Includes:

• Cerbaiona 2001 Cerbaiona Rosso

The estate was established with the 1981 vintage by former pilot Diego Molinari, and from 1982 onwards they have performed flawlessly. Daniel Thomases, the senior critic of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, rates the estate as closest to Soldera-Case Basse, the most expensive and sought after Brunello on the market. And like Soldera, the wines are aged in the "old style" with Slavonian tonneaux instead of the fashionable French barriques. The "Commander," as this pilot is commonly called, creates a consistent style of pure elegance backed with power. These impeccably made Brunellos are an IWM favorite.

Cerbaiona Rosso is made from 60% Sangiovese with Merlot, Syrah and Malvasia Nera aged in 700 litre slavonian oak tonneaux. It has a lovely concentrated palate with sweet, ripe fruit tinged with spice. The Brunello is typically very elegant and pure, even in an average vintage such as 1996, the wine shows good concentration and complexity.