{"title":"Brunello 10.8.26","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"g19","title":"Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eImporter commentary:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The noble Costanti family goes back a long way – at least to Renaissance times. One of several famous counts, Costanti – Tito – was both a lawyer and a winemaker, and anticipated the present DOCG and DOC denominations. Not only was he one of the very first to use the name Brunello for Montalcino red wines, but the methods he employed were strikingly similar to those used for Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"paragraph-spacing-none\"\u003e\"Costanti Brunellos, however, were jealously guarded wines until the early 1960s, circulating solely among the owners’ friends and family. This changed with count Emilio Costanti, physician and grape-grower, who first put the family name on the wine map. Dr. Costanti had no children. After maximizing the winery’s potential and releasing the first “public” vintages, Emilio traced the sole living descendant of the ancient Sienese family, Andrea Costanti, a fresh graduate in geology at the University of Siena with no background in wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"paragraph-spacing-none\"\u003e\"Andrea was appointed as the legendary count’s heir and successor in 1983 and immediately proved himself well worthy of Emilio’s trust. He not only coped with his new responsibilities but enhanced the family’s reputation for making great Brunello. Andrea achieved this by relying on his excellent instincts for wine, and an in-depth knowledge of the terrain’s geological components. In time, these natural skills were perfected, so that he eventually styled the range together with the winemaker, Vittorio Fiore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Deep ruby red with brilliant garnet reflections, the bouquet is rich, ample and intense with notes of brushwood, berries, plums, violets, spices and vanilla confirmed on the palate; wonderful elegance and balance, lush concentration, voluptuous body and silky, smooth tannins. Shows power and finesse all at once.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCritical acclaim:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e“99 points. The compelling Conti Costanti 2021 Brunello captivates with pronounced aromas of fragrant purple flower, eucalyptus, Mediterranean brush and perfumed berry. All about class and extreme finesse, the elegant palate delivers succulent wild raspberry, crushed Marasca cherry, spiced orange zest and star anise set against a backbone of fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity lends balance and great intensity. Year after year Andrea Costanti turns out what are among the very best wines from Montalcino, and the 2021 is no exception, it’s an absolute stunner with great aging potential. Drink 2031–2046.” – Kerin O’Keefe, November 15, 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47354497466601,"sku":"I44443","price":134.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_7687a7b2-197e-4273-a2ed-39819c82973d.png?v=1631804895"},{"product_id":"g42","title":"Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2013","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\"There is something almost mystical about the Brunello di Montalcino from the wonderful estate of Valdicava. The mystique must emanate from the sublime vineyards on the north side of Montalcino, which produce arguably the most exquisite grapes. And, of course, the guru- like dedication of the owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese has also contributed to the craft of these lovely Tuscan sangiovese.\" - James Suckling\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA wine with a 98-point score is one thing; a wine chosen as James Suckling’s\u0026amp;nbsp;Wine of the Year is another entirely. The 2013 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino belongs to that very small club of bottles that manage to be both seismic and disciplined, powerful yet etched with precision. And unlike the usual hunt through dusty cellars or speculative secondary markets, this offer comes directly from Valdicava’s own winery reserves—perfect provenance, perfect maturity, zero guesswork.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe 2013 vintage marked a return to tension and classical proportion in Montalcino, a year where Sangiovese ripened slowly and beautifully, collecting nuance rather than weight. In Valdicava’s hands, that vintage becomes a study in controlled intensity: soaring aromatics of cherry liqueur, violets, leather, iron, and spice; a palate that moves from broad, muscular power into a long, almost architectural finish; tannins that have now softened into a deep, confident hum. Fully mature and entering its prime drinking window, this is Brunello ready to perform at full volume without losing its lineage of elegance.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWhat makes this release especially remarkable is its source. Very few estates in Montalcino hold back perfect-condition stock for later release, and even fewer do so from vintages that critics unanimously consider among the decade’s finest. The result is a bottle that tastes not only of vintage and terroir but of intention—the estate’s belief that this wine deserved time, and that we would be better for waiting.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIf Brunello is a lifelong conversation between hillsides, seasons, and the people who tend them, 2013 Valdicava speaks one of its most articulate dialects. Suckling called it “a wine with soul,” but the bottle says the rest.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWinery-direct, impeccably cellared, and drinking at its peak.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis product is not equally allocated across our stores. Please allow extra time for delivery.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Misa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42399083823337,"sku":"20639737973789","price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_86d2cdfd-7269-4c7d-bdb5-20a57ca80deb.png?v=1631809776"},{"product_id":"h7","title":"Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino 2021","description":"","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44946685231337,"sku":"405A","price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_45e569c6-e1f8-444e-ab2b-d115aeeba260.png?v=1631987864"},{"product_id":"tenuta-caparzo-rosso-di-montalcino","title":"Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43811952984297,"sku":"I42020","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/Websiteblank_76907e25-e2a6-4bbb-a5f8-d4a97c73af84.png?v=1691444503"},{"product_id":"ciacci-piccolomini-brunello-di-montalcino-normale","title":"Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2021","description":"","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45707068408041,"sku":"6092","price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-7560.png?v=1702579990"},{"product_id":"terre-di-montalcino-brunello-di-montalcino","title":"Terre di Montalcino - Brunello di Montalcino 2020","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48171991728361,"sku":"I57000","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"ca-dei-zago-vino-spumante","title":"Ca' dei Zago Valdobbiadene DOCG Metodo Classico Dossagio Zero 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the importer:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Family” is a buzzword you hear in all businesses, but after a couple of minutes with Christian Zago, the 5th generation of the eponymous natural Prosecco winery in the heart of Valdobbiadene, you realize that in this particular case it’s not a marketing cliché. Family is naturally present in virtually everything this athletic-built farmer points out while showing you around. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe most important part of this family legacy is the vineyards—now 6.5 hectares in total—and the way the Zagos treat them. Since the beginnings as a mixed farm in 1924, they have never used chemical fertilizers, an approach that Christian is taking even further as an avid practitioner of biodynamics. “Nature is stronger than you. If you break the balance in the vineyard by trying to control it, you can’t recreate it in the cellar, only temporarily coerce the wine into a fake, short-lived equilibrium,” he asserts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe vines come mostly from old rootstock and Christian’s own massal selection nursed right next to their house. Seeing all this thinking in circles is a great way to get the gist of what the word “biodynamic” (sometimes used as an attractive label, or misunderstood\/dismissed as esoteric wizardry) actually means in the real life of a grower: a lot of respect for the soil you live off and seeing the global resources cycle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe vineyards in Valdobbiadene are quite steep, forbidding almost all use of machinery. No wonder it sometimes takes as much as four times the amount of work compared to the lower parts, where millions of liters of industrial Prosecco (with taste and charm as flat as the vineyards) are born; up here in the hills, you gotta work. Having made the hike, the Zago wines feel like even more of a bargain than they did before, both for the entry-level \u003ci\u003eCol Fondo\u003c\/i\u003e or their \u003ci\u003eMetodo Classico,\u003c\/i\u003e a more chiseled side of Zago showcasing the unique terroir of Bastia, a 2-hectare single vineyard with old, complanted vines right next to the famous Cartizze cru. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWaterford commentary: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd this persistence has paid off - here is one of the most dramatic \"Proseccos\" you are ever going to taste: A delicate pale straw hue with glistening, fine bubbles rising steadily, creating a lively and elegant mousse. Bright and inviting, with aromas of crisp green apple, zesty lemon zest, and subtle hints of white peach. There’s a gentle floral note of acacia blossoms, intertwined with a faint touch of freshly baked brioche. The effervescence is smooth and refined, delivering a refreshing burst of citrus fruits—grapefruit and green apple—balanced by a touch of pear and a hint of almond. It’s crisp yet creamy, with a well-rounded mouthfeel and a perfect balance of depth and vibrancy. Clean and refreshing, with lingering notes of citrus and a touch of minerality, leaving the palate feeling refreshed and uplifted. The delicate, persistent bubbles provide a lively finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs you may have guessed by now, Christian is one of the new wave of Prosecco producers returning to traditional methods to make exceptional sparkling wine. This wine is made in the Metodo Classico style - the Champagne method, with zero sugar added. In 2020, the resulting sparkling wine was not allowed to be called Prosecco, hence is long unusual name. But no matter. This is one of the best of the best, and we have it at an exceptional price. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCritical acclaim:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"95 points. Single-vineyard sophisticated sparkler, made with grapes painstakingly\u003cbr\u003etaken care of by the hand of third-generation winemaker Christian Zago, who follows\u003cbr\u003ebiodynamic principles and even makes his own compost. The result is a wine of superb precision and purity, with wet stone undertones and bright citrus acidity for days.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Johnson\/Phillips","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48621311918313,"sku":"1587216","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1895.png?v=1753723867"}],"url":"https:\/\/waterfordwine.com\/collections\/brunello-10-8-26.oembed","provider":"Waterford Wine and Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}