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Top 5 Brunello (Sangiovese) at the LCBO
If I Could Buy Only One – December 6th Vintages Release
We asked our writers,“If you could buy only one wine from the December 6th release, which one would it be and why?” Black Hills Brut Sparkling, BC VQA Okanagan Valley$55.00, Andrew Peller LimitedSara d’Amato – If John’s fizz guide didn’t already satisfy your sparkling cravings, here’s one more worth popping. This is Black Hills’ second […] More
Buyer’s Guide to Vintages December 6th Release
John Szabo’s Vintages Buyers Guide December 6: 2025 Beverage Trends and Breaking Bread & Drinking Pinot with the Mapuche By John Szabo MS, with notes from David Lawrason, Michael Godel and Sara d’Amato “In 2025 Ontarians embraced the opportunity to discover something new amidst restrictions on U.S.-produced products, new points of sale, and innovative new […] More
John Szabo’s Annual Fizz Guide 2025
By John Szabo, MS, with notes from David Lawrason, Sara d’Amato and Michael Godel Fewer Bubbles, Better Quality Welcome to our timely annual Fizz Guide! What’s in store for you this year? A parade of premium bubbles, featuring top Canadian sparkling, a category which remains hard to beat for quality and price. It’s easily our […] More
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Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most prestigious appellations in Italy, born in the 19th Century in its present form thanks to the efforts of the Biondi-Santi family, who defined its rules and have largely guided it to the present day. The wines are made from 100% Sangiovese grape, in particular from a clone called Sangiovese Grosso, or also as Brunello - hence the appellation's name. Traditionally, the wine goes through an extended maceration period where color, tannins and flavour are extracted from the skins. Following fermentation the wine is then aged in oak. Traditionally, the wines are aged 3 years or more in "botti" - large Slovenian oak casks that impart little oak flavour and generally produce more austere wines. Some winemakers will use small French barrels which impart a more pronounced vanilla oak flavour and add a certain fruitiness to the wine. Whatever the approach, wines must be aged for for years (with a minimum of two years in barrel) before being released, according to appellation rules.
