Vintage Brunello di Montalcino Tasting at Wine Watch

I like to drink wine more than I used to...
Don Corleone, The Godfather

The wines that I like to drink seem to all start with a "B", Barolo, Barbaresco, Burgundy, Bordeaux and of course Brunello.

Brunello is the wine with top billing in Tuscany is for the last half of century, a DOCG from a fortress town south of Siena with reds of legendary power and longevity that have commanded lofty prices.  The wines of this world renowned region of Tuscany were conceived by the Biondi Santi family a century ago, today Brunello di Montalcino is produced under scores of labels, representing small farms, established estates and even international corporations.  By the turn of the 21st century, there are over 200 producers of Brunello di Montalcino, mostly small farmers and family estates, producing nearly 330,000 cases a year.

Brunello is Montalcino is one of the hottest topics in the world of Italian wine today.  With wine magazines like: The Wine Spectator, James Suckling, The Wine Advocate and International Wine Cellar calling the newly released 2010 vintage from Montalcino " One of The Greatest Vintage Ever", many collectors and wine enthusiasts will be scrambling to pick up the best wines from this stellar year so I have included on this e-mail the remainder of wines that we have in stock from this epic vintage from Montalcino.

The paradox here is that these wines are years away from showing their grandeur, when a customer wants a recommendation for a wine to take home tonight and drink, young Brunello is rarely comes to mind.  However if you would like a taste of the wines of this elite red wine producing region, Brunello’s baby brother Rossi Di Montalcino has been one of the hottest wines in its price category in the store this year.  In 1984 the Junior DOC of Rosso Di Montalcino was established.  This younger brother of Brunello was brought about because in lower than average quality years they could bottle the wine with less time in oak therefore allowing the wine to have a more international style and more mass appeal, while still maintaining its distinctive Brunello character.  Young and fresh, this wine unlike its older sibling in that it is ready to drink upon release. 

This is our pre-event for the new release tasting that features the newest releases from Montalcino which will be 2011 this year.  All of the wines at this tasting will be 10+ years old and even though Brunello is held back for 5 years by law the greatest vintages need another 10+ years in the cellar to reach their peak years of drinkability.

Wine Watch Catering’s Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.  This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and there are only 14 seats available, the fee is $145+ tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Vintage Brunello di Montalcino Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, April 8, 2016
7:30 PM

1995 Canalicchio Di Sopra Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $134.50    Your Price: $118.36

A classic example of Brunello with soft smooth tannins, this wine is now fully evolved with the classic black tar and truffle aromas along with a host of dried herbs, sage and rosemary.  The wine opened up nicely and revealed some pretty dried cherry fruit along with some meaty notes and dried flowers, everything in perfect balance today.  The wine finishes fresh and lively and with the right food this wine will really came alive, the fruit being on the undercard with the wine now at 19 years old.  You want to decanter this wine for 30 minutes and serve it with dinner or some reggiano parmesan cheese.  A classic vintage for Montacino and although it is fully mature, it has the balance to last another decade or more in your cellar.  Finish 45+  Most Excellent +

1996 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $129.00    Sale $113.52

(89 points) Canalicchio di Sopra's plum/ruby-colored 1996 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits some of the vintage's austerity along with a nicely layered mid-palate as well as aromas and flavors of coffee, soy, Asian spices, and roasted herbs and meats. Spicy, medium-bodied, angular, complex as well as cerebral, it will drink well for 12-15 years.   Wine Advocate #137 Oct 2001

1997 Pieve Di Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Rennina
Price: $149.00    Your Price: $131.12
Quantity in Stock: 3

(94 points) Opaque garnet with violet and ruby tones. Explosive nose of clove, nutmeg and mocha, laced with violet scents. Sweet entry of cassis, vanilla bean and espresso leads to a creamy middle palate, with the wine considerable weight and extract nicely leavened by a delightful sense of delineation and freshness. Sweet berry and sottobosco scents accompany mouth coating tannins on the persistent finish. An impeccably balanced wine, from Angelo Gaja Montalcino property.' Stephen Tanzer

2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Del Piano

(100 points)* Top 100 Wines of 2007 * Mind-blowing aromas of crushed berries, meat, blackberry and violet. Full-bodied, with layers of incredibly velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is so complex and long, and the mouth feel is spellbinding. Develops wonderfully in the glass, becoming more and more rich with air. One of the greatest Brunellos I have ever tasted. (4/2007) Wine Spectator

2003 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $113.25    Your Price: $99.66
Quantity in Stock: 8

Thick black cherry wild strawberry fruit very ripe and seductive aromas flowers and porcini and fresh earth. Very fresh and bright red berry fruit on the tongue with layers of spice minerals and coco spice. Very forward and drinkable but also has the stuffing to be cellared for a decade. Finish 45 Most Excellent

2004 Castello Di Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $85.00       Sale $74.80          Case $867

(93 Points) Blackberry and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and a long finish. Very approachable now, with bright fruit and fresh acidity. Long and beautiful. Drink now through 2015. 2,500 cases made. “JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 2009

2004 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
NA

(95 Points) Shows meat and blackberry on the nose, with hints of rose perfume. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, rich and flavorful finish. Love the cocoa, berry and light vanilla bean aftertaste. This is always classic in an outstanding year. Best from 2010 through 2015. 1,500 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Wine Advocate # 183, Jun 2009

2004 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $112.00   Your Price: $98.56
Quantity in Stock: 6

(92 Points) Dried violets, berries and hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with racy, silky tannins and a tanned leather, berry aftertaste. Chewy. Needs bottle age to mellow. Better than the 2001. Best after 2010. 2,800 cases made. “JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only – 2009

2004 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $159.00    Your Price: $139.92
Quantity in Stock: 10

(93+ Points) The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.  Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.  Wine Advocate #188, Apr 2010

2005 Terralsole Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $49.75    Your Price: $43.78
Quantity in Stock: 43

This was a lighter vintage for Terralsole, very elegant with subtle cherry aromas.   It was quite accessible and shows its fresh fruit in perfect balance with it acidity and tannins. 

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  Beemster Gouda, Parmesan Reggiano

Wild Mushroom Carpaccio with Harpke Farms Micro Greens and Parmesan toast points

Smoked Duck and Mozzarella Raviolis with sundried tomato brown butter sauce

This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and there are only 14 seats available, the fee is $145+ tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.