Tasting Note                          

90+     2003 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 12/29/08 ($23)

14% alc
Color: Deep black garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Very ripe, sweet black cherry and black plum with high acidity. (3.0) Body: Excellent chalky acidity balancing very good fruit. A solid middleweight that could use a little more tannin. Coats mouth somewhat. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet with an interesting cinnamon nuance thrown in. (3.5) Finish: Parallels flavor with length, but not as intense. (3.0)
Overall: As usual, this wine delivers a very tasty, interesting performance. It reflects the hot vintage with very ripe (but not over-ripe) fruit and not much tannin, but balances it out with excellent acidity. Almost drinks like a Zinfandel (some think I'm crazy when I compare Sangiovese to Zinfandel, but here is a good example of what I'm talking about). Probably at its best now and in the next year or so. (15.5)