My tasting of the newly release Brunello/Rosso/Brunello riserva wines continue. Some misses, but several good ‘hits’, too. 2014 Il Paradiso (Manfredi) Brunello di MontalcinoSangiovese 9/26/2019 – Wonderful. I’m really in love with the sous bois/soil aromas in this vintage, as they lend even more character, and freshness. The entry is medium-bodied, elegant, and also substantive in…
Category: Brunello di Montalcino
New releases: Brunello, Rosso, Riserva (pt.1)
Over time the wines of this region have really captured my attention, and my hear. Having had the benefit of tasting many producers back to the early 70s has taught me just how noble Sangiovese (Grosso, too) is. 2014 Caprili Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 9/24/2019 – Darker brick red color, clear throughout. Plenty of soil-driven character here,…
Family. Farming.
It’s just after ten in the morning here in Montalcino. The sun is high enough now that I can bring the laptop outside (yes, this is the middle of February, but it’s 100% sunshine and on the way to over 60 degrees today; magnificent in other words. I’ve already had an early morning walk through…
BENVENUTO BRUNELLO 2018, MONTALCINO CENTRO, PART III
Some more tasting notes from the event. Again, all can be found here, and again, in no particular order (i.e. I did not rank them). Many, many fine wines, only a couple of stinkers; stinkers with the proviso that someone, somewhere will like them, just not me. Tasting notes of newly released wines 17 February,…
BENVENUTO BRUNELLO 2018, MONTALCINO Centro, PART II
The first day of the event is reserved solely for journalists. The second day is open to journalist and trade persons. The last two days are open to the public and make tasting something of a challenge as the space becomes very small, very quickly. That said, I persevered, for you 😀 All of my…
Benvenuto Brunello 2018, Montalcino Centro, Part I
After a few weeks of travel through New York City, Connecticut, Paris and the eastern side of France, I’ve finally made it to my beloved Italia. A quick night in Turin, then another in Asti, and now here, in Montalcino for the past three days, attending the new release of the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino,…
Brilliant farming you can taste – 2006 Agostina Pieri Brunello di Montalcino
Reconciling a perceived preference with reality can be a humbling, powerfully educational experience. For instance, if someone were to ask me about my preferences for wine/winemaking, I’d include, among other things, the lack/restraint of oak usage in the cellar as an important factor. Or, if oak is used, I’d say I (generally speaking) prefer older…
Tuscan Masterpiece – 2013 Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino
My nearly one month stay in Montalcino zone last year produced some really eye-opening moments. Specifically, the careful, and clever, attention that some winegrowers (and that number appears to be growing, an uplifting thought) are paying to their land and vines is exciting. It’s almost as if there’s a revolution underway – a campaign where…
Podere Salicutti – humility and genius
At this year’s VinItaly, I had a chance to spend some time with Francesco Leanza, after 20 minutes of talking about some his past vintages that I’ve enjoyed, I also had some time to taste his newly released wines. My experience with the Podere Salicutti wines prior to meeting him prepared me, if just a…
2010 Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino Riserva – sheer joy
If you’re lucky enough to be one of the few people on the planet that owns this wine, congratulations, you’ve hit pay dirt, as they say. The air is rather thin here, not so many have risen so high. From the very first smell, and right through to the final sip, you’re patently aware of…
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