I’m truly looking forward to seeing Laura Brunelli of the Gianni Brunelli winery this week in New York. I had the occasion to try the latest vintages of their great wines at Vinitaly 2009 and it will be nice to see how the wines have evolved over the past two months. I met Laura & Gianni two years ago through their New York importer, Dancing Bear Cellars. Laura and I quickly became fast friends. A post I wrote on Gianni’s untimely death in November has been by far and away the most widely read post on this blog in the past year, a tribute to how much he meant to so many people. Gianni is greatly missed by all who knew him and his absence will be felt this week in New York as well. Their wines however are a way to toast and celebrate Gianni. I will be happy to drink them together with his amor costante, Laura, this week. Ben arrivata amica mia!