Italy

Our Chianti Classico is made by the Stucchi Prinetti family of Badia a Coltibuono, a legendary estate whose history stretches back over 1,000 years. This 2018 is classical and charming: it’s full of sour cherries and raspberries, with white pepper and dried roses. The palate has cherry stone notes and crunchy berry brightness, framed by fine and firm tannins. It’s a great match for tomato-based pasta dishes or grilled meats with fresh rosemary.

{***}{region}Italy{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}{***}

Our Barolo reaches new heights with this magnificent 2016. This is a traditional blend of three communes: Castiglione Falletto fills the nose with morello cherry and roses; Barolo itself lends power and depth of fruit; and the ancient white soils of Serralunga d’Alba give it an unmistakable mineral grip. Articulate and expressive, this is of the highest class and elegance. Drink now to 2036.

{***}{region}Italy{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}{***}

{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{***}

Located in Prosecco’s Conegliano region of the Veneto lie the 60 hectares of Masottina’s vineyards. Owned by the Dal Bianco family since 1946, they switched from being a négociant to vineyard owner in the 1960s. They produce a classic expression of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco. With fine, persistent bubbles, this is pale straw yellow with greenish highlights. The nose is intense, fruity with the rich scent of apple, lemon and grapefruit. It has a pronounced aroma of wisteria in bloom and acacia flowers. The palate has a pleasant acidity and fresh flavour. Full-bodied, and lingering, a soft finish rounds off this crowd-pleasing Prosecco.

A deliciously dry style. Masottina Prosecco Brut was judged No.1 Sparkling Wine from over 600 entries from 20 countries at the 16th annual Effervescents Du Monde 2018 held in Dijon, France. This comes on top of a 96 point Gold Medal score at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 so we're obviously well and truly into the seriously good territory here.

{***}{region}Veneto{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}NV{vintage}{***}

The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Scudetto is full of cherry, full of dark chocolate and just full in general. The Mascarello family timidly discusses this vintage during my visit to the winery the way parents of doctors and lawyers talk about their other son, the struggling actor. This dark and thick Barbera may not have the finesse or complexity of other vintages, but those who like their reds big, bold and fruity certainly will appreciate it.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings}
[] Wine Advocate:: 92/100{ratings} 

{***}

The 2001 Sori San Lorenzo is the richest and deepest of these 2001s. It remains cool, inward and totally implosive. Dark fruit, leather, goudron and licorice are some of the notes that begin to emerge over time. The 2001 is dazzling, but it is also very much on the muscular side and needs time to soften. I imagine it will drink beautifully for another 20 years, and that is likely to be conservative in light of the glacial pace with which the San Lorenzo ages. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034.
Antonio Galloni - 26/04/2012

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                        

   {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2001{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 96/100        
{ratings} 

{***}

The 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from a parcel in Sinio. Dark fruit, spice, earthy notes and a good bit of tannin give the Vajra's Langhe Nebbiolo a decidedly brooding, powerful feel and quite a bit more seriousness than is typical at this level. Sweet red berry fruit, mint and spice add freshness alongside bright acidity as the 2018 opens up in the glass. This is such a pretty and expressive wine.

Drink 2020 - 2033

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}

{ratings} [] Vinous:: 90/100

[] Wine Advocate:: 89/100

{ratings}

{***}

Compared to the expression from the Cerretta vineyard, the 2017 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia is even darker in color with more austerity and muscle power at the back. The alcohol reading of the two wines is the same (15.5%), but this expression offers less obvious fruit and more dark mineral instead. The soils in the Francia vineyard see a mix of limestone sand and clay, and this is true of where both the Barbera and the Nebbiolo vines are located. You sense an increased mineral presence in the Francia with iron, salt and scorched earth. This full-throttle Barbera is penetrating and deep. This is a fine expression of the grape, offering exacting detail and precision. 2020-2038. - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

[] Vinous:: 92-95/100

{ratings}

{***}

Boasting immediate depth and dimension, the 2015 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia is a commanding and confident wine. Tasted from barrel, the wine's color is dense and very dark. Youthful fruit tones of blackberry confit and black currant give the wine a solid aromatic foundation. That base creates an appropriate framework for ethereal notes of licorice, black olive, spice and campfire ash. It is very difficult to achieve this level of complexity with Barbera, but Roberto Conterno does so with flawless perfection. The mouthfeel is round and plump, but the opulence of the wine is also reined in by its lively acidity.  - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 91/100

{ratings}

{***}

{***}
{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{***}

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is downright gorgeous. The wine is inward-looking at the very beginning, but it quickly revs up to deliver soaring intensity and profound elegance. It goes from first to sixth gear in seconds and grabs all your attention and admiration in the process. The bouquet reads like a textbook Sangiovese, with wild berry, rose hip, pressed violets, cola, balsam herb, licorice and cigar ash. The bouquet underlines the wine's enormous finesse and pedigree, but the mouthfeel is all about frankness, directness and power. This is a naked and pure Brunello that glows bright with confidence and pride.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}
{ratings}         
[]The Wine Advocate:: 97/100
{ratings}         {***}

The 2016 Barolo Castiglione is a dazzling wine that will show readers just how compelling this vintage is, even among entry-level wines from top producers. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous richness and resonance from the very first taste. Bright red cherry and red plum fruit, wild flowers, mint, blood orange and spice build as this sumptuous, dramatic Barolo shows all it's got. As always, the Castiglione is built on a core of fruit from Ravera. In 2016, the Castiglione benefits from the inclusion of several new sites, including Ginestra, Mosconi, Bricco Ravera (in Monforte), Le Coste, Costabelle, Meriame, Briccolina and Codana. All I can say is: What a wine!
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com (November 2019)

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings}[] Wine Advocate:: 94+/100

[] Vinous:: 94/100

{ratings}

{***}

The 2014 Barolo Bussia Cicala comes from a 3.2-hectare parcel, and only 5,400 bottles are made despite the fact that there is the potential for higher volumes. Both the Cicala and the Romirasco sites are relatively steep and therefore enjoy longer sunlight hours each day of summer for ripe and concentrated fruit. Of these new single-vineyard releases from Poderi Aldo Conterno, Cicala is my top choice in 2014. The wine shows a pure and enduring mouthfeel with salty or saline minerality that makes it such a pleasure to drink. The wine boasts a direct and vertical delivery of aromas, with cassis and dried raspberry that burst to the top with brightness. Cicala is a more direct and focused expression next to Colonnello, which tends to be more broad and horizontal instead. - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100    

[] James Suckling:: 95/100

[] Decanter:: 93/100  

[] Jancis Robinson:: 17.5/20

{ratings}

{***}

This is a darkly saturated and rich expression of Nebbiolo with bright aromas of dark cherry, dried blackberry, spice, leather and toasted hazelnut. The wine stands out for the singular elegance it possesses, especially in terms of mouthfeel. - Robert Parker

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] The Wine Advocate:: 95/100    

[] Wine Spectator :: 95/100  

[] James Suckling:: 95/100   

 {ratings}

{***}

The 2012 Barolo Lazzarito impresses for its precision and class, two qualities that aren’t easy to find in wines from this Serralunga site. Iron, smoke and white pepper lift from the glass in a vertical, structured Barolo endowed with real pedigree. A rush of pomegranate, red cherry jam, wild flowers and blood orange meld into the huge, bright finish. In 2012, the Lazzarito reconciles power and finesse like few vintages in the past. For the last few years, the Lazzarito has been knocking on the door of the big boys in this lineup, the Rocche and Ravera. Today, the Lazzarito makes a strong statement that it has arrived. (Vinous – Antonio Galloni – March 2016)

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}{***}

The 2012 Barolo Francia is wonderfully expressive today. Much more open than the Barolo Cerretta tasted alongside it, the Francia bristles with energy. Floral and mineral overtones add to an impression of brightness, yet there is plenty of underlying tannin and overall structure. In 2012, Roberto Conterno did not bottle his flagship Barolo Monfortino. Instead, the cask that would have been destined for Monfortino was blended into the Francia. Historically, that decision has often resulted in a 'super Francia.' It will be interesting to see if the 2012 gains volume and depth in aging. I have to say, the wine is surprisingly accessible in the early going, although it has just been bottled and is likely to close down at some point. All the promise the 2012 showed in cask comes through loud and clear. - 97pts Antonio Galloni, Vinous

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings}

[] Vinous:: 97/10

[] The Wine Advocate:: 95/100{ratings} {***}

From a hot and dry vintage that saw dusty winds blowing up through the Mediterranean and spreading particles of sand from Africa, this wine shows open-knit appeal with loose texture and lots of dark fruit intensity. The Luciano Sandrone 2011 Barolo Le Vigne Sibi et Paucis pours from the bottle with rich and velvety intensity, followed by dried cherry, blackberry, spice, leather and tar. I tasted the 2009 vintage before this and am now focused on the 2011, so I wonder if perhaps the 2010 vintage is being held back even longer at the winery in their special cellar built for these precious late-release wines. Drink from 2021-2040. - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Italy{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 95/100

{ratings}

   {***}

Conterno's 2011 Barolo Francia lifts from the glass with the most finessed, exquisite aromatics imaginable. Over the last decade, Monfortino has not been made three times; 2003, 2007 and 2009, all warm vintages for Piedmont. In each of those years, the Francia was a big, racy Barolo. But the 2011 is totally different. Readers will find a sublime, aromatically lifted Barolo that has virtually nothing in common with 2003, 2007 or 2009. Freshly cut flowers, mint, hard candy and a hint of vanillin are some of the notes that are woven together. In 2011, the Francia is a Barolo of nearly indescribable class. As a reminder, in 2011 Roberto Conterno did not bottle his flagship Barolo Riserva Monfortino. All of the juice was blended into the Francia, which, as readers will have noted, is now called Francia rather than Cascina Francia. - Vinous

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] Vinous:: 97/100{ratings}        {***}

The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is a landmark wine and one of the best expressions made region-wide in this challenging vintage. The bouquet is gorgeous thanks to the never-ending aromas of dark fruit, licorice and balsam herb that peel off the top. The Lazzarito vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba is characterized by thick soils and deep shifts between daytime and nighttime temperatures. These are important factors that lead to quality fruit despite the summer heat.  - 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}

{ratings}[] Wine Advocate:: 96/100

[] Vinous:: 95/100

[] James Suckling:: 92/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 92/100

{ratings}

{***}

The 2010 Barolo Vigna del Gris is beautiful, layered and expressive. Sweet tobacco, mint, licorice, crushed flowers and plums meld together in a supple, gracious wine for the year. Sweet rose petals and mint add an attractive upper register of trademark aromatics and perfume as the wine opens up in the glass. The 2010 remains dense and compact, but it is impossible to miss that the tannins here are more refined than has typically been the case with the Gris in the past, which is probably the result of vines getting older. The 2010 needs time to unwind, but it is quite pretty and full of potential. Conterno-Fantino gave the 2010 a year in 100% new French oak, followed by a year in a combination of equal parts barrique and cask. - Vinous

{***}{region}Italy{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}

{ratings} [] Vinous:: 94/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 93/100

[] James Suckling:: 92/100

{ratings}

{***}

Pale cherry-red, the nose swoons with delicate notes of camphor and fresh, wild Amarena cherry, along with a fragrant rose-water character. To taste, this glides: it’s so pretty, so effortless with gentle redcurrant fruit and tannins so finely curated that they’re invisible.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}

{ratings}[] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

{***}

2006 vintage produced Nebbiolo wines of great breed, intensity and longevity. None more so than the mighty 'Ca d'Morissio', whose forthright, uncompromising character and brilliance mirrors that of Mauro Mascarello, owner and winemaker at this top flight wine cantina. The fruit is sourced from the last plot of smaller bunched Michet clone Nebbiolo along the Monprivato 'bench', that's been macerated and aged for longer to give achingly intense, compact, red berry, seared meat and licorice, with stupendo sapid focus, whose energy is tightly coiled, the palate profoundly tannic and intricately woven as to be impenetrable. Whereas the rest of the Mascarello stable swoon with charm, this wine, their flagship, is defiant and in a league of its own. 

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}

{ratings}
{ratings} 

{***}

 The 2005 Barolo Cannubi S. Lorenzo-Ravera is one of the most searingly tannic, austere wines of the vintage. Bright, incisive and tightly wound, the 2005 is going to need another decade or so to soften, even then I am not sure it will be an especially pleasurable wine, as the spiking acidity and intense tannins both are overpowering. Readers who want to understand what old-school Barolo is all about should check out the 2005, a wine that serves as a poignant reminder as to how much things have changed over the last decade. Revisited after twelve hours, the 2005 has become civilized, as the fruit fills out the frame to balance the tannins. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2005 or on opening it far in advance. - Vinous

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}

{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} 

{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2005{vintage}

{ratings}[] Wine Enthusiast:: 93/100

[] Vinous:: 92/100

{ratings}

{***}

The 2001 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata is huge and seamless from start to finish. The wine totally envelops the palate with masses of dark red fruit, roses, spices, and mint, all supported by nearly imperceptible tannins. The volume and shape of the 2001 is simply breathtaking. This is Scavino’s most vibrant 2001. It is also his most polished, refined Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2001{vintage}

{ratings}[] The Wine Advocate:: 97/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 97/100

{ratings}

{***}

The 2001 Barolo Cannubi/S.Lorenzo-Ravera is striking. Sweet red cherries, flowers, mint and spices are some of the many nuances that emerge from this fresh, vibrant Barolo. The Cannubi/S.Lorenzo-Ravera is often overlooked, but that would be a mistake here. The 2001 has put on serious weight over the last few years. It is a sensual, powerful Barolo that can be enjoyed now or cellared for another decade-plus.  - Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}

{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} 

{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2001{vintage}

{ratings}[] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

{***}

Healthy medium red with a pale rim. Powerful redcurrant, camphor and mint aromas, with some dried flower high tones. Very ripe and rich but uncompromisingly dry and youthfully aggressive, with strong acidity and powerful structure. Hiding its density today. Finishes bright and firmly tannic, with captivating licorice and raspberry notes. This already displays a broad range of Barolo perfumes. - Stephen Tanzer

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1998{vintage}

{ratings}

{ratings}

{***}

From the Treiso township, the 2014 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù represents a stylistic marriage of the elegant Gallina and the more powerful Starderi crus (both in the Neive township). This is a compact and fine Nebbiolo with a mid-weight style and slightly sweet tannins. In terms of its flavor profile, the wine shows savory spice and barbecue smoke followed by blackberry and dried cherry. In a sense, this wine borrows the best attributes of the other two Barbaresco expressions also reviewed in this report. - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                   

            {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100    

[] James Suckling:: 92/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 91/100  

{ratings}

{***}

Underbrush, dried rose, aromatic herb and a balsamic note of menthol slowly take shape. The full-bodied palate offers French oak, licorice, espresso, raspberry jam and mint alongside aggressive, somewhat grainy, tannins that leave a bracing finish. Drink 2019–2028. - Wine Enthusiast

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                   

            {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] Wine Enthusiast:: 90/100    

[] James Suckling:: 92/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 91/100  

{ratings}

{***}

The 2013 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù is an elegant and polished wine with a deep sense of persistence and length. The wine delivers a tight embroidery of aromas that span from dark fruit to spice, to ethereal notes of balsam herb and cola. It runs the full spectrum. That feeling of wholeness and balance is also evident in the mouth. This Barbaresco reaches impeccable balance between its solid fruit flavors, its acidity and the determined firmness of its structure. - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                   

            {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100    

[] James Suckling:: 94/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 94/100  

{ratings}

{***}

From the minute the wine is poured, you can tell this is a powerful wine. On the nose, attractive, sweet blackcurrants emerge balancing out the smoky notes. This has a velvet-like texture, slipping down with its tannins and acidity in perfect balance. Earthy notes will evolve to complement the fruit with time. Drink 2021-2030.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}

{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 98+/100

[]James Suckling:: 98/100

{ratings}

   {***}

A star on the vast stage that is the Antinori wine empire, the 2010 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a seamless and stunning wine. Its one of those rare wines that inspires praise and excited conversation from the very second you raise the glass to your nose. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Baritone aromas of black cherry, black currant, cured meat, sweet spice, Spanish cedar, mocha and wild Mediterranean herbs come together in graceful unity. In the mouth, the wine is exceedingly smooth and decadent with a long velvety trail that softly coats the palate. This is one for the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}

{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 97/100

{ratings}

   {***}

The Sangiovese dominates on the nose with notes of grilled meats and Morello cherries. These are echoed on the palate, reminiscent of great Chianti Classico, before the blackcurrant comes in towards to the finish to remind you that the Cabernets are there. Great acidity and full, but soft tannins indicate that this will drink relatively early, but has at least a decade of life ahead of it. Another delicious Tig’ from the team at Antinori.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}

{ratings}

[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100

[]James Suckling:: 94/100

{ratings}

   {***}

Now firmly amongst the greats of the Italian wine scene, Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Vigneto Tignanello‘ made for the 1970 vintage. Even at this point it broke new ground by being the first Sangiovese aged in small oak barrels, and the die was cast from the 1971 vintage, when it became a Vino da Tavola della Toscana and was named Tignanello after the vineyard from where the fruit originates. Over the following eleven years Tignanello gradually evolved into the wine we recognise today – a wine that no longer follows the rules laid down by Chianti Classico Disciplinare.

This is a Tignanello vintage with wonderful purity of fruit on the nose first and foremost. Pure, unadulterated bramble, hedgerow fruit – exquisite! Behind that initial and impressive wave of fruit there are complex layers of nutmeg, black tea and Asian spices. This continues apace on the palate, and also where the Sangiovese really comes into play. The taut structure and fine tannins build neatly through the midpalate where more layers of hoi sin, dark coffee and subtle meatiness. The finish is textbook Tignanello, refined yet focussed and wonderfully long. Drinking from 2018 onto 2030.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}

{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100

{ratings}

   {***}

Truly an iconic wine, Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Vigneto Tignanello‘ made for the 1970 vintage.  Even at this point it broke new ground by being the first Sangiovese aged in small oak barrels, and the die was cast from the 1971 vintage, when it became a Vino da Tavola della Toscana and was named Tignanello after the vineyard from where the fruit originates.  Over the following eleven years Tignanello gradually evolved into the wine we recognise today – a wine that no longer follows the rules laid down by Chianti Classico Disciplinare.andnbsp; A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc that is produced only in the finest vintages.

Over the recent years, the growing excitement and appetite for Italy’s top wines and in particular the Super Tuscan wines has become insatiable.

The excitement behind the renaissance of the Super Tuscan wines is paraphrased brilliantly by Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate – “The buzz is back. Italy’s most iconic wine estate – the ground zero for all fine wine made in the country today – has entered an exciting new chapter with a renewed sense of purpose. This change was not sparked by any single event, rather a confluence of events starting with a fortuitous string of great vintages.”  With a string of very good vintages such as 2008, 2009, 2010 and now 2011, Tignanello is on fine form.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}

{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100

[]Antonio Galloni:: 95/100

{ratings}

   {***}

"Wow" was my first comment about the 2008 Tignanello. Deep rich concentration somehow combined with real elegance and surprising freshness. The dense dark glossy cherry fruit is balanced by sweet vanilla oak followed by a beautiful fine long finish.

The cool September nights followed a summer more typified by drought really
concentrating flavours while retaining the fresh dark cherry fruit characteristics. The final blend of the 2008 is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2008{vintage}

{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

   {***}

The 2004 Tignanello (85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc) presents a livelier shade of ruby along with fresher aromatics and flavors. Deeply expressive, it reveals black cherries, licorice, tar and sweet toasted oak on a linear, silky-textured frame of great class and elegance, showing outstanding presence on the palate and fine tannins to round out the finish. -Antonio Galloni

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                         

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2004{vintage}

{ratings}

[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100

{ratings}

   {***}

{***}
{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

{***}

Christmas calls for pushing the boat out – and what better a way than with a magnum of a seminal Italian wine. Sassicaia was the first of the Super Tuscans and remains very much on top today. The 2006 vintage was slightly warmer than average, and wonderful for Cabernet Sauvignon. This exotic wine is drinking exceptionally now.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}{***}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 96/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 94/100

{ratings} {***}

This is from young vines in La Morra and Neviglie. Again, there’s the remarkable Lapsang note, but it’s subtler here. There’s maraschino cherry and firm tannin, all resolved on the finish by understated intensity. This is not a “mini-Barolo”: the wine has seen no wood at all. The freshness of the vintage and the energy of Neviglie triumph. Drink 2022-2028.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}

{ratings} 

{ratings}

{***}

The 2012 d'Alceo is a Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. This is a more challenging vintage. There is a heavy layer of ripe fruit with sweet strawberry and dried blackberry that is hard to dig past in order to reach more delicate and complex nuances. The 2012 summer heat and lack of rain makes for less dimension. The wine drinks nicely now, but I would suggest a near to medium-term drinking window.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings}

[] Antonio Galloni:: 94/100

[] The Wine Advocate:: 91/100

{ratings} {***}

Ruby garnet in the glass, pretty nose, initially tight but with air opens wonderfully. Broad and immediate red & dark fruits, lovely heady mix of ripe black cherries, dried apricot, fresh red fleshed peaches and sour cranberry. Palate is compact in youth, red & black fruits, woven with floral scents, rosemary, bay & charred meats retaining glossy richness and bright acid. 36 months in French tonneau & botti yield silky sweet tannins framing this edgy, iron-rich palate. The finish is firm, peppery & mineral, showcasing the calibre of the Santa Restituta terroir. Drink 2024-2040

{***}
{region}Tuscany{region}
{color} Red{color}               

 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] Jancis Robinson :: 17.5/20

[] James Suckling:: 94/100

[] Vinous :: 92/100

{ratings}  

{***}

The 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco is a fabulous introduction to the vintage. Rich, sumptuous and layered, with terrific depth. There's real texture and depth here. Crushed raspberry, mint and blood orange. Over the last few years vineyard sources have been upgraded, and it shows, big time. Most of this fruit is from Barolo-designated vineyards.

Drink 2022 -2029

Antonio Galloni, vinous.com (Jan 2022)

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}

{ratings} [] Antonio Galloni :: 92/100

{ratings}

{***}

{***}
{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}
{***}

A blend from Mario’s Castello di Sinio vineyard, which lies just outside Serralunga, and fruit from Il Pozzo in Castiglione Falletto. A short vinification in stainless steel is followed by six months’ ageing, 50% in concrete tank and 50% in old 10-hectolitre Slavonian oak botte. Mario’s trademark lightness of touch has created a charming, juicy wine with soft, fleshy red fruit and an almost saline finish. Delicate, precise and superbly fresh. Drink now to 2030.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}{***}

I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet earth and brambly forest berry. Background notes of licorice, camphor ash and balsam herb come into steady focus. I am delighted by the intensity and the immense focus of this wine. This Rosso di Montalcino stands with the best of Brunello and gives us good reason to have very high expectations for the 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino that will be released appellation-wide at the beginning of next year. This is a solid mid-weight Rosso with good structure and fine points of fresh acidity that move the wine with determination and grace smoothly over the palate. - Wine Advocate, June 2020

{***}{region}Italy{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings}
   [] The Wine Advocate:: 95/100

[] Vinous:: 93/100

{ratings} {***}

The 2016 Brunello has a deep and glowing garnet color. It is refreshing and still grapey, with intriguing notes of raspberry and strawberry. Complex and intense on the nose, it shows a well-defined hint of white pepper. The entrance is voluptuous with sweet pure fruit. The tannins are easily detectable but velvety. It is a harmonious and gentile wine, of immediate pleasantness.

Ripe notes of lightly candied red cherry and hints of blood orange gently waft from the glass. New wood and a deft touch of autumnal floor are present, all in tandem with a sweet lick of spice. The palate is so pure and balanced with slinky tannins, bright acidity, and pinpoint precision to the finish – wonderfully layered and superb length. It may not have the ‘individuality’ of the single vineyard wines, but in no way should this be overlooked! Simply delicious. Drink 2023-2035.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For Laying Down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings}
 

{ratings} {***}

{***}
{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{***}

The medium-bodied 2005 Ornellaia shows plenty of delineation in its dark cherries, blueberries, spices, minerals and crushed rocks. The 2005 doesn’t have the detail of the 2004 or the richness of the 2006, but it does offer notable finesse and clarity in an understated style for this wine. My impression is that this will be a relatively early-maturing vintage of Ornellaia, which is not a bad thing, considering the age-worthiness of the two vintages which surround it. In 2005 Ornellaia is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. It is a big success in this vintage.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - June 08

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2005{vintage}{***}

{ratings}

{ratings} {***}

The 2004 Barolo Cascina Francia boasts staggering depth and explosive intensity from the very first taste. One of the most brooding, backward 2004s, the Cascina Francia is one of the only wines in this vintage that I am slightly disappointed to have opened, as it is so intensely backward. Hints of sage, tobacco, menthol, rose petal and graphite open up in the glass, recalling just how mesmerizing the 2004 was in cask. At once silky, while at other times virile, the 2004 Cascina Francia is constantly changing in the glass. The multiple shades of nuance and complexity are those of Nebbiolo from a great site as expressed by one of the region's historic families. The price of Monfortino has escalated rapidly over the last few years, but by comparison, the 2004 Cascina Francia is still available in the market and represents a good relative value. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous)

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2004{vintage}
{ratings}
[] Vinous:: 98/100 {ratings} {***}

Luciano Sandrone`s 2014 Nebbiolo d`Alba Valmaggiore is a very pretty, nuanced wine. Bright floral notes and red-toned fruit give the 2014 striking freshness as well as nuance. The 2014 is a bit slender, as most wines are in this year, and yet it has terrific energy and tons of class. I would give it a few years in bottle. The Sandrone Valmaggiore has a brilliant track record of aging; I suspect that will be the case here as well. 91+ points Antonio Galloni

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                             

  {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}{***}

A new vintage of Sassicaia is always a treat and is never a disappointment. Cool, yet ripe Cabernet fruit provides great promise for the wine to come. On the palate that delicious coolness is there again, but there’s no hint of the hard edge that one might expect from such a cool wine, in fact ripeness of fruit is abundant. It’s more about the restrained sophistication of the style of this wine, incredibly elegant and fine, this is very impressive. All is perfectly in balance; fruit, acidity and fine tannins, nothing dominating. This isn’t a blockbuster of a wine, but if you are looking for something elegant and restrained with real breeding, this classic Sassicaia is for you.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}{***}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 92/100

[] James Suckling:: 95/100

{ratings} {***}

The Conti Costanti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows warm fruit layering with cherry, wild raspberry and plum. You might also notice some touches of sweetness with candied orange skin and lavender honey. At the back of it all, you get tilled earth and a touch of black olive. This wine reveals good complexity to the bouquet and follows up with a streamlined, mid-weight mouthfeel. I found this vintage to be shorter compared to the 2015 edition tasted earlier in the year. Production is 35,000 bottles. Drink 2024-2040.

{***}
{region}Tuscany{region}
{color} Red{color}               

 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings} 

[] Wine Advocate :: 94/100

{ratings}  

{***}

The Chambolle-Musigny of Barolo, the village of Castiglione Falletto, blessed with calcareous soils and a warm microclimate, consistently produces some of the most velvety Baroli. None more so than Mauro and Giuseppe Mascarello's Monprivato vineyard: a perfectly exposed limestone sunbed giving the ripest, sweetest, headiest red fruit which will emerge one day into a thing of immense beauty.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2004{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 96/100
{ratings} 

{***}

This is a blend of two high-altitude vineyards: Sinio provides richness and structure, while Vigna del Pozzo gives finesse and minerality. Half is aged in cement (aiding freshness, says Mario), half in old oak (for smoothness). This is elegant and expressive, perfumed and vibrant with ripe fruit and supple tannins. It’s pure Langhe joy with a sophisticated edge. Drink 2021-2030.

{***}{region} Italy {region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

  {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}{***}

Marcarini has a vineyard in Neviglie (near Barbaresco), where they grow grapes for their inordinately popular Moscato d’Asti. They also grow Barbera there, which is blended with that grown on warmer sites in La Morra. The latter adds sweetness and viscosity; Neviglie adds a distinctive Lapsang tea hint. There are notes of iodine, cream and sweet cherry perfume. Drink 2021-2027.

{***}{region} Italy {region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

  {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}{***}

From Scopetone’s original vineyards, this is a sleeping beauty. It’s matured in large oak casks for three years, followed by 12 months in cement, allowing the tannins to smooth out. The results are astonishing: the wine is composed and feels glossy, but has a lightness of touch. It combines the very best of Sangiovese: power, purity and perfume. Drink 2026-2038.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings}         
[]Vinous:: 93/100

[]James Suckling:: 92/100

{ratings} {***}

Marcarini’s Brunate continues its upward trajectory. Manuel will hold the 2016 release back until January 2021, allowing the necessary maturation of this jewel in their crown. Indeed, Brunate can be considered a “Grand Cru” of La Morra. Marcarini is fortunate to own 4.5 hectares of this vineyard, although fastidious selection keeps total production low. The wine is tight at first, but displays the richness and flesh typical of La Morra. With notes of plums, wood-spice, some menthol and tobacco, this is very composed, with effortlessly fine tannins and a lift of freshness on the finish. Drink 2026-2045.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings}[] Antonio Galloni:: 92/100

[] Jancis Robinson:: 17.5/20

{ratings}

{***}

The 2016 Barbaresco Pajè is one of the highlights in this range as it offers gorgeous mid-palate depth with super-classic structure. Dark cherry tobacco licorice leather and deeply-pitched spice accents infuse the 2016 with captivating nuance. The Pajè represents a bridge to the higher-end wines in this range. All of these wines have become pricey but the Pajè is one of the larger-production wines and consistently delivers superb quality at a more approachable price than many of the other wines in the range. The 2016 is positively stellar. - Vinous

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] Vinous:: 95/100

 [] Wine Spectator:: 96/100

{ratings} {***}

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] Vinous:: 95/100

 [] Wine Enthusiast:: 94/100

{ratings} {***}

Compared to their 2.5ha Monforte vineyard Santo Stefano di Perno, this Castiglione Falletto gem is more ‘campo sportivo’ than vineyard, given its size at 6.20ha. It was cropped at 30hl/ha in 2006 giving a beautifully ethereal, silflike wine that gives you ‘harmony’ in buckets. Selected yeast & stainless-steel vinifcation (since the late ‘90s) has surely helped frame the bright, detailed strawberry-like fruit, with its brilliant racy quality & calcareous finesse. Such lines!(tasted before September 2010’s bottling).

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 96/100
{ratings} 

{***}

Lighter in colour and aromas than Monforte’s Santo Stefano di Perno, the 2007 vintage of Monprivato has delivered this crunchy raspberry and rose petal fresh beauty of a wine.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 96/100
{ratings} 

{***}

2009’s notable in that the Mascarello family chose not to make their Riserva ‘Ca d’Morissio’ in this vintage, so its old Michet clone fruit has been diverted into Monprivato instead. Monprivato is a ‘Vigna Grande’ (Grand Cru) vineyard in all but name. Perfectly exposed on 100% limestone soils, it’s the ‘Les Amoureuses’ of Castiglione Falletto. Similar in colour to neighbour Villero yet with a darker hue, the nose is really intense, more elusive, with strawberry herbal, almost incense aromas. Fuller than Villero, more ‘avvolgente’ (enveloping)  and yet at the same time deeper, more profound and brooding, not wishing to make a spectacle of itself. Ah! the brilliance of Nebbiolo!

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2009{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

[] Vinous:: 93-95/100

[] Jancis Robinson MW:: 18/20

{ratings}

{***}

The 2010 “Super Tuscans” were released to huge plaudits from across the industry and 2011 has produced a vintage that is in many cases just as fine – amongst the wines, Sassicaia has excelled. There is a nobility to the wine, with roasted herbs, plums, liquorice and just a touch of menthol.

{***}{region}Tuscany{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}{***}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 94+/100

[] James Suckling:: 94/100

{ratings} {***}

Made with grapes from the firm's youngest Nebbiolo vines, aged between 20 and 25 years old and sourced from estate vineyards in Pajé in Barbaresco and Pira in Castiglione Falletto, this fragrant red opens with aromas of red berry, fennel seed, leather and camphor. On the lithe, racy palate, juicy acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins accompany crushed strawberry, red cherry and star anise. Drink 2023–2030. - Wine Enthusiast, 93 points

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}{***}