Let's talk Brunello for a minute or two ...
The total surface area of the territory is 59,305 acres of which only 8,648 acres (or about 15%) is under vine. Brunello di Montalcino makes up 5120; Rosso di Montalcino 1260 ... the rest is a mix of Moscadello, Sant'Antimo and other wines. For the purposes of the this tasting the majority of the wines fell under the Brunello and Rosso designation, so let's take a peak at what we're getting into with these wines.
Brunello di Montalcino is a DOCG wine - the highest level in the Italian wine designation. It is made up of Sangiovese, has a maximum yield of 8 tons per hectare, must be aged 2 years in oak and a minimum of 4 months in bottle (6 months for Riserva designation).
Rosso di Montalcino is at the DOC level - is made with Sangiovese and yields in the fields in 9 tons per hectare
So let's take a look at the tastings and the wines that were being poured on this day ...
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| It was a packed room at the AGO in Toronto full of lovers and tasters of Brunello |
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| These fine folks swarmed the food table like locusts, but it's the wines that were truly impressive here |
The Wines that Impressed (in alphabetical order by producer) ...
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| Argiano 2009 Brunello di Montalcino cassis and wood spice with hints of dried-spiced cranberry (****) |
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| Banfi 2011 Rosso di Montalcino "Poggio alle Mura" spiced cranberry and cherry with a touch of cinnamon (*** 1/2+) |
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| Banfi 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva "Poggio all'Oro" silky smooth entry, great spice and dried fruit with cherry and heavily oaked (****+) |
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| Barbi 2011 Rosso di Montalcino juicy with a spicy finish (*** 1/2+) |
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| Canalicchio di Sopra 2011 Rosso di Montalcino red cherry and red licorice with an anise backing; lively and juicy with pretty floral undertones (****) |
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| Capanne Ricci 2012 Rosso di Montalcino licorice nose with a lovely red fruit of mainly raspberry then sweeps in a sweet herbal note (****) |
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| Caparzo 2009 Brunello di Montalcino anise, spiced cherry and silkiness of sweet oak on the finish (****) |
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| Caparzo 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva sweet black licorice and delicious spice (****+) |
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| Caprili 2009 Brunello di Montalcino sweet red licorice on the nose yet upon entry turns anise with oaky/cedary finish; impressive is the cherry-chocolate and herbal mid palate (****) |
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| Col D'Orcia 1997 Brunello di Montalcino smooth with wood smoke, herbal and vanilla, cinnamon spice; really shows the longevity of Brunello wines. (****) |
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| Collosorbo 2012 Rosso di Montalcino black cherry dominates with plum backing; shows nice creamy texture with vanilla notes (****+) |
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| Collosorbo 2009 Brunello di Montalcino macerated cherry, vanilla and spice; comes off sweet but is ultimately tasty (****) |
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| Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2011 Rosso di Montalcino smooth and silky with dark cherry and good acidity (****) |
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| Gianni Brunelli - Le Chiuse di Sotto 2008 Rosso di Montalcino smoked anise seed, nicely balanced with wood spice, vanilla, dark fruit and smothered in herbal; nice complexity here (****+) |
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| La Fortuna 2009 Brunello di Montalcino floral, cherry, sweet vanilla smoke, lovely aromas, pretty palate, balanced with good acid/spice ratio, a real winner. (**** 1/2) |
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| La Magia 2009 Brunello di Montalcino vanilla, cherry and wood smoke; well-balanced with nice mouthfeel (****+) |
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| La Mannella 2009 Brunello di Montalcino "Selezione I Poggiarelli" great spice and concentration of fruit (****) |
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| Loacker - Corte Pavone 2011 Rosso di Montalcino quite cherry of fruit with nice white pepper finish (*** 1/2+) |
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| Tenuta San Giorgio 2008 Brunello di Montalcino vanilla, cherry, anise, white pepper and sweet herb (****) |
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| Villa Poggio Salvi 2009 Brunello di Montalcino plenty of wood here wrapped with dried dark berries and mocha (****) |
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