June 2008
I quaderni di WineNews: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Annata 2003 Biondi Santi
“Rigorous, to the point of intransigence, the style of Franco Biondi Santi’s wine remains, along with that of few other estates, as witness to the most intimate history of Italian oenology.
Even in a difficult year such as 2003, the Brunello made at Greppo leaves little room for uncertainties, conveying a sunny and consistent interpretation of this vintage.
With its ethereal and earthy aromas, it possesses a well-contrasted gustative progression, which culminates with a deep and lingering finish. The slightly evolved ruby colour is deceptive: it is still a young wine, destined to age brilliantly.”
Taken from: I Quaderni di WineNews issue no. 34 / June 2008
www.winenews.it |
June 2008
“Fare Brunello per crederci” (Making Brunello is believing) are the words used by Armando Castagno in the cover story that Bibenda (issue no. 28 May 2008) has dedicated to this latest memorable vertical of Biondi Santi Reserves..
Another milestone in the history of Greppo, another unforgettable vertical of Biondi Santi Reserves.
It is far too easy to remember the last of the 20th century and the first of the 21st.
The tasting of the century was organised on the 28th of September 1994 at Greppo.
A 100-year vertical with a total of 15 Reserves, from 1988 to the Reserve 1888, One Hundred Years of Brunello del Greppo Biondi Santi.
Three generations of Brunello: from Ferruccio Biondi Santi the inventor of Brunello, to Tancredi Biondi Santi who perfected the production technique (so much so that he was one of the people who inspired the production regulations), and Franco Biondi Santi, the perpetrator and custodian of the family’s oenological tradition.
Sixteen important journalists from all over the world were invited and the event was a considerable success.
Nicholas Belfrage of the English magazine Decanter found the Reserve 1881, a wine with the grand old age of 103, oenologically perfect, awarding it a score of 10/10.
Another important vertical was held on the 26th of February 2005 with Daniele Cernilli of the Gambero Rosso and some of those who collaborate with him. Several Reserves were tasted, from 1955 onwards, comprising the 1964.
The Reserve 1964 is a wine which evolves and expresses remarkable perfumes and flavours as time goes by, so much so that Luigi Veronelli compares it to a “beautiful flower that we aren’t sure when to pick” and Burton Anderson describes it as a sublime “wine for meditation” made with “the discipline of a Trappist monk”.
The last legendary vertical was held between Rome and Montalcino, in a sequence of three occasions, in March and April 2008.
A total of 24 Vintage and Reserve wines were tasted. 19 harvests, starting from Vintage Brunello 2001 and Brunello Reserve 2001 (both awarded top marks by Gambero Rosso, Duemilavini, Veronelli and Vini Buoni d’Italia), ending with Reserve 1955 selected by Wine Spectator as one of the world’s 12 best wines made in the 20th century, the only Italian ("Where would Italy be without the grand old wines of Biondi Santi?" is the title of James Suckling’s article published by the prestigious magazine). |
March 2008
Italy’s 50 finest wines according to Decanter
Italy is the home of a multitude of different style wines and the most famous estates also make different reserves. So which are the most prestigious Italian wines? Kerin O'Keefe has carried out an enquiry among the greatest experts in Italian wines of the famous magazine, Decanter.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Reserve Biondi Santi
occupies third place.
To find the answer, the famous magazine, Decanter, held a round table among 19 of the world’s leading experts, asking them to indicate their 5 best Italian wines of all time, and to specify the absolute best.
The Decanter dream list emphasises the inestimable variety of great Italian wines. Remember that this list does not specify the vintages but only the wines of all time held in greatest consideration.
www.decanter.com/news/195398.html
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March 2008
The 1000 Finest Wines Ever Made
Pekka Nukki, Finnish journalist, photographer and lover of great wines, together with a staff of qualified tasters, has drawn up a guide to the world’s finest wines: “The 1000 Finest Wines Ever Made”.
25th place is occupied by Brunello di Montalcino Biondi Santi 1891 (yes, that’s right, 1891), the first of all the Italian wines considered. In addition to the 1891 vintage, there are 6 more vintages from Franco Biondi’s Greppo Estate:
- Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi 1891 >> 99 points >> 25th
- Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi 1945 >> 93 points>> 692th
- Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi 1955 >> 95 points >> 397th
- Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi 1964 >> 94 points>> 552th
- Brunello di Montalcino Biondi Santi 1966 >> 92 points >> 829th
- Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi 1967 >> 92 points>> 888th
- Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Biondi Santi 1998 >> 92 points >> 817th
A further acknowledgement of the Biondi Santi "Greppo" Estate, cradle of Brunello and defender of tradition.
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