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Brunello Di Montalcino: Understanding And Appreciating One Of Italy's Greatest Wines

For fans of Italian wine, few names command the level of respect accorded to Brunello di Montalcino. With their earthy, wild-cherry sensations and full structure yet smooth textures, top Brunellos have the body and finesse of the most prestigious world-class bottlings from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Piedmont.Expert wine writer Kerin O'Keefe has a deep personal knowledge of Tuscany and its extraordinary wine, and her account is both thoroughly researched and readable. Organized as a guided tour through Montalcino's geography, this essential reference also makes sense of Brunello's complicated history, from its rapid rise to the negative and positive effects of the 2008 grape-blending scandal dubbed "Brunellogate." Brunello di Montalcino helps wine lovers maneuver their way among Montalcino's minefield of diversity by breaking the vast commune down into seven distinct subzones, ranging from the highest reaches around the town of Montalcino, which yield austere, elegant wines destined for lengthy aging in cellars; down to the lower plains in the deep south around Sant'Angelo Scalo, home to immediate, muscular Brunellos with higher alchol and lower acidity; and to all the other fascinating areas that lie between those two geographical extremes.O'Keefe also provides in-depth profiles of 58 carefully chosen wineries, big and small, famous and unknown, who produce excellent Brunellos that best express the quintessential chracteristics of both Sangiovese and the various subzones in Montalcino.List of IllustrationsPrefaceIntroduction. Brunello: A Modern-Day Phenomenon of Made in ItalyPart One. The Place, the Grape, the History, and the Wine1. Montalcino 2. Temperamental Sangiovese: Location, Location, Location 3. Birth of a New Wine 4. Brunello Comes of Age 5. Boom Years and the Loss of Tipicità 6. The Brunellogate Scandal 7. Brunello Today and Tomorrow: The Return to Tipicità, or Business as Usual? Part Two. Leading Producers by Subzone8. Montalcino 9. Bosco and Torrenieri 10. Tavernelle 11. Camigliano 12. Sant'Angelo 13. Castelnuovo dell'Abate Part Three. Beyond Brunello: Other Wines and Local Cuisine 14. Montalcino's Other Wines: Rosso di Montalcino, Moscadello, Sant'Antimo, Chianti Colli Senesi and IGT Toscana15. Brunello, Rosso, and Food Pairing Appendix A. Vintage Guide to Brunello Appendix B. Brunello at a GlanceNotes Acknowledgments Glossary Bibliography Index

Hardcover: 312 pages

Publisher: University of California Press (April 18, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0520265645

ISBN-13: 978-0520265646

Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #82,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #13 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Beverages & Wine > Wine & Spirits > Collecting #17 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Beverages & Wine > Wine & Spirits > Wine Pairing #20 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Beverages & Wine > Wine & Spirits > Wine Tasting

I love Brunello, but after reading some of the posted reviews, I was afraid this book would be too technical. I bought it anyway and was pleasantly surprised. Yes it does cover technical subjects, like clones and vinfication, but the author writes in a very easy to understand and entertaining style, so I followed everything and learned a lot. The best part was the breakdown of Montalcino into subzones. I've been thrilled by many Brunellos, but disappointed in others and now I know why. I've already tried some of O'Keefe's suggested Brunellos, and have loved them. Highly recommend this book for Brunello fans looking for the best from Montalcino. As a last note, the photos by Paolo Tenti are beautiful and complement the book very well.

An enjoyable book that explains why Sangiovese grown in other parts of Italy and the world is no match for Montalcino. Mrs O'Keefe explains in a clear fashion the fascinating insights of microclimate, soil, viticulture and enology that make the difference.In the second part of the book there is an excellent guide to 58 producers that the Author rates as the best. A must have for all wine lovers.

If you're well past wine geekdom 101 and want to get serious about a particular region like Brunello Di Montalcino, this is a must read. I already have three "encylopedia of wine" books that do a decent job of skiming every region on the planet. Lately, I'm prefering to buy and read books that dig more deeply into a particular region I already love like Burgundy or one I want to know a lot more about. I don't think I'm being a wine snob when I say this book is not for casual wine drinkers unless, perhaps you've traveled the region extensively and accidentally fell in love with this unique expression of the Sangiovese grape. This is a refreshingly honest take on Brunello sans the 100pt scale from the critics. My only beef with this book is I'd like to contact the author with a few questions. Since the book is written with passionate wine geeks in mind, I would have included an email address for follow up questions in the book itself or on the author's website.

Phenomenal. A beautiful explanation of the history of the region, the geology and lay of the land, the producers and potential future challenges for brunello makers. This book is organized in the exact way that you want for a wine book and it delivers on that structure with just enough detail to keep things interesting but not too much to bog you down. Great read for anyone who appreciates Italian wines.

Incredible document on the various regions of the 'Grand Cru' of Sangiovese. You will be introduced of all the vintners of note, with detailed descriptions of the 'house' style. It clearly comes from a long personal connection to the region and its growers.

Having been a wine lover for some time, I never realized how complex the great wines are. Kerin gives you a complete education on Brunello di Motalcino, its historical background, how it's made and a description of the top vinyards. If you want to learn about Brunello this book is for you.

Fabulous research and information. I have had many conversations about wine and am excited to incorporate this knowledge with my friends. I also appreciate the research done at individual wineries, which will enable me to choose which ones I would rather visit.

This is well written, and done so by someone who relishes the quality of refined (not international) Brunello. I wish that more estates were profiled. Pour a glass of Brunello, make a snack, and sit back and read this well researched account.

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