64 different Brunello di Montalcino 1999s

As I have already written (see inside information), 1999 seems to me to be an absolutely outstanding vintage for Brunello di Montalcino. See my detailed tasting notes on earlier vintages at 1998 and 1997.

I was amused to see that the head of the Consorzio admitted recently that in their initial official rating of the vintage they had underrated it – merely because they wished to give 1997 full glory at maximum score. But now they admit that 1999 is the equal of 1997 and, in many cases I think, even better. Certainly winemaking is more sophisticated...