That Americans have a passion for Brunello is certainly not something we have just discovered. The numbers say it all (the USA counts for 30% of the market), as do the eagerly-awaited rankings that acclaim the world’s best wines every year. Two Montalcino labels appear in Wine Spectator’s Top 100, for example – Canalicchio di Sopra’s Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (No. 15) and Caparzo’s Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (No. 17), while at No. 35 in Wine Enthusiast’s “Top 100 Wines of 2018”, we find Castelgiocondo’s Brunello di Montalcino 2013.
Contrary to the two great American wine magazines, the famous wine critic, James Suckling, has gone a step further and dedicated a ranking of its own to Italian wine, which lists 2018’s best tastings, including no less than 11 Montalcino labels. In order, these are Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2013 from Casanova di Neri (No. 19), Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 from Eredi Fuligni (No. 20), Brunello di Montalcino Zodiac Riserva 2012 from Castiglion del Bosco (No. 23), Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2012 from Valdicava (No. 33), Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2012 from Casanova di Neri (No. 44), Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Paganelli Riserva 2012 from Il Poggione (No. 46), Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro Riserva 2012 from Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona (No. 59), Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 from Poggio Antico (No. 60), Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 from La Magia (No. 71), Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 from San Polino (No. 72) and Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella Riserva 2012 from Cortonesi (No. 82).