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Top 5 Brunello (Sangiovese) at the LCBO
If I Could Buy Only One – August 16th Vintages Release
We asked our writers, “If you could buy only one wine from the August 16th release, which one would it be and why?” Mullineux Old Vines White Wo Swartland 2024, South Africa$39.95, Nicholas Pearce Wines Inc.Michael Godel – The current and modern South African recursions of blending white varieties off of old vine plantings is […] More
Crafted in B.C. – A Special Report and Buyer’s Guide
by Geoffrey Moss, MW During the 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, the 24 judges took the time to taste through more than 80 so-called replacement wines made by BC wineries using imported grapes. The wines were considered in isolation – they did not receive medals, nor did the scores count towards the Winery […] More
Buyer’s Guide to Vintages August 16th Release
A Bushel of Adventurous Late Summer Whites (that are not Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc) by David Lawrason, with notes from John Szabo MS, Michael Godel and Megha Jandhyala The cover of the Vintages catalogue offers up a bland main course of Summer Smart Buys, with a side of “Favourite Greek Wines.” I am more pumped […] More
National Wine Awards of Canada
Canada's premier wine awards. In 2022, 24 judges tasted over 1,900 wines from 250 wineries across the country to identify Canada's top wines.
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Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most prestigious appellations in Italy, born in the 19th Century in its present form thanks to the efforts of the Biondi-Santi family, who defined its rules and have largely guided it to the present day. The wines are made from 100% Sangiovese grape, in particular from a clone called Sangiovese Grosso, or also as Brunello - hence the appellation's name. Traditionally, the wine goes through an extended maceration period where color, tannins and flavour are extracted from the skins. Following fermentation the wine is then aged in oak. Traditionally, the wines are aged 3 years or more in "botti" - large Slovenian oak casks that impart little oak flavour and generally produce more austere wines. Some winemakers will use small French barrels which impart a more pronounced vanilla oak flavour and add a certain fruitiness to the wine. Whatever the approach, wines must be aged for for years (with a minimum of two years in barrel) before being released, according to appellation rules.
