Two wines, poles apart in style and yet share a common factor: Greatness!

Very rarely have I tasted a wine and felt rooted to the spot and filled with excitement.

I recall the first time I tasted this wine, I was with my good friend Marco Molesini, we were guests of the Consorzio at Benvenuto Brunello in Montalcino where the 2006 vintage was released.

It was the third wine I tasted that morning. The following day I ordered 12 bottles: not an easy wine to purchase, but I was relentless in my quest!

The bottle you see in the photo was my last of those twelve. And it still was as fresh and appealing as it had been over the past years.The purity of flavours was compelling.

My tasting notes for this monumental wine are below.

Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino 2006

Intense ruby red in colour. Super expressive bouquet of red rose, dark fruits, liquorice, leather and balsam notes. Has aged with grace, now fully integrated, glimpses of youthful energy now more restrained. The balance that I recall from our first encounter was still holding. The mid palate opened introducing spice nuances and a puff of smoke, here the wine gathered itself for its final swan song; showing a body sculpted by the school of Michelangelo, exudes charm and poise and imparts the knowledge that something quite extraordinary has occurred to your palate. The finish displays emotion and tenderness of dear old friends parting for the very last time.