Once again the wine press is hailing the arrival of another in the long list of great vintage wines. For weeks now we have been hearing the rumblings about the 2010 Brunello's from Italy. A year ago all they could write about were the 2010 Barolo's, "these wines are to be sought out".  Later the generalization was second guessed and it turned out that only a handful or two were worth the weight of the hype.

Here come the 2010 Brunello's and again the generalization about the whole vintage is giving way to great wines here and there. If you’re a Brunello lover your plate is full and there are wines to be sought after. While ordering in advance may save you dollars there again wines that may not warrant a parting of your money from your wallet.

Selectivity is the word. Seek the advice of wine shop staff, read between the lines of the wine writers, don't be afraid to wait until you've tasted the wines before you buy. The smart wine buyer only parts with their wine dollars when they know what they are buying.

Smiley Quick, CS

Italian Wine Specialist