by Michèle Shah

Two of the main estates caught up in the Brunello di Montalcino scandal, where producers have been accused of using non-permitted grape varieties, have been cleared. Antinori and Castello Banfi are able to continue bottling and exporting their Brunello wines.

“Every bottle shipped of its 2003 Brunello di Montalcino and the majority of total production has been cleared and affirmed as produced with 100% Sangiovese of Montalcino,” said Lars Leicht, Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman of Castello Banfi.

Since the beginning of the year, Brunello di Montalcino has been under siege as Italian authorities (the Siena District Attorney) sequestered quantities of 2003 Brunello pending an investigation into issues which include non-permitted varieties having been added to the wine which by law must be 100% Sangiovese.

The wineries involved included some of Tuscany’s most eminent producers such as Frescobaldi, Antinori, Argiano, Castello Banfi and Col d’Orcia. The latter estate owned by the now ex-president of the Consorzio di Montalcino, Francesco Marone Cinzano who resigned at the beginning of June 2008.

The situation worsened when in May the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureaus threatened to close its doors to the entry of all Brunello unless certified 100% Sangiovese.

"Every cloud has a silver lining," said Cristina Mariani-May , proprietor and member of the Castello Banfi family. "Though we feel our commerce was unjustly blocked and we were wrongly accused, at least the outcome is a further assurance to the consumer that our wine is genuine and its quality assured. We have always stood behind the integrity of each Castello Banfi estate wine and today feel a strong sense of vindication."