2007 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino

This Rosso reveals a gorgeous core of perfumed ripe fruit, plum, cassis and kirsch, some leather and cola mid- pallet and earthiness that meld into bitter coco powder, spices and minerals on the finish. Lush, ripe and flows across your palate, Wow, that’s a lot of wine for under Twenty bucks!

If there is one rational concept that I have learned over the years from Greg St.Clair and Mike Parres, our Italian wine buyers, is that the declassified Brunellos from Montalcino are, in certain exceptional vintages, almost as great as those from the production that ends up being Brunello. These are the wines that are called Rosso di Montalcino, and, in my book, they are baby Brunellos, particularly in vintages like 2007. When you taste how wonderful some of these “Rossos” are from 2007, you need to ponder the question: “Just how great are the real McCoys, the Brunellos, from this vintage?” The 2007 Rossos are, again, pretty amazing wines, and when you try the La Fortuna 2007 Rosso di Montalcino, you will ask yourself that very question and why was this wine declassified. This is a luscious Gem that needs decanting and airing for two to four hours (plan ahead), but will provide tons of perfume of anise, cranberry, cassis, and roses. In its ever-expansive palate impressions, you will be treated to an incredibly complex wine, with layers of flavor and superb complexity, perfect balance, and a broad, deeply flavored middle and finish. This is a great wine, but in its youth, needs airing. Anderson says that this Gem will be our house wine for the month and for what we age, three to six years from now. (Jim Barr)

Get ready to try your new favorite wine!! This is a STELLAR example of Rosso di Montalcino. While lacking the dark black fruits, tar, depth and "vinous" quality of big brother Brunello, this wine positively sings with pretty cherry, red licorice, cherry pipe tobacco and just a hint of vanilla. In the mouth the wine is bouncy with beautiful acidity and firm yet plush tannins. The cherry notes on the finish go on and on. The epitome of well made, young Sangiovese grosso, enjoy with any number of pastas, chicken dishes, pork or just by itself. Salud! CM

The La Fortuna vineyards come from both north of town (providing spice) and south of town (providing rich ripe fruit). This is another great effort with ripe plum on the nose and palate with heady plum fruit as well as anise spice coming on the finish with really good structure. This is a wine you can drink tonight with some decanting or cellar.

Every year La fortunas wine are get better. This is no exception. Dark fruit polished and delicious.

This is the best vintage I have ever tasted of La Fortuna and brings back to mind all my fond memories of the 2005: the ruby red fruit on the entry, the full body and acidity on the mid-palate, and the earthy tones on the finish. I am so overwelmed by the 2007 vintage that I don't know what to do. How much will be enough?!

I tried the $15 and $20 Fortunas from 2007. Only on the second day of being open (!!) did I start to recognize what the K&L staffers raved about in these wines...but honestly I don't think there is a ton to gush about... That said, the 2007 rosso from Poggiarellino is something I like much, much more.