Happy October Operatives!

Collettore Italiano, wake up and smell the…Brunello?

Yea, so what if it’s 9am and we have a glass of this on the desk? Strictly for the aromatics, of course. After all it smells WAY better than a Glade air freshener. Tastes better too. Wait, what?

Nevermind all that. We have a simple formula at work here. Take a TOP, tiny production gem in Montalcino, with a glowing 95+ point review calling it “A superb Brunello that ranks with the best from the vintage” and triple-check on our own palates to verify. OH YEA. That has ALLL the moxie, the gusto, and the chops. Next, make an absurdly low offer because we know you deserve it. This year especially. Then rejoice in amazement when they agree. Now we can deliver it to you on a silver platter, for about HALF OFF.

Told you it was simple.

But here’s the catch… These almost too good to be true lots are highly limited, and those who act fast win big.

In the meantime we recommend loading up what you can NOW, then circle back here after…

A gorgeous shade of deep-seated garnet with a crimson radiance on the edge greets the eye. The nose is utterly complex and captivating, with vivid cherries red and black, fresh herbs, savory spices. At once elegant and rich on the palate, it’s a modern styled Brunello hailing from the warmer southeastern corner of the region and aged in smaller French tonneaux. Galloni calls it “the more aggressive, richer of the two Brunellos” they make but it’s also impeccably balanced, with sneaky, silky fine tannins. Juicy on the finish, with a mineral core, dried red fruits, and a lingering intensity that sticks with you. Ready to pair with roast leg of lamb with rosemary, game birds, truffles, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, as some suggestions.

When a foremost Italian expert such as Antonio Galloni declares the Cortonesi family “pulled off a revolution of sorts” we listen. And if they pulled off a revolution, we completed a coup with this score.

Only 4,000 bottles were made, and we got a fraction of those. These are scarce, collector-grade wines, nearly impossible to find anything like it under $50. So seize the day!

95+ Points - Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“The Cortonesi family has pulled off a revolution of sorts at La Mannella. The Brunello di Montalcino Poggiarelli (first made in 1998) is a single vineyard wine located in Montalcino’s southern sector, near Castelnuovo dell’Abate. Though this area is one of Montalcino’s warmest, the Poggiarelli vineyard is located at 420 meters above sea level and so the microclimate is cooler than might be expected. The wine ages in 500 liter French oak tonneaux and is the more aggressive, richer of the two Brunellos. Good full red. Blueberry, red cherry, sweet pipe tobacco, minerals and spices on the nose, lifted by notes of violet and white pepper. Features terrific inner-mouth tension to the sappy crushed fruit flavors. This is richer, denser and deeper than Cortonesi’s 2013 Brunello, but is every bit as vibrant and silky, though clearly also more backward. Finishes long and precise, featuring ripe tannins and subtly complex notes of red fruit, game and saline, smoky underbrush. A superb Brunello that ranks with the best from the vintage. Drink 2023-2035.”

93+ Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Compared to the wine from the La Mannella site (with fruit from the northern part of the appellation), the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Poggiarelli is assembled with fruit located in the warmer southeastern quadrant of the region. You can immediately tell the difference between these two Brunellos. This expression is slightly softer, richer and shows even more volume. I am slightly partial to the La Mannella wine because it feels tighter and firmer. But this is a significant beauty as well. The oak aging between the two wines also differs. This version ages in tonneaux for two years, and the other wine goes into large oak casks for three years. This is the modern wine that is the classic Brunello. Bottle production here is a mere 4,000 units. Drink 2020-2030.