New Belfrage book on Tuscan wines

WINE TALK
1

Has anyone else checked out Nicolas Belfrage’s The Finest Wines of Tuscany and Central Italy: A Regional and Village Guide to the Best Wines and Their Producers? (http://ucpress.edu/books/pages/11618.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

I’ve liked Belfrage’s other books on Italian wine and I thought this was terrific. It’s well written (a rarity in wine reference works) and it’s open-minded about different styles but nonetheless conveys who makes which kinds of wines and, subtlely, the author’s preferences. The pix are gorgeous, too. (Are there any more beautiful people than patrician Tuscans?)

Claude Kolm pointed out that it inexplicably omits Paolo Bea in Montefalco, but otherwise it seems pretty thorough. I’m not an expert on Tuscan and Umbrian wines, though, so I’d be curious to hear what other people think.

2

Have not seen it yet, John, but off your recommendation (and the fact that I have some unused “gift cardage” at Amazon), I will now put it in my cart [wink.gif] .

3

Good price at Amazon - only $23 - Amazon.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

4

It’s a bargain given the high production values. The University of California Press is the official imprint in the U.S., but the book was put together by the World of Fine Wine people and exceeds even their design standards.