Above: The cellar at the Fattoria dei Barbi, where the Cinelli Colombini family stores its library of wines stretching back as far as the nineteenth century.

One of the wines that Stefano opened last night for a vertical tasting of Barbi that he put together for leading Italian wine writers was the 2008.

You could read Stefano’s vintage notes here.

Here’s what one of the top Italian wine writers in the U.S., Antonio Galloni, had to say about the wine when he tasted it in 2013:

The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino shows the softer side of the vintage. Sweet red cherries, plums, tobacco, licorice and spices are all woven together nicely in the glass. Savory notes develop over time, adding complexity and nuance. Floral notes add an attractive lift on the finish. I expect the 2008 will enjoy a broad window of drinkability. It is tasty today, and should drink well for another decade. This is a terrific effort for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028.

This is another strong set of wines from Fattoria dei Barbi and proprietor Stefano Cinelli Colombini.