Montalcino, 20 October 2008 - The Public Prosecutor's Office of Siena has ordered the release of Castello Banfi's Brunello di Montalcino 2003, after having determined its full compliance with the production regulations. The 2003 vintage is, therefore, once again fully available to satisfy the numerous requests that had arrived from all over the world and had remained unfulfilled during the months of the investigation phase. The next 2004 vintage will, as usual, be regularly available from next February 2009.

"The Prosecutor's decision definitively closes the case of Castello Banfi's Brunello," declares Cristina Mariani-May, owner of the well-known Montalcino winery, with satisfaction. "With the definitive 'liberation' of our Brunello we can finally go back to dedicating ourselves, with renewed passion and dedication, to that tireless pursuit of excellence that has made us famous and appreciated throughout the world.