Cellar Series : Brunello di Montalcino

The IWFS Capital Branch launched its Cellar Series – dinners where we pour super-premium current release wines and compare them to more mature peer wines from previous vintages. Several of the aged wines are being sourced from members’ private cellars and not available on the market.

Our inaugural dinner focused on Brunello di Montalcino, from Tuscany. And the wine lived up to the billing of ‘who doesn’t love Brunello?’, as one collector had remarked to us. The wines were paired with a three course meal from 67 Pall Mall’s outstanding gourmet kitchen. While tasting the wine, information was imparted on the fascinating history of the region (including delving into the Brunello-gate scandal of the noughties), the terroir in different zones around Montalcino, and the personal stories of the producers. 

All in all, the reaction from the nine participants was one of universal praise, both for the drinkability of the current vintage 2018s and the enduring qualities of the back vintages, stretching back 25 years. Only one wine - the 2006 Il Palazzone Riserva was deemed to have truly 'peaked'. The others still had life and energy remaining to give. 

The list of Brunellos drunk that evening are below.

2018 Fuligni

2018 San Polo

2018 Casanova di Neri - Tenuta Nuova

2006 Il Palazzone Riserva

2001 Valdicava (3rd placed wine)

1999 Fanti Tenuta San Filippo (WINE OF THE NIGHT)

1998 Poggio di Sotto (2nd placed wine)

The wines were preceded by a refreshing glass of 2017 Methius Brut Riserva Trentadoc - a lovely example of Italian traditional method sparkling wine.