Atop a hill in Tuscany just south of Siena sits the picturesque town of Montalcino.  Celebrated for its fortress, countless scenic views, stretches of silvery olive orchards and a history that reaches back to the Etruscans, Montalcino is perhaps best known for Brunello -the gifted clone of the Sangiovese grape variety (the Sangiovese Grosso) behind the regional reds that have captured the hearts of those lucky to have a chance to taste them.  Montalcino's slopes of sand and limestone set their wines apart from the clay marl just north in Chianti.  Nearer the Mediterranean, Montalcino's climate is much drier and hotter than Chianti and the grapes ripen fully and early enough to harvest before the October rains further north -yielding a rich bounty at harvest and wines that show Sangiovese's more powerful side -a facet to which Brunello di Montalcino DOCG has become synonymous.  With the exceptional 2004s enjoying a long clement season of even ripening, both free of frost and excessive heat, the Brunello di Montalcino that vintage were marked by a balance and depth rarely seen earning the vintage maximum 5 stars -with an emphasis on long term aging.   In case you did not cellar any, please rely on us...