this year, i was blessed with a fantastic 40th birthday party. in hong kong, i had my dearest friends with me for a fantastic dinner at zest and was offered a membership at the crown cellars and franco was super generous in that he offered me a wonderful bottle of barbi brunello di montalcino riserva 1999.

last week, we had a special family dinner in hong kong and i thought the occasion appropriate. and so, after decanting for 1 hour, the wine was absolutely fantastic:

deep, intense and complex aromas and flavours of dark chocolate, leather, tobbaco box, spices of the orient, herbs like thym & rosemary. a silky, soft like velvet mouthfeel and a super long lenght. an excellent wine. perfect to match our beef served with gorgonzola.

fattoria barbi is among montalcino's oldest brunello producing estate having made wine since 1790. it is certainly a place we will visit on our next trip to tuscany.