Wine of the Year is Italy's Brunello, says wine bible
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Wed Nov 22, 1:14 PM ET
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A 2001-vintage Brunello di Montalcino has been voted the Best Wine of 2006 by the industry "bible," Wine Spectator.
The Italian red pipped an American wine, Quilceda Creek Cabarnet Sauvignon 2003, and a Bordeaux, Chateau Leoville Saint Julien 2003, to take the coveted rating from the influential US magazine.
Two other French wines were classified fifth and sixth.
"It is a priceless satisfaction that fills me with joy," said Giacomo Neri, owner of the famous Casanova di Neri vineyard in Tuscany.
"We have really worked a lot in the vineyard and in the winery and this prize repays all of the sacrifices of this year.
"It is a team victory and, above all, a recognition of the enological greatness of Montalcino," he added.
Another Tuscan label, La Brancaia, came ninth in Wine Spectator's eagerly anticipated annual list of the Top 100 tipples.
The magazine said it had tasted 13,500 wines from around the world in order to determine the best.
Since 2000, Wine Spectator has voted Italian wines the best in the world three times.
