another few years in bottle should do the trick. The understated side of Il Poggio comes through beautifully. Drink: 2025-2048. (Aug 2023)"
94 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "[$90 list] The Castello di Monsanto 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Il Poggio is a blend of 95% Sangiovese with smaller parts Canaiolo and Colorino aged in oak for 18 months. The Vigna Il Poggio measures 5.2 hectares and sees a mix of local soils, including pietraforte (a type of hardened sandstone that tends to make structural wines of depth). The wine opens to dark fruit aromas, light spice, grilled herb and integrated tannins, and it closes with tart fruit and nice freshness. Drink: 2023-2033. (9/21/23)"
93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2018 Il Poggio Gran Selezione from Castello di Monsanto is made from its traditional blend of ninety-five percent sangiovese and five percent colorino. Il Poggio is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in thirty-eight hundred liter oak botti for twenty months prior to bottling. The wine is fairly ripe in the warm summer of 2018, coming in at 14.5 percent octane, but pure, precise and complex on both the nose and palate. The refined bouquet wafts from the glass in a mix of red and black cherries, beautiful brown spice tones, cigar wrapper, a complex base of soil, a touch of fresh oregano, woodsmoke and just a hint of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and still quite youthful, with a beautiful core of fruit, fine focus and grip, ripe, buried tannins and a long, complex and well balanced finish. This is a simply outstanding bottle of Chianti in the making. 2028-2065. (Sep/Oct 2023)"
96 points James Suckling: "So much lavender and sage with lemon blossom and cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with firm and fine tannins that give a crunchiness instead of a chewiness. Needs time to soften but already impressive and precise. A classicism that is hard to find in Italy. Drink after 2026. (6/26/23)"
96 points Falstaff Guide: "Bright ruby red colour with bright reflections. Great, inviting nose, nuances of wild strawberries, watermelon, wet stones, brown bread, as well as noble bright savouriness. On the palate offers great fruit, coupled with pleasant, vivid acidity, fine salty, tight-knit tannins, elegant drive. Alcohol 14.5%. (10/16/23)"
96 points Raffaele Vecchione (WinesCritic.com): "Extremely captivating and terse in the primary matrix showing notes of red prunes, wild strawberries and lemon peel. Spicy yet delicate at the same time this lively, exuberant expression made in Monsanto shows off immediately. Medium bodied, perfectly matured tannins and an incredibly linear, tasty finale. A 'crazy' Gran Selezione which has very few rivals in this vintage. (Jun 2023)"
95+ points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Poggio is 95% Sangiovese and the rest Colorino and Canaiolo. A subtle and attractive perfume floats from the glass with candied rose petal, wild raspberry, and sweet herbs. The palate is surprisingly more expressive and explosive, offering notes of ripe cherry, wild herbs, orange peel, and dusty earth. It has a warming feel and still has structure, with good depth and concentration, ripe and present tannins, and wonderful energy. This is another one to cellar and drink 2025-2040.Aldo Bianchi purchased this historic estate in 1961, and in 1986 they began excavation to build the incredible 300-meter tunnel that today is home to their historic cellar, with bottles dating back to 1962. (That vintage was the estate’s first as well as that of the denomination.) Il Poggio was the first wine in the region to be labelled with a single vineyard. The third generation is now in charge, with Laura Bianchi having taken over from her father Fabrizio. In the cellar, they work with Slavonian oak for the aging of the wines. Drink: 2025-2040. (1/28/23)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna il Poggio is a medium-bodied wine that is going to need a few years for the tannins to soften. In this tasting, the 2018 comes across as a Poggio with compelling aromatic presence but perhaps a bit less textural breadth than the very best years. Dried herbs, cedar, tobacco and scorched earth linger on the savory finish. Another few years in bottle should do the trick. The understated side of Il Poggio comes through beautifully. Drink: 2025-2048. (Aug 2023)"
94 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "[$90 list] The Castello di Monsanto 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Il Poggio is a blend of 95% Sangiovese with smaller parts Canaiolo and Colorino aged in oak for 18 months. The Vigna Il Poggio measures 5.2 hectares and sees a mix of local soils, including pietraforte (a type of hardened sandstone that tends to make structural wines of depth). The wine opens to dark fruit aromas, light spice, grilled herb and integrated tannins, and it closes with tart fruit and nice freshness. Drink: 2023-2033. (9/21/23)"
93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2018 Il Poggio Gran Selezione from Castello di Monsanto is made from its traditional blend of ninety-five percent sangiovese and five percent colorino. Il Poggio is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in thirty-eight hundred liter oak botti for twenty months prior to bottling. The wine is fairly ripe in the warm summer of 2018, coming in at 14.5 percent octane, but pure, precise and complex on both the nose and palate. The refined bouquet wafts from the glass in a mix of red and black cherries, beautiful brown spice tones, cigar wrapper, a complex base of soil, a touch of fresh oregano, woodsmoke and just a hint of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and still quite youthful, with a beautiful core of fruit, fine focus and grip, ripe, buried tannins and a long, complex and well balanced finish. This is a simply outstanding bottle of Chianti in the making. 2028-2065. (Sep/Oct 2023)"
| Product SKU | 356204 |
| Producer | Monsanto |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| SubRegion | Chianti Classico DOCG |
| Varietal | Sangiovese |
| Designation | Gran Selezione |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Blend | 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo and Colorino |
| Ships To |
