Brunello Di Montalcino Wine

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Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. is one of the most prestigious wines in Italy. D.O.C.G. stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. These letters are on the pink collar strip on each bottle of Brunello di Montalcino. The D.O.C.G., as a category, was created in 1980 and, out of hundreds of Italian wines, there are just 45 D.O.C.G.s in all of Italy. It is an elite and exclusive category of wine with many rules and regulations, including panel tastings for quality and maximum yields. Brunello can only be made from 100% Sangiovese, known in Montalcino as Brunello, grown on authorised vineyards. There are minimum and maximum altitudes for vine cultivation and there has actually been a freeze on authorisations since 1995. The maximum yield per hectare is 7.000 kg of grapes (the conversion to wine is 68%). The wine must spend 2 years in wood and cannot be released until the fifth January after harvest – so 2004 is on sale in 2009, 2005 in 2010 and so on and so forth. One of the DOCG regulations expressly forbids climate intervention, so any kind of manipulation of nature is forbidden. So no irrigation or smudge-pots and great variation from vintage to vintage. The heatwave of 2003 or the wet 2002 is expressed in Brunellos from these vintages. These troughs and peaks make it hair-raising for producers who can see a year’s work disappear in 10 minutes of hail, but make Brunello a fascinating wine for consumers. In an ideal scenario the difference in vintage quality should determine potential cellar aging – a petit vendage as they French so generously call them – should be consumed soon after release whereas the great vintages should be cellared for 5+ years or much more. Currently there are over 200 producers of Brunello, all essentially following the same “recipe”. What differentiates producers is essentially a mix of two variables; terroir and wood. An estate’s attitude to wood aging is usually a key to their whole wine philosophy. Terroir Montalcino has quite different subzones and an incredible variety of soil types, altitude and so on. Where an estate is – or where an estates’ vineyards are (not always the same thing) – can result in distinct markers. For example the south-west facing low altitude estates have soil that contains marine fossils and was once sea. This can come out in a salty tang or, at worse, as a brackish “salmastro” taste in the wines. The north-west estates tend to have greener tastes due to a slower maturatation due to their position. And so on and so forth. Wood : size, provenance, time in Brunello must spend two years in wood but the original DOCG regulations were for 4 years. The towns’ production is now split between modern “international” Brunello which relies on barriques, 225 liter French oak barrels, and the “traditional” producers who prefer to use the large “botti.” These barrels are made from Slavonian oak and are so large that they can be cleaned by hand i.e. someone actually goes in to scrape them out, and can be re-used for many years. The wood:wine ratio is clearly very different so barrique aged Brunellos tend to spend the minimum 2 years in wood whereas the traditional Brunellos can spend three or even the original four years in wood. The tertiary aromas from the different sized barrels are quite different. Montalcino has every kind of producer and wine philosophy; tiny estates with less than 2 hectares under vine, those who consult the moon before bottling, truly biodynamic properties, VIP owned boutique wineries, ancient Tuscan noble families, locally owned farms and huge conglomerates. Montalcino itself is a terrifically cosmopolitan community. An article recently highlighted that there are 44 nationalities in a town of 4.000 residents… – Description from Laurapal (hide)

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Popular wines made in Brunello Di Montalcino under $20

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Varietals Produced in Brunello Di Montalcino View all

Nebbiolo

History of the grape: Two schools of thought exist as to the origins of Nebbiolo (which means “little fog” either for...
Barbera

History of the grape: Barbera is a native to the Piedmont, where it has been growing for centuries, and is now the fo...
Cabernet Sauvignon

“King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...
Pinot Grigio

History of the grape: Pinot Gris was planted in Burgundy, France as far back as the 1300s. It then spread through Eur...
Sangiovese

Prounounced “San-joh-vay-say,” this Italian wine varietal is Tuscany’s #1 red wine grape. It’s the pistol of Central ...
Syrah

The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...

Popular Wineries in Brunello Di Montalcino View all

Podere La Vigna

Generations of the Rubegni family have farmed the area around Montalcino, well-known for its prod...
Poggio Antico

First of all the opinion of Arianna and Sabrina on the quality of Poggio Antico's wines. Arianna ...
Fattoria La Lecciaia

La Lecciaia acquistata da Mauro Pacini nel 1983, trasformata e dotata delle più avanzate tecniche...
Case Basse

Case Basse is an estate in the southwest area of Montalcino, where Sangiovese Grosso vines are gr...
La Magia

The winery "La Magia" lies just north of the roman abbey of St. Antimo. It is not only situated i...
Canalicchio di Sopra

In 1962 Primo Pacenti, a lover of the land with a knowledge of its products, founded Azienda Agri...

People getting updates on Brunello Di Montalcino Wines

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Brunello Di Montalcino on Snooth

Dec 23, 2009

23 December 2009 The Consorzio have just sent out a press release for the new traceability procedure via SMS. Send a text message to 0039 366 3008880 with the three capital letters from the pink DOCG strip, the 8 numbers from the strip and the bottle capacity. e.g. AAI 00930123 0.75 In a matter of moments an SMS comes flying back with t...

Comment by 193530Laurapal 193530
Dec 21, 2009

GIRO D’ITALIA 2010 is finishing up in Montalcino! Come and watch bicycles on 15 May. The 93rd edition of the Giro D’Italia will start in Amsterdam on 8 May 2010 and finish at the Verona arena on 30 May. There are 21 stages for a total of 3.415,50 km. For the second time in the race’s history the Giro will be going through Montalcino – on the...

Comment by 193530Laurapal 193530
Nov 27, 2009

Benvenuto Brunello 2010 - 19/22 February BB will be from 19-22 February @ the Fortress in Montalcino. This is an unique opportunity to see most of Montalcino two hundred plus producers standing cheek to jowl in their Sunday best in a tent. It also provides a wonderful occasion to sample 2005 Brunello and 2004 Riservas and form an opinion abou...

Comment by 193530Laurapal 193530
Nov 21, 2009

WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 WINES 2009 Congratulations to the three Brunello 2004s in the top 20 of WS's top 100 world wines: 11° Poggio il Castellare 15° Castelgiocondo Marchesi Frescobaldi 16° Uccelliera

Comment by 193530Laurapal 193530
Nov 18, 2009

Gambero Rosso Vini D'Italia 2010 - TRE BICCHIERI. Here are the 16 wineries that got the prestigious 3 bicchieri award for their Brunello 2004: Biondi Santi - Tenuta Il Greppo, Canalicchio - Franco Pacenti Canalicchio di Sopra La Cerbaiola Cerbaiona Podere La Fortuna Tenuta La Fuga Greppone Mazzi - Tenimenti Ruffino Poggio di Sotto T...

Comment by 193530Laurapal 193530
Nov 17, 2009

BENVENUTO BRUNELLO 2010 US DATES! Chicago has been chosen as the second U.S. city for the 2010 edition of Benvenuto Brunello. The Chicago tasting is scheduled for February 1 and will be part of a larger program devoted to the wines of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Chianti Classico, and Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene. The New York tasti...

Comment by 193530Laurapal 193530
February 2014

BB, I know I speak for the group when I say we all had a great time the other ... Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino. This is what I think sangiovese should be. Smooth with ripe stone fruit, fine tannin, a touch of earthiness and a long tongue coating finish that begged you to take another sip.We are all looking forward to Bob's nex... Read More

Forum post in the topic Heading to Charlotte- Looking...
February 2014

That was a great time! Thanks V.V., and the rest of the gang, for such ... ... such ... Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello Di Montalcino, Riserva "Santa Caterina D'Oro"Lovely nose of pretty spiced cherry that is moderately dense in character. Solid underneath with notes of flinty Earth.The palate is quite aromatic with licorice notes, black tea, and... Read More

Forum post in the topic Heading to Charlotte- Looking...
February 2014

Tenuta Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 2009

Snoothrank:

A blend of fruit fromt he northwest (Casale del Bosco) and the southeast (manachiara). Typically a blend from 20 vineyard plotsTight and focused on the nose. Reticent but with lovely hint of sour cherry and a tight little herbal notes over some gentle raw wood tones. Bright and vinous on the palate with lots of austerity and minerality adding ... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
February 2014

Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino 2009

Snoothrank:

Located at 1050 ft with a southeast exposure,Leathery and a little bretty on the nose with lovely aromas of old wood, dried tart cherry fruit, moss and minerally earth. Perfumy and attractive. Lovely texture in the mouth with ripe tannins, nice depth to the palate, and incipient complexity under the small strawberry and raspberry fruit flecked ... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
February 2014

Capanne Ricci Brunello di Montalcino 2009

Snoothrank:

On the southern side of the appellation in a relatively warmer zone at 900 feet of elevation , 10 to 12 days of maceration followed by three years in large slavonian oakOld wood and sour berries layered over tarry earth, forest floor, coffee and a little minty greets the nose.A bit austere smelling and spicy on the nose which turns rather tobacc... Read More

Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz
January 2014

Castello Banfi 2006

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by mannycorks
January 2014

Fattoria la Lecciaia Brunello 2006

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by ceekaynj
January 2014

Yeah, OT and Lucha have this tendency to send people off looking for ... on ... on some very tasty '04 Brunello di Montalcino when I came across this "medium Tuscan" for an outrageously cheap $5. It's my belief is that Sango marries well with merlot. If you pair it with Syrah or Cab, it just tastes like diluted Syrah or Cab and loses all its ... Read More

Forum post in the topic Whatcha drinking tonight?
December 2013

La Lecciaia Sangiovese Grosso 2004

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by ceekaynj
August 2013

Last November I opened a 5 liter Brunello di Montalcino to celebrate my 50th birthday and we were skeptic about it. The wine had bled out about an inch over the years due to warm weather, and the wax was cracked with bleed stain due to a few movings. But as we held our breath and kept our fingers crossed while making our first sip, the aroma o... Read More

Forum post in the topic Bleeding
Jul 27, 2011

Visited Tuscany the other week (stayed the lovely little village of Campagnatico) and tried the wines from Bolgheri, Montecucco, Morellino de Scansano, Montepulciano and of course Montalcino. Favourites where the Moris farms IGT wine Avvoltore, the Montecucco Riserva from Villa Patrizia and Pieve Vecchia Chorum . In Montalcino the Enotecas an...

Comment by 189779PBK 189779
Oct 12, 2010

Visiting for the first time in January. Suggestions of where to visit? Staying in Florence for two weeks!

Comment by 609606shannonpeter 609606
Aug 7, 2010

Can someone tell me how much a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino 1964 is worth? (Castiglione del Bosco) and Brunello di Montalcino 1979 (Val di suga) Thank you, Kristina

Comment by 549780Kristina427 549780
May 24, 2010

The Bonacchi 2003 Brunello di Montalcino at Trader Joes for 19.99 is worth the price. We brought back several bottles of more expensive Brunello from the region and while this wine does not compare with those, it is a lovely addition to a steak dinner or antipasto platter. For the price you can afford to share with friends and not break the ba...

Comment by 486231YM 486231

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