The estate was established with the 1981
vintage by former pilot Diego Molinari, and from 1982 onwards
they have performed flawlessly. Daniel Thomases, the senior
critic of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, rates the estate
as closest to Case Basse di Soldera, the most expensive
and sought after Brunello on the market. And like Soldera,
the wines are aged in the "old style" with Slavonian
tonneaux instead of the fashionable French barriques. The
"Commander," as this pilot is commonly called,
creates a consistent style of pure elegance backed with
power. These impeccably made Brunellos are an IWM favorite.
Cerbaiona Rosso is made from 60% Sangiovese with Merlot,
Syrah and Malvasia Nera aged in 700 litre slavonian oak
tonneaux. It has a lovely concentrated palate with sweet,
ripe fruit tinged with spice. The Brunello is typically
very elegant and pure, even in an average vintage such
as 1996, the wine shows good concentration and complexity.
