Italy

Gavi is the quintessential Northern Italian white wine, famed for its delicacy and finesse. This benchmark example, grown on a hilltop vineyard rich in white tufo soils, offers aromas of white flowers and pear. The palate is focused and energetic, with succulent layers of green apple, white peach and lemon peel, with a long, mineral finish. It is perfect to drink on its own, or with white fish and fresh green vegetables. 

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} White{color}                                                              

 {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2020{vintage}{***}

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 2012 Langhe Giàrborina is a reincarnation of the wine previously known as Langhe Arborina. Because a Langhe appellation wine cannot be named by its vineyard name (like Barolo can), Elio Altare was told to remove the name Arborina. In a clever twist, he renamed it ""giàrborina"" that is loosely translated as ""formally Arborina."" This is a pure expression of Nebbiolo that is graceful and elegant with bright berries and pressed flowers. It is streamlined and tight in the mouth with lingering flavors of licorice, spice and toasted nut. - Wine Advocate

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

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

{ratings} [] Vinous:: 94/100

[] Wine Advocate:: 93/100

{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}

{***}

This wine has more in common with a Brunello than it does a Rosso. Made with certified-organic fruit, Poggio di Sotto's 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a very fine and smooth expression that caresses the senses. The bouquet is enlivened by forest berry, peat moss, lilac and wildflowers. The 2018 vintage is usually understated in personality, but this wine speaks of elegance and nuance. It's just stunning.
95pts Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

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

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

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

{ratings} 

{***}

The 2001 Flaccianello della Pieve marks a turning point, as it is the first Flaccianello to be made as a selection of the estate’s best fruit across a number of parcels rather than as a single-vineyard wine. Black cherries, plums, smoke, licorice and tobacco are some of the notes that burst from the glass in this virile, massive Flaccianello. A hint of sweet toasted oak reminiscent of the 1990 lingers on the finish. This is a great showing, but readers will have to be patient. 
Wine Advocate

{***}{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:: 95/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 98/100

 [] Jancis Robinson:: 18/20      

{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}         {***}

Upon release, Biondi-Santi’s ’97 Brunello radiated purity and elegance, but its massive tannins required extensive aging before true approachability--two decades later, this silky, nuanced wine is firing on all cylinders. Juicy red and blue fruits dance against a backdrop of balsamic herbs, warm cigar wrapper, worn leather, white truffles, dried violet petals, and touches of smoky minerals. Ethereal in the mouth, a sturdy acidic core powers this Brunello as it glides on the palate; fine-grained tannins stud the finish that resonates and lingers. Known for its nose and intense age-worthiness, a Biondi-Santi Brunello's trademark aromatics and acidity are attributable to the vineyard's altitude that ranges between 1,300-1,600 feet above sea level. Biondi-Santi's Brunello Annata, or normale bottling, undergoes fermentation in traditional Slavonian oak for about 18 days, followed by aging in large oak casks of 800 to 7,000 liters for a period of two to three years, setting the standard for traditional Brunello.

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

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1997{vintage}{***}

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}

{***}

Red fruits belie the innate concentration that this Barolo offers; raspberries and subtle florals sit alongside crisp acidity and fine tannins underpinned dry stony minerality. Long and scented on the finish. Drink from 2023+.

{***}{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:: 96+/100    

{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 2013 Barolo Cerretta shows that exuberant fruit that is so prominent in this vintage. Fruit was harvested two weeks later than average towards the end of October. This gave the Nebbiolo grape ample time to develop its aromatic nuance and intensity. The Cerretta vineyard is higher than average at 400 meters above sea level and that altitude has further helped to prolong the growing season (something the Nebbiolo grape loves). The site has more clay in the soils and vines are up to 20years old. 

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

{maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}

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

{ratings}

{***}

Vietti’s 2012 Barolo Riserva Villero is absolutely gorgeous. In 2012, the Villero is especially lifted and aromatic, showing a distinctly floral and red-toned expression of fruit rather than the darker, more balsamic inflections that are typical of this Castiglione Falletto cru. Light on its feet, fresh and graceful to its core, the Villero is another terrific wine from Vietti in 2012. Veins of Villero tannin and bright acids give the wine energy, vibrancy and tons of character. More than anything else, though, the 2012 Villero is a very clear continuation of a stylistic evolution that can be traced to the 2010 Barolo Ravera in which the Barolos are now made in a more traditional style than in the past, which includes malolactic fermentation in cask rather than barrique. In 2012, that approach was not in place for all the Barolos, but it is very much evident here. Drink 2022-2042. Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jun 2019)

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

{ratings} [] Vinous:: 95+/100

[] Jancis Robinson :: 17.5/20

{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 Sorì Ginestra is one of the more understated wines I have tasted here in some time. Silky, pliant and expressive, the 2012 boasts considerable aromatic presence to match its overall weight and intensity on the palate. A host of lavender, smoke, mint, plum, spice and savory herb overtones add the closing shades of nuance. - Vinous 

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color} Red{color}           {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] James Suckling:: 93/100

[] Vinous:: 93/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 90/100

{ratings} {***}

Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination. The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting. I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.

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

{***}

Dark cherry, plum, smoke, menthol and spices meld together in the 2011 Barolo Brunate. Restrained and elegant in the glass, yet with fabulous depth, the 2011 Brunate is exceptionally beautiful. The rich, layered finish provides a glimpse of what the future holds. Today, the Brunate is a real showstopper - Vinous, Antonio Galloni 

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}

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

[] Vinous:: 95/100

[] James Suckling:: 92/100

[] Wine Spectator:: 92/100

{ratings}

{***}

Blush strawberry in colour, this is cool, calculating, quite juicy, with a round fruit character, darker, blackberry fruit and spice, but with great purity. Made in a vin de garde style, this is a bit more forward than the Cannubi.

E.Pira was one of Barolo’s most historical producers until the Boschis family bought it in 1980, transforming it overnight into one of its most modern. Chiara Boschis is at the helm, producing fruit-forward wines that give you more of everything: more extract, colour, acidity, alcohol and oak. She mollycoddles her organic vineyards as if they’re her children. Recently joined by her brother, Giorgio, the estate has now grown to 8.5 hectares.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}Red{color}                 {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} 

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

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

{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} 

{***}

Sandrone’s 2005 Barolo Cannubi Boschis offers up pretty notes of mint, flowers, spices and dark red berries, with sweet notes of French oak that linger on the finish. This is a decidedly slender Cannubi Boschis that lacks some of the sheer pedigree and explosiveness of the best vintages. The tannins need some time to soften, but this is a wine that has continued to grow in bottle. It could very well turn out to be one of the vintage’s surprises. In 2005 the harvest took place at the end of September and the wine was aged in 500-liter barrels (one-third new). - Wine Advocate #182, Apr 29, 2009

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

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

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

{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}

{***}

The multidimensional 1998 Barolo Le Vigne possesses huge layers of black cherry fruit infused with rose petals, tar, balsam wood, mineral, and subtle new oak notes. Full-bodied, awesomely concentrated, and extraordinarily pure.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate)

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

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1998{vintage}

{ratings}   

[] The Wine Advocate:: 95/100    

[] Robert Parker:: 95/100 

{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}

{***}

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}

   {***}

Really classy on the nose, this is a classic Bordeaux blend with hints of graphite. Beautifully elegant on the palate it shows a touch of French oak barrique alongside full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in perfect balance, followed by a fine, long and satisfying finish. Superb!

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

{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2008{vintage}

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

{ratings}

   {***}

The 2004 Guado al Tasso reveals a layered, nuanced texture filled out by the generous warmth of Bolgheri. Full-bodied and ample on the palate, it offers plenty of sweet dark fruit, licorice, Tuscan herbs and chocolate, with outstanding persistence as well as balance, which is especially evident in a mature use of oak. The 2004 is an opulent and beautifully poised Guado al Tasso that will offer much pleasure over the next decade. 

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

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

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

{ratings}

   {***}

Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico known simply as “Vigneto Tignanello” made for the 1970 vintage. From 1971 the wine was classified as lowly Vino da Tavola, and the Cabernets were added to the Sangiovese for the first time. The original Super Tuscan was born. The 2013 is the first release since the passing of the great Giacomo Tachis, Head Winemaker at Antinori from the late 1960s through to the 1990s and creator of Tignanello, Sassicaia, Solaia and many of the notable wines of Tuscany and Italy. The 2013 is a fitting tribute to this very talented man.

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

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

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

[]James Suckling:: 97/100

[]Antonio Galloni:: 95+/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}

   {***}

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

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

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

[]James Suckling:: 96/100

[]Antonio Galloni:: 95/100

{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 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}

   {***}

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}

   {***}

This is deep, rich, dark and fragrant on the nose, with notes of berry fruit, spice, oak and summer flowers. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, black fruit from the Cabernets dominates the attack at present, but with silky Sangiovese making its presence felt too. Very impressive, and almost impenetrable at this youthful stage, this has great fruit, depth, complexity, acidity and fine yet grippy tannins. This looks like it will be a great Tignanello, but will need more time than most vintages to show its best. Drink 2022-2040+.

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

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

[]The Wine Advocate:: 97/100

[]James Suckling:: 97/100

{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} {***}

Humming with energy and life from the very moment you put your nose in the glass, Marchesi Antinoris 2010 Tignanello shows magnificent aromatic layering and an enormous capacity to peel back and reveal itself in beautiful slow motion. This is an articulate wine with a long story to tell about the quality of its profound 2010 fruit. This Tignanello has the elegance of 2004 and the structure of 2007. A brief note on the structure: The mouthfeel here is not broad and big. Instead, it shows a sharp and elegantly streamlined feel with impressive persistency. Compared to 2009, the Sangiovese component is slightly higher with 80% of the noble Tuscan variety followed by 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.

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

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}

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

{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}

{***}

Classic Brunello notes on the nose of dark cherries, spice and beef on a butcher’s block. A pure joy on the palate, rich and palate-filling with notes of black cherries and dark berry notes, coupled with grilled meats, cocoa powder and undergrowth notes. The savoury fruit is balanced by rapier-like acidity and plenty of finely-grained tannins. Serious and profound, unusually for Il Poggione, this will need a year or two in the cellar before it will be showing its best. Drink 2022-2040+.

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

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

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

[] James Suckling:: 94/100

{ratings}  

{***}

Brilliant straw-yellow color with soft green reflections. A delicate white froth evolves into a very fine and persistent perlage. Its full nose is aromatic, floral and fruity as well as intense and persistent. The taste, which is pleasantly sweet and refreshing due to the low alcohol content and correct acidity, is smooth and rich with musky sensations typical of the Moscato grape - the wine's aromatic persistence is very long and intense. This is the dessert wine par excellence and it pairs well with fresh pastries and cakes, traditional panettone, all kinds of baked desserts as well as fruit.

{***}{region}Piedmont{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                                {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2020{vintage}{***}

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}

   {***}