NOVELIST Alexander McCall Smith tells a wonderfully funny story about a fictitious trip to Italy’s Montalcino. While there, he meets a wine producer whose land is rather unfortunately situated just outside the famous Brunello di Montalcino DOCG boundary, in the less valuable Rosso di Montalcino, amid the picturesque hills near Siena. Without going into too much detail, by the end of “My Italian Holiday” all is rectified (with the help of a bulldozer) and the happy producer now finds his vineyards safely within the zone of one of Italy’s great wines.
As we enter 2015 and look ahead at what it will mean for the world of wine, I’m reminded of this story. If it weren’t fiction, 2009 would have been just the year to set it in—in time to catch the 2010 growing season, the results of which, by all accounts, are very good. This month, the fine wine yea...
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January 30, 2015 7:33 AM
I can't wait to try those Brunellos and I second Will Lyons' recommendation of Chateau Talbot - a classic wine which never disappoints.
January 30, 2015 7:32 AM
I have never had a bad bottle of Brunello. I think I am now approaching 75 bottles comsumed here in the US and Italy.Just hope the prices do not go up as Burnello is an expensive wine but worth it.
January 30, 2015 7:32 AM
I expect the Grand Cru Bordeaux prices to drop significantly over the next year or two, as the Nouveau Rich Chinese buyers find their pocketbooks are not quite as full as they once were, as their once thriving economy slips into recession and will consequently be unable to buy the high-end Grand Cru Class Bordeaux's at the current inflated prices to show off in front of their Nouveau Rich friends.