Attilio Pagli - Giulio Salvioni’s consulting winemaker - and I are not entirely in agreement about the 1999 Brunello di Montalcino. I consider it potentially the best in the history of the house, while Pagli continues to hold out for the 1987. Salvioni himself prefers to remain above the fray and appears to be staking his bets on 2001. Be that as it may - and wouldn’t it be nice if more wines triggered off discussions of this type? - this is a stunning bottle of Brunello di Montalcino, deep ruby-garnet in color, powerful, sweet and expansive on the nose with ripe plum and wild cherry fruit and lovely notes of rosemary and leather, packed and polished in flavor, solid, supple, long, and complete. A wine which will still be drinking well in 2020, but already hard to resist. Importer: Vias, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-3095

Very inky color. Concentrated aromas of blackberries, treacle tart and brown sugar, with hints of raisins. Full-bodied, and very concentrated, with loads of raisin character and ripe tannins. I like it very much. Extreme style of Brunello, like Amarone in Montalcino. Best after 2006. 820 cases made, 100 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Brunello di Montalcino Select to Add