Rosso Toscana IGT (2023)

About this wine

This Rosso Toscana from Il Poggione is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which gives it both classic Tuscan brightness and a rounder, darker fruit profile. The nose opens with black cherry, plum, vanilla, and cedar, then picks up a gentle note of baking spice. On the palate, it feels supple and lively, with red cherry fruit at the center and enough structure to keep it focused without turning severe. Il Poggione is one of Montalcino’s historic names, and this bottling shows the estate’s more relaxed side, built for immediate pleasure rather than ceremony. It stands out for the way it brings together Tuscany’s savory edge with the softer texture of Bordeaux varieties, making it feel familiar, polished, and very easy to like.

About the grape

Sangiovese has been the backbone of Tuscan reds for centuries, and at Il Poggione it provides structure and local identity, coming mostly from higher parcels between 150 and 450 meters where cordon spur and doppio capovolto training emphasize balanced ripening and acidity. Merlot was introduced to Tuscany as an international complement to Sangiovese, and here it is used to soften tannins and add ripe plush fruit, often coming from warmer mid slope sites and picked by hand to preserve freshness. Cabernet Sauvignon brings color, tannin and longevity, and at Il Poggione it is blended in modest amounts and vinified with temperature controlled stainless steel and indigenous yeasts so it integrates without overpowering the Sangiovese. Together these three varieties are managed with traditional training, manual harvest and careful fermentation choices, a practical approach that reflects both local tradition and the influence of Bordeaux varietals in modern Toscana IGT blends.

Quick facts

• 🍷 Although Il Poggione is famous for single‑variety Brunello di Montalcino, this Rosso Toscana blends Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet to make a friendlier everyday red.
• ⛰️ The 2023 Rosso Toscana is made from grapes grown between 150 and 450 metres above sea level, so each bottle mixes fruit from noticeably different hillside microclimates.
• 🧪 Il Poggione ferments this wine with indigenous yeasts using a 15‑day submerged‑cap method, a hands‑on approach that gives the wine its lively, primary fruit character.
• ✋ The estate still harvests these grapes by hand and uses a mix of cordon spur and the traditional 'doppio capovolto' training, a nod to old‑school Tuscan vine craft preserved for this everyday bottling.
• 🏛️ This Rosso Toscana comes from the Franceschi family estate that has been in family hands for generations and was one of the pioneers to bring Brunello and Montalcino wines to the wider world, so your bottle carries a long local story in a casual format.

Palate profile

Producer

Il Poggione, established in the late 19th century by Florentine landowner Lavinio Franceschi, is one of the oldest wineries in Montalcino, Italy. After hearing captivating stories from a shepherd about the region, Franceschi purchased land in Sant'Angelo in Colle and founded the estate. The winery was among the first to market Brunello di Montalcino in the early 1900s and played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Brunello di Montalcino Consortium. Today, the estate spans approximately 530 hectares, with 140 hectares dedicated to vineyards and 50 hectares to olive groves, maintaining a commitment to sustainable agriculture and traditional winemaking techniques.