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That is such a steep price increase that I wonder whether it is preparing the ground for a mixed case offering, when the 2016 comes (as with the Flaccianello offering a few months ago).
Happily, I already have as much 2014 as I will ever want.
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It’ really puts the price of the Ricasoli* Gran Selezione single vineyards into context. £54 a bottle is a far better price for them than £56 for the Sorbo, even if it is closer to drinking than the 2019s. Tempted to at least put another mixed case into reserves.
*which I’ve stopped calling Rick Astley as it apparently confuses people. Turns out I can give it up 
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Idle question for those who’ve been around these parts longer than me (which is most of you).
Realised during some casual site browsing today that TWS doesn’t appear to sell a single Brunello di Montalcino currently. Is that normal or is any usually-stocked range just completely OOS? The nearest I could see is a solitary Rosso di Montalcino alongside the Chianti selection.
I don’t drink a lot of it myself and have enough from elsewhere to meet my occasional needs, but was slightly surprised as I thought it would have some established demand in the market. I know it’s more expensive than many other Central Italy reds (other than Supertuscans, which are also thin on the ground at TWS). Is that the reason?
I did a search and couldn’t see anything specific to explain it, apart from a couple of previous laments about range.
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From my observations, the WS doesn’t really seem to offer many of them; they tend to come on to the list sporadically, and then when they do, they certainly don’t hang around for long.
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They appear in the list once or twice a year. Once is sold out there are periods with no Brunello options
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There has been EP offers on Brunello in the past, so there is at least an annual opportunity to stock up.
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Thanks for the replies. Interesting that it seems to sell out quickly when offered, but not considered as something that can/should be offered consistently, either a commercial decision or supply issues. I guess the Brunello-lovers will just source from other retailers as it’s fairly widely available in the UK, unless they are super-loyal to TWS.
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I get 90% of my Brunello purchases from BBR
Can’t beat Il Poggione imo
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If you can get to the showroom, there’s occasionally the odd bottle/s of Brunello in the fine wines room. I’ve picked up one or two that way over the past few years. Not a little random and not exactly a reliable means of supply though!
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Thanks. I do visit the showroom occasionally but TBH it’s not something I really seek out, as I don’t drink much of it. I buy the odd bottle or two if I see a good deal when buying other wine, just to have some around for when the mood takes me. I just got curious when I noticed its complete absence from the site.
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Ditto myself - I tend to drink much more white & rosé than I do red. Every now and again though, a Brunello is hard to beat.
I agree it is curious how little of it the WS seems to stock though. Chianti everywhere you look but Brunello seems to be hens’ teeth territory for some reason.
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There’s a Brunello EP too, but they tend to have even less representation than other northern Italian reds the rest of the time. Vini Nobile di Montepulciano is even less represented (I’d guess it doesn’t sell because people confuse it with the grape and won’t pay £££ for it).
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I’m definitely gonna be using that when I open my case of Rick Astley.
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I know it’s a long time ago now but I was wondering if there was a consensus about the 2019 Produttori? Do I go for half a dozen in reserves or not?
A no brainer typically though prices are rising.
I bought a dozen
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Dunnit!
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Anybody recommend a bible on Italian wines and regions please …??
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Not read it myself, but heard this recommended in glowing terms on the “I’ll Drink ToThat” podcast.
Burton Anderson - The Wine Atlas of Italy
Published in 1990, so probably somewhat dated, but I suspect there is much that is still current.
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Ian d’Agata’s The Grapes and Wines of Italy is considered a very good book on the subject. It’s currently on my ‘birthday present(s) list’… 
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That’s the one …!!
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