La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino 2016

“Amazement awaits us at every corner.”  - James Broughton

People. You know how much we love you. We’d get you all in our warehouse for one colossal group hug if we could. Because of this boundless joy, we will try to ask politely, nay, IMPLORE you, nay, BEG you to not ever miss one drop of the glorious, incredible, angels-singing-from-the-heavens 2016 LA FORTUNA Brunello di Montalcino. YES, yes, 96 POINTS (and Wine Advocate 94) but, but…..LA FORTUNA! Our price is un-REAL. OK, that’s it, family meeting is over. Oh, wait, Suckling says in his writeup, “best ever?” Do what you must!!

Sorry for all that, but my goodness, as a wine-slinger for some 25 years, this is one of the greatest pride and joys to sell this. The Zannoni family (we hope to be seeing them in about 3 weeks on our Italy trip!) ALWAYS excels, but as you know, 2016 is a crowning achievement!! A legend in the making sort of vintage...ahhh!

OK. Calm. If you know La Fortuna, you, like, KNOW. You know it in your cells, in the atoms that make up your corporeal body --- this is some of the greatest Brunello being made. Started in 1907, the entire estate is centered around their centuries old Tuscan farmhouse, where the family has lived for over a century. Around 20 acres of vines are planted between two vineyard sites: one near Fulginiae and the other in the south near Castelnuovo dell'Abate. The northern site is a bit cooler, while the southern vineyards are warmer and each year they blend fruit from both locations.

THE WINE! Marvelous, dazzling, complex, rich yet laser-like, warm, splendiferous. SO MANY cherries we’ll have to go to cherry school. As always, we LOVE the whisper, the hint of citrus and citrus oils (tangerine?) and the perfect barrel spiciness, cigar box and just a full sense of glorious harmony. SO good!! OK, it’s probably almost gone…!

P.S. - this is a killer vintage to cellar. This wine will hold for up to 15 years - yes, it’s that good.