2006 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli

Giancarlo Pacenti continues to make some of the most brilliant, textured wines in Montalcino. His 2006s are superb. The harvest started on September 25 and ended at the beginning of October. This year Pacenti has a new Brunello, Pelagrilli, made from younger vines than he uses for his top bottlings. The Pelagrilli is another step away from Pacenti's long held preference for making a single Brunello from his holdings across multiple vineyards in Montalcino. According to Pacenti, the younger vines in Pelagrilli are now old enough to be bottled separately, while the older vines are used for the top of the line PS when the quality of the vintage is high. So, in 2006 readers will find three Pacenti Brunelli; the entry-level Pelagrilli, the straight Brunello and the PS, which will be released next year. Pacenti uses vines under 20 years old for the Rosso, from ages 20-30 for the new Pelagrilli, and older than 30 for the Brunello and PS.