FOR THE FIRST TIME AN ITALIAN WINE IS NUMBER 1 ON THE “WINE ENTHUSIAST” 2010 EDITION “TOP 100”: IT’S THE 2006 BAROLO MARCENASCO OF RENATO RATTI. ITALY IS ALSO ON OTHER RANKINGS WITH BAROLO, BRUNELLO, BOLGHERI, SUPERTUSCAN AND SPARKLING TRENTINO WINES

For the first time an Italian wine tops “The Enthusiast 100” in the 2010 edition ranking of the best wines in the world according to “Wine Enthusiast”, the U.S. magazine consulted by American fans and fans from all over the world. The magazine keeps its eye on the excellence of Italian wines.

The “champion” of this special and important ranking is the 2006 Barolo Marcenasco of Renato Ratti, but there are 15 Italian wines in the top 100: Bolgheri Superiore 2007 Sorugo of Aia Vecchia (twelfth place); 2008 Passito of Pantelleria Ben Ryé of Donnafugata (twenty-second); Bolgheri Superiore 2007 Argentiera Estate (twenty-sixth); Barolo Coste Rose’s 2005 of Bric Cenciurio (twenty-eighth place); Barolo Persiera 2006 of Josette Saffirio (thirty-second); 2005 Barolo Rocche Annunziata Franco Molino of Cascina Rocca (thirty-sixth); 2007 Barbaresco Serracapelli of Elia Farms (forty-third place); 2007 Coevo of Cecchi (fifty-second); 2006 Barolo Parafada of Massolino (sixty-first); 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Reserve of Piancornello (sixty-fourth); 2007 Tenuta Belguardo of Marquis Mazzei (sixty-fifth); 2006 Madre of Poggio Antico (seventy-second); 2007 Barbaresco Vigna San Cristoforo di Pietro Rinaldi (seventy-third) and 2007 Sondraia of Poggio al Tesoro (eighty-eighth).

“Wine Enthusiast” passed excellent “verdicts” on Italian wines also on the other two annual rankings.

The “Top 100 Cellar Selection”, the list of collectible wines produced by the best wineries, is a relatively recent initiative of “Wine Enthusiast” started in 2007, includes 17 Italian wines: at the top Bolgheri Superiore 2006, produced by Guado al Tasso, owned by the Marquis Antinori (second place); followed by the 2006 Barolo Costa Grimaldi of Luigi Einaudi Farms (fifth); 2006 Barolo Brunate of Vietti (seventeenth); 2006 Giusto di Notri of Tua Rita (eighteenth); 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Reserve of Altesino (twenty-sixth); 2006 Barolo La Serra by Eugenio Bocchino (thirty-third); 2006 Barolo La Serra by John Voerman (forty-third); 2006 Bolgheri Superiore of Ornellaia Estate (forty-fifth); 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Reserve of Corte Pavone (forty-sixth); 2006 Barolo Cannubi Boschis by Luciano Sandrone (fifty-second); 1997 Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice of Avignonesi (fifty-fifth); 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Reserve of San Polino (fifty-ninth); 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Reserve of Ucceliera (seventy-first); 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Reserve of Le Chiuse (seventy-ninth); 2006 Galatrona of Petrolo Farm (eightieth place); 2006 Solengo of Argiano (eighty-seventh) and 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio all’Oro Reserve of Castello Banfi (ninetieth).

Five Italian wines made the “Top 100 Best Buys”: the 2005 Alle Viole Ceppiano Estate (seventh place); the Trento Talento Brut Rosé of the Cantina Rotari of the Mezzacorona group (thirteenth); 2009 Pinot Grigio of Mezzacorona (thirty-second), 2008 Chardonnay Stemmari of Feudo Arancio of the Mezzacorona group (forty-fourth) and 2006 Slice Selection Maìana of Leone de Castris (ninety-first place).

“I am delighted,” Monica Larner, the Italian correspondent for ”Wine Enthusiast” and responsible for tasting Italian wines told WineNews, “that for the first time my magazine has given first place to an Italian wine. Italian wines are the most popular in the United States and I hope that our ratings have the positive effect of bringing American fans closer to even the more expensive Italian wines. In this sense, Larner concludes, “I hope that since Barolo, a very expensive wine, is number one, it will be a good omen for the revival of the more expensive wines affected by the crisis”.

Info: www.winemag.com