Benvenuto Brunello - Houston

The Consorzio del Vino Brunello Montalcino was in Houston last month giving local media and wine professionals the opportunity to taste the newest vintage of the region's premium wines. Guy Stout, Houston's first and favorite Master Sommelier, led the guided tasting and seminar with Giacomo Pondini, president of the Consorzio. He opened with memories of the sights and tastes of his own visits there and assured the attendees that "Montalcino is a sweet spot on planet Earth"; encouraging those who not been, to go.

The Consorzio has given the 2012 vintage its highest rating of 5 stars and Stout said tasters should expect the wines to be "fresh, fleshy and upfront." The wines are all made from 100% Sangiovese and come from the Montalcino region of Italy. Stout went through the region's stringent production regulations and reminded attendees that wine style is always influenced by the choices of a winemaker in regards to barrels and aging.

The Tasting:

Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 - Stout referred to this wine as a "more modern style of Brunello" opting to age the wine approximately 12 months in French oak and 14 months in Slavonian oak. With bright juicy flavors of cherry, cranberry and raspberry the wine was fresh, smooth and easy to enjoy right now. $58- SRP

Corte dei Venti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 - Winemaker Andrea Brocco introduced his wine. He opts for a more traditional approach at his family winery. The 7 acre vineyard yields looser grape clusters that ripen well on the clay and stone soils of the southern Sant' Angelo area of the region. The grapes are fermented in temperature controlled tanks followed by 36 months in oak barrels before bottle aging. The wine exhibited dried cherry and apricot with leather and a bit of tobacco in the long finish. Guy Stout pronounced it, "Delizioso!." $54-SRP

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 - Combining sustainable, diversified farming with a traditional approach to winemaking is how this fifth generation wine family creates wines of deep color with intense aromas and flavors. Winemaker Alessandro Bindocci also credits the 25+ year old deep-rooted vines on the property and says he believes that "Sangiovese should always be in the spotlight". Bindocci explained they ferment a bit differently using the submerged cap technique which keeps the must and grape skins in contact throughout the process. They exclusively use large French oak barrels for the first 36 months of aging followed by a minimum of 4 months in the bottle. The result is a bigger tannic structure with more pronounced aromas and flavors of cranberry, cherry, rose and black tea in the lingering finish. $85-SRP

Paradisone Colle degli Angeli Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 - Winemaker Federico Donini has a diverse mix of soils on his property. Four different wines are created from the different plots of this sustainably farmed 8 acre vineyard. The best is aged for 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels with 30% aged separately in small French barriques and added to the other 70% after a year. Another traditional Brunello with cranberry, apricot, tea, dried leaves, cedar and a savory note in the long finish. $90-SRP

Sasso di Sole Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 - Located in the northeast part of the region, the winery's name means sunstone and it is in reference to a large rock that reflects light across the property. Roberto Terzuoli says the wines are fermented and then aged in stainless steel tanks for twelve months and then aged another 36 months in Slavonian oak. Stout called this wine " a solid, made in the traditional style Brunello". Good structure with a little tannic grip, well-balanced with cherry, leather, tobacco and cedar with a lengthy finish. $60- SRP

Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino 2012 - The vineyard has mineral rich sandy clay soils with a bit of gravel. Winemaker Andrea Cortonesi ages his wines in a combination of Slavonian oak barrels and French oak barriques for 36 months with an additional 10 months in bottle. Fruit forward with raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors. Guy called this wine firm, "with tight, almost puckery tannins" and felt it was a "modern meets traditional style". $72- SRP

Villa al Cortile Brunello di Montalcino 2012 - This wine was aged for two years in oak barrels and two years in stainless steel and bottle. Very traditional in style, it had aromas and flavors of roses, tart cherry, sun-dried tomato, leather, cedar and tobacco with juicy acidity and a long finish. $49.99- SRP

Villa Poggio Salvi Brenello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva 2011 - This wine is aged for forty months in Slavonian oak barrels creating a more traditional style. Tart cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors with dried oregano, leather and tobacco in the lingering mineral-laced finish. $85- SRP

All of the wines are highly recommended, consider picking one up soon. As Guy Stout concluded, "Everyday is a good day when you are drinking Brunello!"

Wines tasted on January 19, 2017. Also pictured in the collage is the Barbi Brunello di Montalcino, a favorite from the walk around tasting.