by Michèle Shah
Tuscany´s wine producers have excelled in this year´s selection of the top 100 wines of the American consumer publication the Wine Spectator, gaining six places out of a total of 11 Italian awarded wines. Four of these went to Brunello
producers and the no1 wine spot at the top of the list has gone to Giacomo Neri of Casanova dei Neri estate for his Tenuta Nuova 2001, considered one of Montalcino s top estates. It is the third time in seven years that a wine from Tuscany has taken top honour, which has certainly played a role in the development of Italian wine sales in the United States.
Below the Italian estates are listed in order of awarded points and position for 2006:
01 - 97 - $70 - Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001
09 - 96 - $70 - Brancaia Toscana Il Blu 2004
12 - 97 - $70 - Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 2001
23 - 96 - $90 - Fanti Brunello di Montalcino 2001
27 - 94 - $60 - Marchesi de Frescobaldi Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo 2001
32 - 94 - $70 - Pio Cesare Barolo 2001
45 - 95 - $85 - Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno 2004
61 - 93 - $38 - Fattoria Petrolo Toscana Torrione 2004
66 - 90 - $12 - Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco Alto Adige 2005
76 - 90 - $15 - Terredora Falanghina Irpinia 2004
81 - 90 - $22 - Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2003.
and the No 1 in the top 100 last over the last six years:
2005 - Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley 2002
2004 - Château Rieussec Sauternes 2001
2003 - Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District 2001
2002 - E.Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1999
2001 - Ornellaia 1998 Lodovico Antinori
2000 - Solaia 1997 Piero Antinori
