SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:

This is an exceptionally rare and small quantity wine that is from a boutique producer in the Montalcino region. The Wine Spies has secured a very limited allocation and will be offering it at an exceptional price today. If you are a fan of seductive Tuscan classics, get yourself some of this delicious Brunello di Montalcino.

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Mission Codename: The Little Beauty

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exclusive and seductive 2006 Brunello di Montalcino for our operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Azienda Agricola Fornacina

Wine Subject: 2006 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Winemaker: Atilio Pagli

Backgrounder:

Brunello di Montalcino occupies a special place in the hearts of all Wine Spies. Coming from a very distinct and designated (DOCG – officially designated in 1967 as one of Italy’s first DOC classified wines) region in Tuscany about 70 miles south of Florence, Brunellos typically are the best wines produced from the Sangiovese grape. By regulation, Brunellos must be produced by using a 100% Brunello clone of the Sangiovese grape, hence the mystic and lore of this exceptional wine. Typically, Brunellos are among the most expensive Italian wines, which is why today’s wine is such an exceptional offering.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep and dark black cherry Jell-O tints with crystal core that has garnet streaks when held to the light. When swirled, this springy wine settles quickly in the glass and leaves tight clusters of thin legs that ring the glass.

Smell – Redolent upon opening with ripe and earthy red Italian cherry and other dark ripe berries that blend with savory green herbs and an earthy undertone. Once this wine opens up you’re greeted with a complex and well integrated blend of licorice, exotic spice including cloves and cinnamon, soft oak and hints of floral lavender and other flowers.

Feel – Very smooth and dry, this full-bodied wine has finely textured tannins and lively and tangy acidity along with soft textured minerality that dries as it glides over the tongue and lingers long into the finish.

Taste – Both tangy but also restrained dark ripe cherry, dried plum and raisins that are perfectly integrated with a very complex blend of the aromas found on the nose in this old-world wine. Soft licorice, earthy hints, exotic spice and savory herbs are all framed with a toasty oak component.

Finish – Clean and long with this wines tangy cherry lingers for several minutes with its spice and herb notes.

Conclusion – Like the previous vintage we reviewed of this wine, the beautiful 2006 Agricola Fornacina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG is truly a special and unique wine that shows great finesse and depth from the first sniff through to the last lingering finish. Decant this wine if you are going to enjoy it now or cellar for the next decade. Enjoy this wine with a grilled game or a classic Tuscan pasta!

Mission Report:

WINERY INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Mauro Biliorsi, Owner

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Mauro. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Brunello di Montalcino today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

MAURO: Thank you for featuring our beautiful Brunello di Montalcino.

WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

MAURO: We have a written record where the great grandfather of my father (Roger Biliorsi) in 1922 informed the supervisory authority of that time, the sale of a small amount of wine. That is to say that the production of wine is a family tradition with deep roots in the past. And in general, the wines produced in Montalcino were written about in ancient texts dating back to the 1200’s

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

MAURO: It is not possible to compare Brunello di Montalcino to other wines. Let it suffice to say that it is the only Italian DOCG wine label produced with only a single type of grape: Sangiovese. The Sangiovese in Montalcino, thanks to the special microclimate and soil, gives us a wine with unique characteristics that cannot be reproduced elsewhere.

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

MAURO: My grandfather produced the wine for family use, but my father in 1981 decided to “professionalize” the production for it to become a business. The facts proved him right, from a few hundred bottles produced in 1981, after 30 years we have reached an average production of 20 to 25,000 bottles, broken down by type and vintage Brunello, Brunello Riserva (only in exceptional years) and Montalcino Rosso . Our cellar has been completely renovated, which allows us to work to exploit the full potential of our grapes and achieve better results.

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

MAURO: With an important wine, an important dish. We recommend red meat (pork, wild boar), venison, grilled meats and cheeses in general. It ’important to pour the wine into a decanter before drinking it to oxygenate it or uncork the bottle at least 4-5 hours before. In any case, the ideal temperature is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Montalcino region so special?

MAURO: There is no doubt that the territory of Montalcino is a very special area. The microclimate, soils, exposure to the sun and the winds make this area truly special. In fact, climatic conditions and excellence in the production of wine it is spoken about in the writings of the Middle Ages. The finding of well-preserved archeological sites where human presence is demonstrated in the era before Christ’s birth and even in prehistoric times demonstrates that, Montalcino, is an area that has always been noticed by man.

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

MAURO: At this time, after the harvest, we are at the stage of fermentation (stage where the “grape must” is transformed into wine through the process that turn sugar into alcohol) and in the coming days will proceed to the “racking” operation in open stainless steel tanks where the wine was made, proceeding or separate the wine from the “dregs” (skins of grapes that have a key role in the ’supply of color, trace elements and polyphenols).

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

MAURO: All of our wines are produced using traditional methods while also employing extremely modern instrumental devices. Therefore, they are long-aging wines that have a tendency to get better over the years. We must not hurry to uncork the bottles that can be stored safely for years. In this case it is important to keep them in a horizontal position, in the dark at a cool temperature without thermal shock. In tasting the wines it is more important to begin with the younger ones first and to continue chronologically older in order to better appreciate the characteristics of each.

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

MAURO: We will never tire of saying that our wines refer to the tradition of the wines of Montalcino. A recipe that has made unique and famous throughout the world the territory of Montalcino, otherwise unknown to most people, so we do not feel the need to “invent” anything new. We cannot confirm that our tendency, even today (at this time of financial difficulty around the world), continues to reward us in many points of view, confirming that our product philosophy is the right one. Tradition which comes from a constant presence in the vineyards, careful selection of grapes before the ’beginning of maturation, low production per hectare, traditional vinification and aging exclusively in large barrels (20 to 35 hl.) made of Slovenian oak without the use of barriques. And finally,the ’attention to detail which, added together, can make a difference.

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Azienda Agricola Fornacina in the famed village of Montalcino can be seen in this satellite photo.