Finalmente! Yes, finally, the 2001 Brunelli are arriving. This much-ballyhooed vintage is here for you to taste. We are doing in-store tastings on Saturday, August 12 for any wishing to sample! Tiny Poggiarellino was last year’s introductory success. Its forward drinkability and price had everyone jumping out of their shoes. The 2001 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino ($29.99) shows that last year was no fluke, In fact, this wine has gone from fun to important. The 2001 lays a powerful, focused center right down the middle of your palate and is rich, fleshy with a chocolaty, ripe-cherry-flavor-filled body. The wine has considerable depth and a texture that makes me think of a Bistecca Fiorentina. This vintage shows far more complexity, layers of spice, distinct mineral components and a truly dramatic and long-lasting finish where the spice and minerals go on forever. Capable of aging 15-20 years easily yet balanced and rich enough to excite anyone today! 2,700 bottles made! The quality evolution at Pian dell’Orino has been dramatic. Mike P. and I tasted everything from their cellar through 2005, and we are supremely impressed by the quality of fruit character, the real terroir and subtle winemaking. The 2001 Pian dell’Orino Brunello di Montalcino ($39.99) is dense, muscular and dark like an Olympic swimmer returning from a month at the beach. Those muscles are long and sinewy, graceful, full of power yet the wine strides with an elegant balance, oozing confidence still with a reserve reminiscent of nobility. There is a chocolaty, cassis, plum-like flavor that fills the mid palate coiled around a powerful interior structure that gives the wine great length and allows these flavors to linger in the finish. Mixed in with the warm fruit-filled ripeness are hints of animal, fresh glove leather, stones and wild herbs that are subtly present yet add to the complex background and are more present in the finish. Long, powerful and decidedly delicious, this is a wine that will age 10-15 years easily although so well balanced you could drink it now. The 2001 Pian dell’Orino “Piandorino” ($17.99) a truly wonderful blend of 75% sangiovese, 15% merlot and 10% cabernet sauvignon aged half in barrique and half in large oak, is REALLY good! The 2004 Pian dell’Orino Rosso di Montalcino ($19.99) is some truly serious sangiovese. This is a vintage to be reckoned with; in a few years the 2004 vintage will be the thing! Some other fantastic wines just arriving are the 2001 Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino ($39.99), with its luscious ripe fruit and easy drinkability, as well as its neighbor the 2001 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino ($39.99), which is really good in this vintage and seriously focused. Another unheard of wine is the 2001 La Mannella Brunello di Montalcino “I Poggiarelli” ($44.95). Three Stars! Marco Cortonesi produces honest, elegant and deliciously drinking wines. His “I Poggiarelli” vineyard release has layers of complex dark wild cherry flavors that jump out of the wine. It highlights a real sauvage character: spice, saddle leather, earth all balanced in a supple, graceful wine. No blockbuster alcoholic monster, just a really complex, fun wine with elegance and charm, like Audrey Hepburn but with a tan, on the beach, and after a few cocktails. Only 291 cases produced. —Greg St. Clair