Italy
With its lofty sedimentary, calcareous and volcanic soils, noble autochthonous grapes bringing individual terroir to life, a peerless gastronomic culture and a rich viticultural heritage, Italy is at long last emerging from the shadow of neighbouring France to showcase its ancient and classic fine wines. The current crop of producers are placing a greater onus on authenticity to gently exalt the quality of the fruit and terroir.
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2016 Barolo, Castiglione, Vietti, Piedmont, Italy
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
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2010 Barolo, Monvigliero, Fratelli Alessandria, Piedmont
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
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2014 Barbaresco, La Spinetta, Valeirano
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
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2014 Barbaresco, La Spinetta, ValeiranoPiedmont2014 Barbaresco, La Spinetta, ValeiranoBottle Price 75 cl $985 -
2004 Tignanello, Antinori, Tuscany, Italy
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
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2004 Tignanello, Antinori, Tuscany, ItalyTuscany2004 Tignanello, Antinori, Tuscany, ItalyBottle Price 300cl $6,350 -
2019 Langhe Nebbiolo, Lasarin, Marcarini, Piedmont
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 E 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}
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2012 Vigna d'Alceo, Castello dei Rampolla, IGT Toscana
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} {***}
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2012 Barolo, Villero, Riserva, Vietti, Piedmont
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
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2012 Barolo, Rocche di Castiglione, Vietti, Piedmont
Of Vietti's new releases, this wine is most definitely the most shut down and less expressive at this young stage. The 2012 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione will require many years of bottle aging before it comes into its own. In general, many of the Barolo protagonists are sluggish in this vintage and this is a common theme. The bouquet moves slowly to release dark fruit, dried cherry, tobacco, grilled herb and pressed blue flowers. The mouth is powerful and determined, however, with solid structure and a tight build. Put this bottle at the back of your cellar.
{***}{region}Piedmont{region} {color}Red{color} {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text} {vintage}2012{vintage}
{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 94/100
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2021 Moscato d'Asti, Marcarini, Piedmont
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}2021{vintage}{***}
2021 Moscato d'Asti, Marcarini, PiedmontPiedmont2021 Moscato d'Asti, Marcarini, PiedmontBottle Price 75 cl $145 -
2007 Barolo Le Vigne, Luciano Sandrone, Piedmont
The 2007 Barolo Le Vigne presented a beguiling combination of explosive, ripe fruit and finessed silky tannins, making it a thrilling wine to taste, even at this stage in its development. Small red berries, minerals, crushed flowers, vanillin and sweet spices are woven together in a fabric of indescribable elegance. The French oak has never been better balanced, while the vibrant, crystalline finish leaves a lasting impression. The 2007 Le Vigne has all the potential to develop into a spectacular wine; it already is. This is a stunning bottle of Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027. Luciano Sandrone’s wines have never been more elegant than they are today. The French oak is increasingly well balanced, and the at-times excessive heaviness of some prior vintages is long gone.
Simply put, Luciano Sandrone is at the top of his game. Never one to be satisfied, this year Sandrone showed me several experimental wines, including a barrel sample of 2009 Barolo Le Vigne vinified with 100% stems, an approach that is virtually unheard of in Piedmont. Although this wine will ultimately be blended into the Barolo Le Vigne, the all-stems Barolo was huge, explosive, and compelling. Sandrone fans have much to look forward to, as the 2008s and 2009s appear quite promising at this early stage. As for the 2007s, they are off the charts. Drink 2015 - 2027. Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate (February 2011)
{***}{region}Piedmont{region} {color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text} {vintage}2007{vintage}
{ratings}
[] The Wine Advocate:: 96/100
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2010 Flaccianello della Pieve, Tenuta Fontodi, Panzano, Tuscany
A rush of intense blue and black stone fruits, tobacco, smoke, licorice, spices and new leather hits the palate in the 2010 Flaccianello. A wine of considerable immediacy and intensity, the 2010 captivates all the senses with its magnificent richness and pure texture. There is so much to like here.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (May 2014)
{***}{region}Tuscany{region} {color}Red{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text} {vintage}2010{vintage}{***}{ratings} [] The Wine Advocate:: 96/100
[] Vinous:: 96/100
{ratings} {***}
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2017 Brunello di Montalcino, Scopetone, Tuscany
Scarnacuoia’s old vines give this a captivating perfume, mineral detail and depth. Three years in botti and 12 months in cement allow the wine to relax and smooth out. This is vivid, open and composed; glossy cherry, peach and pomegranate fill out a firm frame. The finish is extended by dried floral spice and a minty mineral tang.
Drink 2024 - 2034
Davy Żyw, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Feb 2022)
{***}{region}Tuscany{region} {color}Red{color} {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text} {vintage}2017{vintage} {ratings} []Vinous:: 92/100
[]Decanter:: 92/100
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2016 Barolo, Badarina, Riserva, Piedmont
The Bruna Grimaldi 2016 Barolo Riserva Badarina sets off according to its own careful tempo, but it opens slowly to reveal not only the beauty and intensity of this classic vintage but also the power and depth of Serralunga d'Alba, home to some of Barolo's most impactful wines. The fruit used here comes specifically from the Vigna Regnola, which the Grimaldi family always vinifies separately, especially in the best vintages. This is a finely delineated and focused expression of Nebbiolo with a firm tannic backbone that supports dark fruit flavors, crushed stone, lilac and candied orange peel. I would recommend setting this bottle aside for another 5 to 10 years, giving it time to become more supple and smooth. A precious few 733 bottles were released. - Wine Advocate
{***}{region}Piedmont{region} {color}Red{color} {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text} {vintage}2016{vintage}
{ratings}[] Wine Advocate:: 95/100
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2016 Barolo, Badarina, Riserva, PiedmontPiedmont2016 Barolo, Badarina, Riserva, PiedmontBottle Price 75cl $535 -
2017 Barbaresco, Asili, Vecchie Viti, Roagna, Piedmont
A tightly wound yet succulent Barbaresco with aromas of graphite macerated plum and cherry giving way to rose hip mineral and more fruit flavors. Packs plenty of energy courtesy of the firm vibrant structure. Long complex finish. Bordering on racy with terrific harmony and class. Best from 2025 through 2043. 94 cases made. - Wine Spectator
{***}{region}Piedmont{region} {color} Red{color} {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text} {vintage}2017{vintage} {ratings}
{ratings} {***}
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2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Cerbaiona
Cerbaiona was bought in the fall of 2015 by a large group of friends led by Gary Rieschel and Matthew Fioretti. The latter was the owner of Summa Vitis, a US wine import company, which he closed in 2009 in order to fulfill his dream of being a full-time wine producer. Fioretti couldn’t have been any happier when Cerbaiona, one of Montalcino’s most admired estates, came up for sale. Reportedly, the group paid an astronomical 5.8 million euros for the property, which has made some of Montalcino’s most sought after Brunellos in the last twenty years. However, anyone visiting the estate didn’t have any trouble realizing that the failing health and increasing age of owners Diego and Nora Molinari had led to a slightly rundown feel at the winery and that work was needed in the vineyards too (the day I visited, Fioretti greeted me in work clothes as he had been busy working in the vineyards up until that moment). The estate has replanted another 1.4 hectares Sangiovese (sourced from France’s famous Guillaume nursery) to add to the three hectares it currently owns. Fioretti has also bought some new barrels, and is looking to use 10, 17 and 20 Hl oak barrels (Molinari used to use smaller 500L tonneaux).- Vinous 2017
{***}{region}Tuscany{region} {color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text} {vintage}2016{vintage} {ratings} []Jancis Robinson :: 17.5+/20 {ratings} {***}
2016 Brunello di Montalcino, CerbaionaTuscany2016 Brunello di Montalcino, CerbaionaBottle Price 75 cl $1,500 -
2019 Ornellaia, Bolgheri, Tuscany
Charred caramel and liquorice aromatics, with sappy acidity accompanying generous olive tapenade, blackberry and raspberry fruits on the opening beats. Deceptively silky tannins, they are tactile and supple at first then close in through the mid palate, revealing a more serious Ornellaia with layers of graphite, savoury cassis, sage, bay leaf, underbrush and white truffle spices. A touch of sweet salted caramel returns after half an hour in the glass, this is well structured and will be giving its best after five or six years in bottle, and for several decades. A hot dry summer followed by cooler weather during harvest has given finesse and complexity, and a wine to savour. All varieties are aged separately for 12 months then blended and then put back in barrel for 6 months, followed by 12 months in bottle. 70% new oak. Director Axel Heinz, oenologist Olga Fusari. Drink 2026 to 2044.
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux (March 2022)2019 Ornellaia, Bolgheri, TuscanyTuscany2019 Ornellaia, Bolgheri, TuscanyBottle Price 75cl $1,450 -
2005 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, PiedmontWhile vintage 2004 was darker and fulsome, Maria Teresa's 2005 lifts the soul with a spirited spicy red fruit perfume, a delicate, gentle, velvety cherry stone palate and a sublime quality that perhaps only the Cantina Mascarello Bartolo can muster. Getting ahead of the Oct 10th rain seemed key to performing well in 2005, after what was a relatively mild summer. This is perhaps an apt advertisement for the benefits of blending vineyards together, four into one; a philosophy the Cantina holds dear. An Englishman’s Barolo? It's certainly sings of finesse. Drinking till 2020, along with lamb (Maria Teresa's favourite meat).2005 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, PiedmontItaly2005 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, PiedmontBottle Price 75cl $3,095
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2015 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy
Gaja's 2015 Barbaresco is gorgeous. Deep, pliant and resonant, the 2015 exudes class from the very first taste. Today, the aromatics are not especially open or expressive, but it is the wine's depth and overall sense of harmony that really carry the day. Hints of orange peel, spice and rosewater give the 2015 an exotic aromatic top register that is hugely appealing. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. The 2015 is a wonderfully complete and harmonious wine, but it really does need a few years in the cellar to fully unwind. - Vinous
2015 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piedmont, ItalyItaly2015 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piedmont, ItalyBottle Price 75 cl $1,580 -
2017 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy
The Gaja 2017 Barbaresco is nuanced and delicate with ever-expanding aromatic intensity that amply fills the balloon of your glass. The wine takes a little while to open fully, and it slowly releases forest berry, powdered licorice, toasted aniseed, spearmint, dried lavender and rosemary essence to build a lasting bouquet. The mouthfeel is streamlined and almost steely, with an extremely linear approach that adds to its length and persistency. The tannins are tucked into the wine's delicate fiber, but you do feel the extra textural firmness of the hot vintage nonetheless. As we have seen in past vintages, more definition is added by a pretty mineral note that is a common thread in these wines from Gaja. - Wine Advocate
2017 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piedmont, ItalyItaly2017 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piedmont, ItalyBottle Price 75 cl $1,580 -
Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, Piedmont (Artist Label) - Slight label damage
Maria-Theresa Mascarello's 2011 Barolo is one of the more refined wines of the year, with less size than many other 2011s and plenty of immediacies. Racy and giving on the palate but with a good underlying structure, 2011 impresses for its juxtaposition of the riper elements of the vintage and more classic attributes that are such signatures at this address.
Bright red stone fruits, strawberries and crushed flowers are some notes that grace the exquisite finish. 2011 is an excellent choice to drink while some more age-worthy recent vintages sleep in the cellar. I will not be surprised to see 2011 improve from where it is today.
Drink 2018 - 2041
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (November 2014)
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2011 Barolo, Vigna Rionda, Riserva, Massolino, Piedmont, Italy
Massolino's 2011 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is a more than worthy follow-up to the stellar 2010. Silky, perfumed and incredibly inviting, the 2011 will also give up its considerable charms much earlier. Sweet red cherry, rose petal, spice, hard candy, and mint give the 2011 its inner sweetness. Above all else, the 2011 captures a compelling middle ground that balances the warmth of the year with a classic sense of structure. The 2011 is a racy, alluring Rionda that will be nearly impossible to resist, even young.
Brothers Franco and Roberto Massolino decided to give their single-vineyard 2013 Barolos a bit more time in barrel than normal. Tasted from bottle, those wines are every bit as impressive as they were from barrel. Massolino has made compelling Barolos for several decades. Still, in recent years, they have made additional investments that include a greater focus on quality, acquiring more vineyards and completing a significant cellar expansion. As for the wines themselves, they have never been better.
Drink 2021 - 2036
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2017)
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2014 Etna Rosso, Arcurìa, Graci, Sicily, Italy
Grown at 600 metres above sea-level on rocky lava soils, there is a delicacy to the form of this wine that belies its concentration. Perfumed cherry fruit and citrus peel layer with coal and refreshing acidity. It’s very persistent.
Mount Etna is the perfect example of how nature can truly affect a wine and render it breath-taking. Alberto Graci has created his Etna Rosso using traditional methods that ensure high quality, but enviable yields. The indigenous varieties sing through, with Nerello Mascalese offering bright, vivacious red fruits, with an almost endless depth, tempered by a measure of Nerello Cappuccio that offers roundness, and a slight, endearing candied note, finishing with a creamy kiss of oak. This is a must for Burgundy lovers looking for something fun and vibrant, or, indeed, Italian wine lovers looking for the perfect wine to serve alongside a good roast or barbecue.
Drink now
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2014 Barbaresco, Sorì Tildìn, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy
Sweet rose petal, mint, chiseled red-toned fruit and chalk give the 2014 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn its sculpted, brilliant personality. All the elements are in the right place. A wine of translucent energy and weightless elegance, the Sorì Tildìn is hauntingly beautiful today. A host of floral notes and red berry fruit infuse the persistent, chiseled finish in this fabulous Barbaresco. As it so often is, the Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is a wine of pure charm and seduction.
Drink 2026 - 2044
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2017)
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2016 Langhe Nebbiolo, Mascarello Giuseppe & Figli, Piedmont, Italy
The Mascarello family has crafted a silky and fine red wine that presents impressive elegance, but it's also very accessible at the same time. The easy-to-drink 2016 Langhe Nebbiolo offers a juicy core of dark fruit and cassis surrounded by delicate tones of ash, flint, licorice and smoke. Despite those dusty aromas, there is a great sense of inner energy and zest that emerges from the very core of this textbook Nebbiolo.
Monica Larner - 29/06/2018
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2016 Barbaresco, Fausoni, Sottimano, Piedmont, Italy
The Fausoni zone provides sandy and clay soils, and you get more power here than from the other locations. These vines are 35 to 40 years old, and the 2016 Barbaresco Fausoni lets fly those menthol notes that are so characteristic of this vineyard in Neive.
Slightly more balsamic in its aromatic profile than the other Barbarescos, this expression of Nebbiolo, sitting sur lies for two years, shows a very different tannic feel in a wine that offers surprising freshness and purity.
Those minty Neive notes, its direct and linear nature, plus the very precise and sharply managed tannins make this cru a winner in my book. Some 6,000 bottles were made.
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (June 2019)
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2017 Barolo, Sperss, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy
The 2017 Barolo Sperss is a powerful, backward wine. In 2017 Sperss is not as huge as in some previous years, but then again, the move towards greater finesse has been in place for some time now. In tasting, Sperss feels more extracted and tannic than Conteisa (even after allowing for the clear differences in site), with a strong oak imprint that is also pretty evident. Sage, tobacco, scorched earth and spice meld into a core of dark Serralunga fruit in this imposing Barolo from Gaja. Give it a few years to soften.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2017 Barolo, Sperss, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy2017 Barolo, Sperss, Gaja, Piedmont, ItalyBottle Price 75cl $2,050 -
2020 Arcurìa, Etna Rosso, Graci, Sicily, Italy
This amphitheatric vineyard sits between 600-700m also on a variety of volcanic soils. These low yielding vines yield tiny quantities of Nerello grapes, Alberto manages to vinify the essence of this extreme terroir, and character of the capricious grape. 40 days of maceration following fermentation infuse this incredible wine with the sweet but china-fine like tannins. Although light on its feet, there is real substance to this wine, chewy cherry, loose leaf tea, tobacco chinotto are kept in suspense by a spine of mineral tension, and propelled by a sunny Sicilian soul.
Drink 2024 - 2034
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2020 Barbaresco, Roncaglie, Fletcher, Piedmont, Italy
The 2020 Barbaresco Roncaglie shows a distinctly earthy, savoury expression of Barbaresco, with the fruit pushed more into the background than it is in some of the other wines in the range. Dried herbs, flowers, mint, macerated cherry and sweet pipe tobacco all open in the glass. The Roncaglie is not an overt wine, rather it is a Barbaresco built on subtlety and nuance.
There are the best Barbarescos I have tasted from Dave Fletcher. It is not easy for an outsider to establish themselves in Piedmont, which makes these wines doubly impressive.
Drink 2024 - 2035
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2023)
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2017 Barolo, Conteisa, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy
The 2017 Barolo Conteisa is rich, ample and inviting. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and dried flowers lend captivating aromatic presence to the Gaja family's La Morra Barolo. Even so, the 2017 is quite closed today, which is rather unusual for a wine that is typically far more open in the early going. That's probably a good sign for the future, though. Time in the glass brings out the classic Conteisa red-toned fruit profile. More than anything else, I am so impressed with how the 2017 gets better and better with air. This is a terrific showing. Sadly, production is down by about 50% because of severe selection.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous2017 Barolo, Conteisa, Gaja, Piedmont, Italy2017 Barolo, Conteisa, Gaja, Piedmont, ItalyBottle Price 75cl $1,980 -
2016 Barbaresco, Cottá, Sottimano, Piedmont, Italy
Fun fact: The accent mark on this vineyard's original name was what the Italians call an accento acuto (accent aigu, for francophiles), as in Cottá, an unusual diacritical mark to stick over an "a" in Italian. So the opposite-slanting and more common accento grave was printed on vineyard maps and wine labels starting in the 1990s, and with all the success it has had, Sottimano thinks the normalized punctuation might actually bring good luck.
This is the trademark wine of this estate for its elegance, power and finesse. With an extra gear in terms of intensity, right off the bat the 2016 Barbaresco Cottá brings fullness and generosity. There are wonderful notes of mint and liquorice to it, a streamlined wine with a great deal of purity. It's got a lot of volume and even more dimension. There is also that pretty salty mineral note on the close. Some 9,000 bottles were made.
Drink 2021 - 2038
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (June 2019)
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2011 Barbaresco, Pajé, Riserva, Produttori del Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
One of the highlights in this range, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is also one of the most classic of these 2011 Riservas. Beams of underlying acidity and minerality give the flavors considerable thrust and brightness. Sweet mentholated notes wrap around a core of plush, red-fleshed plum and pomegranate fruit, leading to a brisk, refreshing finish. What is left to say? The 2011 Pajè is absolutely gorgeous. It's as simple as that. Pajè is one of the cooler micro-climates the Produttori work with, and that was a help in 2011. - Vinous
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2019 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Le Vigne, Faraone, Abruzzo, Italy
Abruzzo’s most famous red wine, Federico’s, is crafted from two different sites: a fresher, hilltop vineyard that gives perfume and elegance and traditional pergola vines that give broader fruit structure.
After fermentation in an inox tank, the wine is aged for two years in large oak botti. The results are a multi-layered expression of Montepulciano, aromatically complex: baked earth, heady spices, and dark berry fruits. Deep in colour, the palate has real depth. Wild spices, loaded with baked and bright black fruits, are framed by soft, chewy, coco-coated, damson-like tannins. Perfect with strong cheese or spicy tomato-based pasta dishes.
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Scopetone, Tuscany, Italy
This comes from Brunello’s original Scarnacuoia vineyards, which are some of the coolest in the region. Yields were lower in 2018, the colour lighter and alcohol lower, yet there is still focus in this wine The old vines give this Brunello an enchanting nose: cinotto, blue fruits, mineral details and smoky depth.
Three years in large 33hl oak botti, followed by 12 months in cement, allow the wine to relax and smooth. The results are bright, open and composed: peaches and glossy red berries with the bite of pomegranate. The tannins are softer and cleansing than many vintages, while the finish is extended by floral high notes and a minty mineral tang.
Drink 2023 - 2038
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2017 Brunello di Montalcino, Tassi, Tuscany, Italy
The vintage’s heat gave intensity to the grapes, but the vines’ proximity to the river and cold mountain winds retained freshness and phenolic maturity. Wild fermentation in concrete, 10% whole-bunch and 25 months in botti grande make for a stylish Brunello. Dense, dark fruit, earthy detail and floral highlights melt into a firm frame with juicy velvet tannins.
Drink 2024 - 2032
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2023 Moscato d'Asti, Marcarini, Piedmont, Italy
Only 5% alcohol, this very gently sparkling wine is fully sweet, with 131g/L residual sugar. It's a delightfully fresh style though, not in the least bit unctuous. Bright and aromatic on the nose with peach and lemon sherbet, and white flowers. Perfect for summer, it's a great match for fruit salads, pastries and birthday cake.
Drink 2024 - 2026
Amy Wislocki, Decanter.com (April 2024)
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Prosecco, Organic, Brut, Masottina, Veneto, Italy
Masottina focuses on producing drier Prosecco in the Brut style, believing that this allows for more food-friendly and elegant wines. They also believe in working as sustainably as possible, and this is the first certified organic Prosecco in our range. Delicate floral aromas mingle with fresh pear fruit on the nose. The palate has a wonderful volume of very fine bubbles, with sherbet lemon and pear fruit and a crystalline finish.
Drink now
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2016 Brunello di Montalcino, Gemini, Riserva, La Serena, Tuscany, Italy
This is a strict single-vineyard selection from the top of the farm. It’s always last to be harvested. Twenty days of natural fermentation and gentle maceration are followed by 36 months in the same 71-hectolitre botti. The 2016 vintage is intense and beautifully elegant. Savoury and weighty with spiced coffee notes and minerality, this needs time.
Drink 2026 - 2045
Davy Żyw, Senior Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Feb 2022)
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2014 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, PiedmontHere is another very successful expression from one of the appellation's legendary estates at the heart of Barolo. The 2014 Barolo is light and delicate in appearance with a delightful bouquet of wild rose, forest berry and blue fruit. Violets and lavender give the bouquet a pretty sense of lift and intensity that reminds you of the cool climate and long growing season that characterizes this vintage. This wine also offers evident freshness with bright berry flavors and a subtle feeling of crisp crunchiness. The tannins are superbly integrated within the silky and streamlined body of this elegant Barolo. This wine will surely offer exciting bottle evolution.2014 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, PiedmontItaly2014 Barolo, Bartolo Mascarello, PiedmontBottle Price 75cl $2,395
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2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Gavi di Gavi by Roberto Sarotto, Piedmont
The dry and warm vintage suited the Cortese grape, which retained freshness due to the mineral-rich white soils here. This is delicate and finessed, with bright aromas of spring flowers, yellow peach and citrus, and a refreshingly mineral finish. Vibrant and elegant, this is a quintessential Northern Italian white.
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd Barolo by Giovanni Rosso, Piedmont, Italy
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2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd Brunello di Montalcino by La Màgia, Tuscany, Italy
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2019 Berry Bros. & Rudd Chianti Classico by Badia a Coltibuono, Tuscany, Italy