The 2005 Colle Santa Mustiola “Poggio ai Chiari” is nothing short of an ode to Sangiovese—an expression so pure, so graceful, our judging panel knew instantly they were tasting something extraordinary. 

From the most unlikely corner of Tuscany—Chiusi, once the capital of the Etruscan empire and now quietly nestled along the borders of Umbria and Lazio—comes a wine that transcends expectation. 

Fabio Cenni, once a practicing doctor, returned to his family’s estate in the 1980s with a singular mission: to dedicate his life to Sangiovese. That devotion is unmistakable in the bottle. Crafted from 28 distinct clones, including four pre-phylloxera vines, and aged 66 months in French and Slavonian oak followed by 36 months in bottle, this Sangiovese surpasses even the aging laws of Brunello Riserva. Fabio’s organic farming, native yeast fermentation, and decade-long aging yield a wine of haunting elegance, layered complexity, and timeless character. This is not just a bottle—it’s a revelation.

The wine opens with lifted aromatics, fine-grained tannins, and a quiet intensity that speaks to its pedigree. It’s drinking beautifully now, yet poised for cellaring another 3 to 5 years with ease. Seekers of elegant, restrained Sangiovese will not be disappointed.