Bogus Brunello Under Investigation

The Associated press is reporting, " An executive for a prominent Tuscan wine producer said authorities confiscated some 600,000 bottles of his company's 2003 Brunello di Montalcino, alleging too many bottles were produced for it to be entirely authentic."

At Jancis Robinson.com, Linda Murphy says, "Italian newspapers, including the daily La Repubblica, report that Brunello di Montalcino producers are being investigated for adding Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other red grape varieties to what are, by law, supposed to be 100% Sangiovese wines. As a result, all shipments of 2003 Brunello di Montalcino have been halted while the probe continues. Among the names surfacing in print and online reports: Frescobaldi, Antinori, Argiano and Castello Banfi.

Apparently investigators suspect the Brunello might have been cut (extended) with other grape varieties, such as merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Enrico Viglierchio, an executive at Castello Banfi vintners, told reporters "It seems we produced more than the vintner could have produced based on the calculation of acreage dedicated to grapes for Brunello."

Italian news agency Apcom reported that hundreds of thousands of bottles of 2003 Brunello di Montalcino have been seized just as they are about to hit the market. La Repubblica writer Maurizio Bologni was told by Tiziana Frescobaldi that"

"There is no basis for such a claim and we have no doubt that we will be able to clear this all up." Similarly Piero Antinori was quoted as saying "We will not release a drop of 2003 Brunello even though we could. Before we do, we want this affair to be cleared up and we trust it will be, fairly and promptly as far as we are concerned."