Angelo Ambrogini, the classic scholar and philologist better known to Poliziano in honor of his birthplace, the town of Montepulciano (Mons Politianus in Latin), is unquestionably the most famous citizen of this beautiful Renaissance city in the southeastern corner of Tuscany. It is entirely appropriate, accordingly, that the best known and most prestigious winery of the town and appellation of Montepulciano bears the name of this historic personage: Poliziano is one of those rare houses which, for three decades, have managed to combine quantity and quality. With its 300 acres of vineyards, it is a major force both in the Italian market and in the principal world markets for better Italian wine.

150,000 bottles of the regular Vino Nobile and 250,000 bottles of Rosso di Montepulciano, all well made and representative wines, are no mean feat. Indeed, high level organizational abilities and thorough professional preparation for the vineyard and cellar work are absolute requirements. These have been supplied by Federico Carletti who, in 1980, took command of the house founded by his father Dino in 1964. Working with his university friend and trusted counselor, oenologist Carlo Ferrini, Carletti can be said to have founded the modern style of Vino Nobile, firm and solid but never rustic, fragrant and long on the nose, substantial and satisfying on the palate.

Sangiovese has been the center of the estate’s efforts from the beginning, and the taming of its tannins has been both the focus of Carletti’s work and his most satisfying achievement. But Merlot, produced in the neighboring township of Cortona, is also part of the picture, however, as is the potent and expressive Bordeaux blend, Le Stanze, since its birth decades ago the finest of the appellation and a demonstration of its important quality potential for many different grape varieties.