Need help in buying a Brunello di Montalcino
 

I'm hoping there are some true oenophiles out there who can help me.

I would like to buy a very special bottle of Brunello di Montalcino for some friends as a thank you gift. I know very little about wine and know nothing about choosing a special wine of this caliber. I am looking to spend up to $300. (As you can see, this is a very special thank you.) Do any of you know of any reliable wine sellers that could help with this purchase? It will need to be sent to NY.

Thanks in advance.

There is no reason to spend $300 for a bottle of Brunello - good bottles can be had for <$50 in the US, or less if purchased in Italy. What makes a wine a "brunello di Montalcino" isn't the caliber, but rather the mix of grapes, and where they come from. The wine must be San Giovese grapes from the Montalcino area - and the wines from those grapes can be good or bad. This results in a rarity rather than a wine that is necessarily any better than a similar wine from a different region (i.e. Chianti or Montepulciano).

Any good local wine shop in the US can recommend a good quality Brunello, although I think NY State is one of those states that forbids commercial shipments of wine into the state. I suppose you can send it yourself if you wish.

I know you can't buy wine online for shipment to NY - they are big on collecting sin taxes.

This would really be a ridiculous purchase for anyone who wasn't a really studied oenophile. First, you can get the good stuff here in the USA without spending a fortune. Second, you have the recent scandals revolving around Brunello to deal with, meaning even someone who sort of knows what he's doing could get taken for a ride. And third, shipping it to NY State could be problematic.

I would suggest you save your dollars and just buy an interesting bottle of local wine that cannot be found in the USA and carry it home. Something well under $300.

Depending on where you'll be in tuscany and shopping for wine....I can recommend La Gerla winery, Pietroso winery (both near Montalcino and not available in the states) or go to the local enoteca in Montalcino and work with the owner who's grandfather was one of the original Brunello producers. They have a wonderful back room...the cafe/enoteca is right in downtown Montalcino

I do not know of any new Brunello's that are priced in the $300 range. Maybe Soldera. Gaja would be a good choice from the 2001 vintage but they are not at the $300 price point. Fair number of good Brunello's between $50 and $100. Might consider something from an older vintage such as 1999 or 1997. Might also consider one of the super Tuscan's. Might be able to source older vintages at a decent price here in the US which were bought before the dollar tanked.

Unhelpful answer

If you want to give anyone a good bottle at the $300 mark make it a Grange

Hi wj1,

You don't say where you are located, and nothing about wanting to buy this in Italy (only adding to your shipping headaches).

Go to
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
and plug in the information (Brunello di Montalcino) as if you want to buy the wine in New York State. 1997 is an excellent vintage suggestion. Look for a "Riserva" You'll see lots of choices, the most expensive for 1997 being an Altesino. I'll take one.

If you are unsure of the vendor, post a question on the U.S. forum.

Good luck.

JQ

1997 was the Brunello "year of the century". I'm certain that you can spend $300 on a bottle. Try wine searcher.com.

Thanks everyone.

My posting was obviously not as clear as it should have been. I'm in Cal. and want to ship this to someone in NY. (I just posted on this board because I was hoping that some of you would be knowledgeable about Italian wines.)

It's not that I'm looking to spend $300 or just looking for a bottle of good wine. What I want is a special Brunello that someone who does know a lot about wine and has their own deep pocketbook will also think is special. I didn't know that shipping to NY was problematic, so now I know that I need a NY wine seller.

I'll do some research and will be back. If anyone else has any ideas, they will be appreciated. Thanks.

See if you find a 1997 Siro Pacenti from a NY dealer--they will be very pleased.

definitely look for a 1997 vintage; look for a small vitner; small number of cases produced, etc. at the risk of offending some, i'd stay away from a very large importer like banfi - they produce bottles that are only sold in europe/italy and others that tend to be of lesser quality to ship outside of italy; somewhere, i have a chart we got in montalcino of the vintages between 1980 and 2007 with an assessment of each. i remember 97 as outstanding.

Try Sherry-Lehmann in NYC, Park Av. and 59th ST. They are on line also. You can look at the selection to get an idea and then call them directly. They are very helpful.

Personally, I think you can get a really fine Brunello for well under $300. Maybe you can send a basket with 2 or 3 bottles.

I also believe wine can now be shipped into NY State, but if you order from S-L, it won't be an issue either way. Good Luck.