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Top 5 Brunello (Sangiovese) at the LCBO
Oregon & Washington State Wine & Food Expedition – Toronto – June 6
Experience the Wine, Food and Culture of Oregon and Washington State Monday, June 6, 2022 at Steam Whistle Brewery WineAlign members receive $40 off the regular price until May 22. We invite you to explore the Pacific Wine & Food Route with us. In the spirit of expedition and discovery, take a page from Lewis […] More
If I Could Buy Only One – April 30 VINTAGES Release
We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from this release, which one would it be and why?” Editor’s note: David and Sara were away for this release. ($24.95 Nicholas Pearce Wines Inc.) John Szabo – The Château De Montfaucon 2019 is my only one this week as it’s immensely satisfying and […] More
Buyer’s Guide to VINTAGES April 30 Release
John Szabo’s Vintage’s Preview April 30: “A Meal without Wine is a Bit Sad,” and Classic Regions By John Szabo, MS with notes from Michael Godel and Megha Jandhyala (David and Sara are away) A Meal without Wine is a Bit Sad Despite ongoing worldwide disruptions to economies and supply chains, skyrocketing production costs caused […] More
National Wine Awards of Canada
Discover Canada's best wines! In 2021, 24 judges tasted over 2,200 wines from 260 wineries across the country to identify Canada's top wines.
View Award-Winning WinesThe Exchange
The Exchange is a club that taps into the world of wines beyond retail stores and delivers a curated, mixed case of top quality wines directly to your door. All the wines are 90pts+ and have been carefully chosen by our panel of critics for their quality and value.
View The ExchangeMarket Matcher
Looking to find new export markets for your wines? Looking for new wines to import into your market? Market Matcher connects wineries with importers.
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Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most prestigious appellations in Italy, born in the 19th Century in its present form thanks to the efforts of the Biondi-Santi family, who defined its rules and have largely guided it to the present day. The wines are made from 100% Sangiovese grape, in particular from a clone called Sangiovese Grosso, or also as Brunello - hence the appellation's name. Traditionally, the wine goes through an extended maceration period where color, tannins and flavour are extracted from the skins. Following fermentation the wine is then aged in oak. Traditionally, the wines are aged 3 years or more in "botti" - large Slovenian oak casks that impart little oak flavour and generally produce more austere wines. Some winemakers will use small French barrels which impart a more pronounced vanilla oak flavour and add a certain fruitiness to the wine. Whatever the approach, wines must be aged for for years (with a minimum of two years in barrel) before being released, according to appellation rules.
