2006 Brunello

Brunello, born around the hilltop village of Montacino, is perhaps Tuscany’s most famous red wine based on the Sangiovese grape. By law, it must be aged two years in oak and at least four months in bottle (6 months for Riservas) and cannot be released until January 1st of the 5^th year after the harvest (6^th year for Riservas). Recently in Tuscany, I tasted almost all the ‘06s and I must tell you, this vintage is a gem. Rich, toasted cherry, leather, tar and cedar abound. All are solidly structured. The consortium there awarded it 5 out of 5 stars. Could be one of the best vintages ever…maybe even better than the great ‘04s! You’ll want to stock up on these babies for the cellar when they start to make the scene.

Kosher Wines

For all our Jewish friends, Passover starts at sunset on April 18 and the LCBO has a wide selection of kosher wines available in many styles: red, white, rosé, sparkling, dessert and fortified. They hail from such diverse countries as Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, U.S., Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Chile. Not all are specifically Kosher for Passover, so beware. During production, they’re made under the supervision of a rabbai, not handled by non-Kosher folks and carry a certification stamp on the label. Today’s Kosher wine is virtually indistinguishable from regular wines. There’s even some spirits, brandy, vodka and liqueurs. Happy Passover.

Red Bordeaux in China

China is a huge market for many major commodities, and perhaps most surprising, red Bordeaux. Traditionally, the Chinese are not big wine drinkers, so why the boom? Reasons include a burgeoning middle class with a developing taste for Bordeaux, the recent abolition of the 40% import tax making it cheaper to import wine and the Chinese business custom of giving face to important clients by providing extravagant gifts. This is welcome news for many French producers who’ve been struggling because of the global economic crisis, the decline of sales in the North America, intense competition from New World countries and the slowdown in consumption in France.