Maybe AG will come on to talk about the article.
With all the respect to the best writer about Italian wines in the US,
I think he says it all rather forward, but not too harsh.
The situation is, as he describes.
And when you read the article AG doesn´t have to come and talk at different forums to explain himself.
Maybe it is not too much fun for people ITB, but they can always sell something different.
He doesn’t have to come on and talk. But that leaves some questions unanswered.
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I’m confused. The WS this week touts the 09 Brunellos as good for earlier drinking and there is a long list of 90+ point wines.
Who should I believe?
I don’t think Cali, Burgundy or Bordeaux have the kind of “zone strength/marketability” that Montalcino has. I think folks associate the word Brunello with quality, or so that has been my experience on the broad scale.
My point, Ian, was only that the 10% figure, whether applied to Montalcino or bdx or the Rhone or any other region, seems awfully optimistic. Unless you are a much more giving soul than I am and use “great” more generously. And no doubt you are.
It would be hard to get to 5% in any wine zone for the world for great wine. Good - very good might be 10%.
I should have wrote less than 1% 
, but I didn’t want folks to focus on that. And in that less than 1%, one of them has no wine to sell until…???
I think almost all Brunello is vastly overpriced in any vintage. I agree with Ian that very few are living up to the reputation and pricing of the region. Whenever I compare wines from Brunello, Montepulciano, and Chianti, I’m left wondering why people bother with the vast majority of Brunello. In any vintage, I’ll take Avignonesi Vino Nobile, to name just one, over pretty much any Brunello that’s twice the price (I can’t think of any exceptions, but there’s probably one), and even quite a few that are well over twice the price.
I think it’s a combination of the long aging and/or yields not being low enough. It’s a balance that needs to happen.
When I read Kerin O’keefe’s recent book “Brunello Di Montalcino Understanding and Appreciating One of Italy’s Greatest Wines”, I was stunned at how many Montalcino producers are blending wine from vineyards that are distantly located within the appellation, and that probably represent quite disparate terroirs.
I love that book.
Doesn’t it always come down to producers you trust whose style matches your palate? I’m a fan of Il Poggione & Talenti and would be inclined to buy these wines in '09 as long as the pricing looks good. I no longer subscribe to any critics since 2011. '08 wasn’t raved about either and I’m still trying to buy some Talenti.
The 09 vintage is weaker than the 08 vintage. And in a region as big as Montalcino you shouldn’t be reduced to buying from only 2-3 producers.
I buy colleoni santa maria brunello every year,2009 too.Tasted 2005 recently,delish wine in a weak vintage,and he is like 600 m above sea lavel.It is always good wine for me.But like others quoted pruducer first then vintage.
If this is the Kermit wine I want to try it!
Craig.I dont know who the importer in USA is.But it is wonderful traditional brunello.he ony makes like, i think,3000-5000 bottles,and in Denmark,you have to be on the importer list to get them .
Yes, Kermit. The 2009 was disappointing
Had a terrific old school '08 Baricci last night and will post TNs today.
Bump.