Here is a very special wine that was created before the Brunello di Montalcino appellation was formed in 1967. In fact, the 1955 Brunello di Montalcino Fattoria di Sant'Angelo shows the original government stamp that guarantees its authenticity. The estate was called Fattoria Sant'Angelo back then, not Il Poggione. This is a difficult wine to evaluate and only 40 bottles are left in existence at the winery, so very few of us will have the opportunity to taste this historic wine again. The 1955 vintage is remembered for a very cold winter. It is also the birth year of Estate Manager Fabrizio Bindocci (with whom I tasted during this retrospective). The wine is hard in texture and even a bit sour. The tannins still show some astringency. Otherwise, the bouquet flows forth with pronounced tertiary elegance. Honey, saffron and crème de cassis come to attention. The wine has weak spots and strong suits. Considering its age, it's something of a small miracle nonetheless.