Italy

Wine Spectator 96 points. Wine Enthusiast 94 points. "Rose, forest floor, camphor and a potpourri of dark spice form the nose. The full-bodied, elegant palate features juicy Morello cherry, raspberry, cake spice, almond and a hint of tobacco. Fresh acidity and velvety tannins provide balance and finesse. Kerin O’Keefe."

The  Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga d'Alba , from 100% estate -grown Nebbiolo, displays the virile muscle and power that is a benchmark for quality Barolo from Serralunga. This ready to drink Barolo is loaded with all the classic notes, Smoke, leather, plum and exotic spice come to the forefront in a wine that drinks above its class, especially at this pricepoint.  Kerin O'Keefe 95 points.

Wine Spectator 91 points. The color is ruby red, with garnet reflexes. The bouquet is rich in berry fruit like cherry, blackberry, and plum, with clear hints of spices like cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. Soft and sweet tannins blend in the mouth with an intense fruit sensation. The acidity, well balanced with tannins, gives feelings of freshness that make it long lasting.  

Wine Spectator 95 points. Rich and harmonious, despite the youthful exuberance of the tannins. Offers generous floral, cherry, strawberry, tar and mineral aromas and flavors, with the fruit matching the tannins step for step on the finish. Delivers excellent balance and length.

WA 92 The 2013 Barolo Serralunga d'Alba is a wine of heft and power. This is a site-specific expression that reflects the darker colors, aromatic intensity and firmer tannic structure that can be achieved specifically in this township. The wine impresses for its focus and finesse. A greater percentage of barrique is used because the fruit had the dense fiber and broad shoulders to support that extra oak. Serralunga d'Alba became its own Barolo sub zone in 1988. Like the many vintages made since then, this wine makes a bold statement on the unique qualities that define this celebrated Barolo sub zone.ML July 2017.  ...

Tasting notes The colour is ruby-red with violet highlights. Very intense, vinous fruity nose which is very nice and lingering. Its pleasantly dry, robust taste is well-balanced and velvety, with a marked almondy aftertaste. Pairings It is excellent served with hot starters, pasta dishes, vegetables and not over-elaborate meats.   "Proprieta in FF" 

Resulting from a small vineyard located in the heart of the municipality of Serralunga d’Alba, covering an area of 5646 square meters, the harvested grapes, once delivered to the cellars, underwent destemming, initiating the fermentation phase in temperature-controlled steel tanks. Shortly after the sugars were completely fermented, racking took place, and the wine was laid down in an oak barrel where it rested for a period of 30 months. Subsequently, the aging continued in the bottle for 8 months before commercialization. DOCTOR WINE 91 points. "Finally a bottle from this vintage that doesn’t disappoint me. Well, I’m...

Wine Enthusiast 90 points. There is power in this wine, with its tarry black-fruit aromas. Rich and dark, with solid, dry tannins, there are still generous fruit flavors that will make it accessible over the next five years.

James Suckling 95 points. "A gorgeous, sexy Barolo with chocolate, vanilla and dried fruits. Full body with soft, round tannins. This is voluptuous. Drink now." WA 91 The 2000 Barolo La Rosa presents the characteristic rose petal and dried roses nose of fine Nebbiolo along with some fragrant and elegant notes of incense and wild cherries. Richer and more powerful than La Villa, it is also more fully endowed with the tar and truffle flavors so typical of Barolo from Serralunga d’Alba.   "Proprieta in FF" 

WA 93. The Vigna la Rosa is located behind the gardens beyond the central cluster of buildings that make up the stunningly beautiful Fontanafredda estate. The 2013 Barolo Vigna la Rosa offers firm structure and elegance, that stylistically speaking pegs the wine closer to the more robust Serralunga d'Alba identity. This wine is aged in a combination of barrique and large oak casks. The bouquet is redolent of dark fruit and spice and there is a distant hint of roasted chestnut on the finish. It offers staying power and strength. ML Jul 2017.   "Proprieta in FF" 

Wine Advocate 91-93 points.   "The huge, 240-acre estate of Fontanafredda has suddenly won a new lease on life after lying almost dormant for several years. This is the second vintage produced under new management, and the style is open and accessible, but still powerful. There is pure ripe fruit on the nose, flavors of black figs and wild strawberries and dry tannins, which still do not dominate the fruit." -  90/100 ,  Wine Enthusiast.

Wine Advocate 91 points.   Producer Notes Barolo with a ruby red color, with garnet reflections. The scent is broad, gentle, but intense, with clear hints of dried rose, violet, tobacco, undergrowth and light vanilla. In the mouth the texture of tannins is dense and full: the entrance is soft, almost velvety and then explodes into a sensation of fruit well balanced by acid freshness. The aftertaste is very long and rich in flavor.          

Wine Enthusiast 95 points. "Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with bright red berry and mint on this fragrant, elegantly structured red. All about finesse, the vibrant palate features red cherry, pomegranate, star anise and cinnamon alongside smooth, silky tannins. Bright acidity provides balance and energy. It's already showing beautifully but will age well for years. Drink 2023–2033. Kerin O’Keefe" -  95/100 ,  Wine Enthusiast."

Wine Enthusiast 94 points. Always one of the most elegant bottlings from Serralunga, thanks to the higher sand content in the vineyard's soil, this opens with enticing scents of pressed rose, fragrant blue flowers, pipe tobacco and a whiff of camphor. Linear, structured and loaded with finesse, the palate evokes sour cherry, cranberry compote, cinnamon and licorice while tightly knit but extremely refined tannins provide support. Drink 2022–2030. Wine Advocate 92 points The 2015 Barolo Fontanafredda Vigna la Rosa is one of the better Barolos from Fontanafredda, with a big, dark color and a soft and velvety entrance to the palate....

Wine Spectator 96 points. On the savory side, this red opens with freshly mowed grass, hay and eucalyptus aromas before revealing cherry, strawberry, rose and mineral flavors. Fleshy, with a matrix of dense tannins flexing their muscles on the finish. Shows excellent potential. Best from 2023 through 2042. Wine Enthusiast 95 points. The Vigna La Rosa Barolo is harmonious, well-rounded and elegant in taste; it’s very fine and delicate bouquet is reminiscent of faded roses and, with the ageing process, tends to acquire a pronounced earthy style but with a velvety sort of taste. Decanter World Wine awards, Platinum Medal/ 97 points.

Wine Advocate 92 points. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, this is the most structured and ultimately my favorite wine in this grouping from Fontanafredda. The 2017 Barolo Fontanafredda Vigna la Rosa shows a soft and glossy quality of fruit, with wild berry, cassis, tar, licorice and tarry smoke. You sense more power and concentration here, with mineral notes of iron and dusty earth. Give this wine a few more years to flesh out and take on additional volume. Some 12,000 bottles were made. ML Jun 2021.   "Proprieta in FF" 

WA 92. The 2001 Barolo Lazzarito was made in the same over, opulent style as the other 2001s, but now, after the passage of time, it is the vineyard’s distinct signature that has taken center stage. Black cherries, plums, licorice, tar and smoke are some of the many notes that flow from this huge, muscular 2001. If anything, the 2001 needs more is time. Subtle overtones of mint, flowers and spices add the final layers of complexity. This is another great showing. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2026. AG Apr 2012.   "Proprieta in FF" 

WA 93. The 2000 Barolo Lazzarito La Delizia, from one of the appellation’s most famous vineyards, is the most powerful, intense, and sustained wine of the series. The tar, truffles, and floral sensations are all present and all fully expressed in a dense, lengthy, and concentrated format. Slightly backward at the moment, it will provide much drinking pleasure from 2005 to 2020. DT Aug 2005.   "Proprieta in FF" 

3 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso. WA 92. The 2004 Barolo Lazzarito Vigna La Delizia offers up scents of tar, smoke, spices, plums, licorice and tobacco on a mid-weight frame. The wine offers plenty of length and complexity in a relatively accessible, harmonious style. With time in the glass pretty notes of roses emerge adding further complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2022. AG Oct 2009.   "Proprieta in FF" 

Decanter 94 points. "Carlo Ferrini began this Sicilian project in 2012, with the first vintage of Nerello Mascalese being 2016. He has amassed eight small plots totalling just a couple of hectares on the north side of Etna – some are just outside the Etna DOC zone so this is labelled as Terre Siciliane instead – and he uses neighbour, Pietradolce's high-tech winery and cellar. Vinified in stainless steel then matured in 7hl barrels for one year before several months in concrete, this wine candidly displays all of Nerello Mascalese's charm: pure red fruit fragrance with some smoke and earthiness, mirrored in the mouth...

JS 96 jamessuckling.com, August 2023 Aromas of plum, iron and pumice with some flowers. It’s medium-bodied with powdered, fine tannins. It’s layered and elegant yet so structured. Very long and focused. Wild finish with a lava-like undertone to it all. Just above the contrada of Rapante. Drinkable but better in two or three years. 

WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "Carlo Ferrini's Giodo 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is plush and softly layered, and the wine has plenty of fiber and cherry to absorb the power that comes naturally to this vintage. This is Carlo's seventh leaf (or vintage) of Brunello from his family-run estate, and it's nice to reflect on the consistency of style and quality achieved since this new venture emerged. Giodo has the advantage of coming onto the scene when international regard and understanding for Brunello was highest (think back to the excellent 2010 vintage). Carlo has not disappointed. He brings us a modern, forward-thinking wine...

International Wine Report Notes 100 Points, Raffaele Vecchione, winescritic.com: “Expressive and rich in character, it shows concentration and structure in the notes of red plums, wild strawberries, chopped cedar, mandarin juice, lemon peel, cut ginger and broken celery. Wild thyme and marjoram describe the secondary scene, but it is the character of the fresh cherries, rose petals and grapefruit that delicately but presently brings grace and authenticity to the matrix. Medium-full body, perfectly ripe tannins of commendable beauty and an honest and subtle enveloping finish. It thrills in the sip, you would like to drink it, drink it...

A blend of syrah 25% and sangiovese 75%. James Suckling 92 points. A crunchy and delicious red with berries, white pepper and other spices. Medium body, creamy tannins. Juicy at the end. A blend of syrah and sangiovese. From organically grown grapes.

This is an intriguing experiment that places the estate benchmark wine (24 months  in large Slovenian barrels) into a stone amphora for a further 6 months of maturation. Try one side by side with the barrel aged version. There is a remarkable difference. Only 6000 bottles produced.

Wine Enthusiast 92 points. 2 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso. The Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva is an intense wine with a great structure; aged for 30 months in oak barrels and for another 6 in barrique, conquers the nose and palate. Complex in aromas and enveloping at the sip, it is a wine that does not hide its typicality and the strong link with the territory of origin. Surprising for its balance and pleasant freshness. Intense ruby ​​red color. The nose is dominated by hints of plum and cherry jam; followed by the delicate tones of violet and the more decisive ones of spices. Enveloping, soft, with a very pleasant freshness and great...

BEST VALUE ITALIAN RED, VERONELLI GUIDE 2019. (2017 and 2019 vintage) TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE WORLD, WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE.    James Suckling 93 points. This wine does not see appassimento, but like all Ripasso, the Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore I Progni is refermented on the air-dried skins left over from Amarone. Ripasso is an ancient wine making technique used for centuries in Valpolicella, the second fermentation is on the sweet, locally dried grapes. Made with grapes sourced from a single vineyard in Valpolicella Classica, called I Progni. The blend is 70% Corvina and Corvinone, with 30% Rondinella and...

LA MAREGA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO DOCG  ​ La Marega is one of our best vineyards, located in Fumane (Valpolicella Classica) with a great sun exposure and change of temperatures between night and day.  La Marega is made with the natural and ancient drying process technique.  It’s an intense, powerful wine with an excellent minerality. Alcohol Content: 15,5%  Grape Varieties: 70% Corvina and Corvinone; 30% Rondinella, Oseleta and Dindarella  Vineyards: La Marega vineyard, located in Fumane, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica Wine Making: Careful selection of grapes...

This is just simply an extraordinary wine. Always one of the very best amarones, year after year. Awards (so far): LUCA MARONI, GUIDE TO ITALY'S BEST WINES 2021, 97 POINTS AND BEST RED. BIBENDA 2021 5 STARS (TOP AWARD) VINBUONI D'ITALIA GUIDE 2021, 4 CROWNS (TOP AWARD) AND TROPHY, CONSUMER TOP CHOICE. VERONELLI GUIDE 2021, 95 POINTS. FALSTAFF, 95 POINTS.

70% Corvina and Corvinone; 30% Rondinella, Croatina and Molinara. Light ruby in color, the nose has copious smoky mineral, a touch of fresh tobacco and cherry scent. Light medium in body, with a broad mouth feel and good acidity, fine tannins provide very good structure and focus. The flavours are slightly herbaceous and very savoury, with a great deal of saliva-inducing mineral. The finish is well balanced, firm and reserved, and has very good length.

Winemaker Notes Luce Brunello shows an intense ruby red color. The nose is complex and fragrant, with notes of ripe red fruit, supported by pleasant sensations of blond tobacco and exotic spices. In the mouth, the wine is harmonious, rich and highly structured, with silky tannins that together with freshness give a very long persistence. A sophisticated and powerful wine.  

James Suckling: 99 Points Sophisticated aromas of lead pencil, graphite and blackcurrant. Hints of black olives and herbs, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and deep, with super precision and intensity to the tannins. Incredible balance of structure and finesse to this. Give it time in the cellar. Better after 2027.    #LUCE

James Suckling 97 points. Winemaker Notes Intense ruby red in color, Luce 2020 stands out on the nose for its complexity and elegance, characterized by ripe black fruits, particularly blackberry and mulberry, which are joined by hints of cocoa and sweet spices. On the palate it is harmonious, lively, with excellent structure, balanced by vibrant acidity and soft, silky tannins that give an elegant finish with great persistence.   #LUCE

93 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "This is round and creamy, offering ripe blackberries, blueberries and hints of chocolate and cedar. Medium- to full-bodied with succulent fruit and fine tannins. Compact and focused, with good length and balance overall. Drink or hold." 07/24 The second wine from Tenuta Luce, a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, is the result of a selection of the portions of the vineyard most suited to the production of a very pleasurable wine with a fruity profile. The wine is an intense and bright red color. The nose opens with intense fruity hints of blackberry, plum and currant, enriched by toasted...

James Suckling: 96 Points The freshness and the floral aromas with citrus fruit and berries are startling for a 2017. The palate is full and extremely refined with elegant tannins and vivid fruit and orange-peel undertones. Racy and bright at the finish. Drink or hold. Decanter: 95 Points March 19th 2020 was the 25th anniversary of Luce, a relatively young project founded by the Mondavi and Frescobaldi families in Montalcino. Despite the obvious cancellation of the event, the 2017 vintage celebrates this birthday properly. Luce is one of the few Super Tuscans of Montalcino. Compared to Brunello it is blended with Merlot adding suppleness and...

98 Points, Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux: " A great vintage of the iconic Solaia, full of cloves, sage, graphite, grilled dried herbs, underbrush and roasted cherry pit. There's fruit too, bilberry and cassis, juicy and mouthwatering, both understated and exuberant, ensuring a Tuscan fingerprint despite its majority Cabernet Sauvignon construction. Has grip and length, and effortless charm, reflecting an excellent vintage with low yields after a hot dry summer. Antinori family showing once again why this wine, that comes from 20ha the sunniest slopes of the Tignanello estate, set at 350-400m altitude, is so hard to resist."...

97 points, Vinodabere Magazine, Best Pinots of Italy, 2024. "Truly a great Pinot Nero, aristocratic like its origins, a study in power and complexirty....."     Made with Pinot Noir grapes, aged in oak barrels for up to 14 months Pinot Noir is a relatively uncommon grape variety in Piedmont, but it is very important for our family's winemaking tradition. In fact, we gave this wine the name of our ancestor Leopoldo Incisa della Rocchetta, among the first ampelography and wine scientist, who lived in the 1800s. Leopoldo Incisa created at the time a vast collection of vines from other regions, experimenting with the...

"This is a meaty and rich Barolo with attractive notes of mulberries, spice box, mushrooms, tobacco and potpourri. Full-bodied and broad, the tannins now mellowing and integrating well, with rich and spicy fruit. Better from 2026." JS 93   Dallalto it is an excellent example of traditional Barolo aged in large oak casks. The Nebbiolo grapes used for this Barolo come from some of the most suitable areas around Alba (Serralunga, Verduno), carefully selected and vinified to produce a wine of great quality and personality. We chose a traditionally vinified Barolo (in large oak casks, with capacities ranging from 20 to 100 hl),...

"Fruity, vivid and textural with red berries, sweet plums and mild spices on the nose. Medium body with fine tannins and fresh acidity. Laid-back and juicy with a lively core of crunchy forest berries and a flavorful finish." James Suckling 92/100   Sant’Emiliano is our interpretation of Barbera in which the use of barriques contributes to adding complexity and structure to the wine that most represents the territory of the Monferrato. Sant’Emiliano is a wine of great elegance and balance, produced with an extraordinary attention to quality, both in the vineyard and in the cellar.   Alcohol: 13.5-15%...

"Plenty of dark cherries, ripe plums and sweet spices at first with warm herbs coming through as well. Medium body with velvety tannins and texture. Round and fruity with a delicate, silky core of red berries and a supple, delicious finish." JS 90   Barbera is a grape varietal indigenous to Piedmont and it’s one of the most important ones from this region. Valmorena is our most authentic and traditional interpretation of Barbera wine. Thanks to the vinification and maturation carried out in stainless steel vats and partially in oak casks, Valmorena preserves all the natural freshness and fruitiness of the varietal,...

WINERY NOTES: The Colli di Conegliano terroir is a kaleidoscope of stunning panoramas. From the rolling hills to the more defined lines of the countryside via the rigid rows of vines and the Pre-Alps, this is a land of extraordinary beauty, defined by the presence of man, who has brought art and history to the area since Roman times. It is here that one of Masottina’s most prestigious wines is created: Montesco. The perfect fusion of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a small percentage of the autochthonous Marzemino grape, Montesco is characterised by the complexity and richness of its bouquet, which invokes the scents of...

Wine Advocate 96 points The Masseto 2021 Massetino is mostly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc for good measure. The wine (packaged in a heavy glass bottle) is very richly concentrated and layered. You see (and taste) the opulent texture of the wine as it slowly coats the glass. Quality fruit is matched by carefully selected oak, and the intensity of both builds on the palate. This vintage is poised for especially long cellar aging. This vintage of Massetino (2021) scores neck-in-neck with the current vintage (2020) of Masseto.  

Massetino is considered the second wine of Masseto, but I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that it's far more than that. It represents around one-third of the production of Masseto, and judging by the quality of this 2022, next year's release of the grand vin could be absolutely phenomenal.   Massetino has always incorporated a portion of Cabernet Franc since its first vintage, 2017 - 10% in 2022. A cool and dry spring led to a slightly late budbreak, followed by 75 days of drought and high temperatures. Summer rains eventually came along to restore balance, and the cool September evenings were perfect for the...

Wine Enthusiast 99 points. 2020 Vintage Tasted: Dec 2023 A hedge maze of aromas greets the nose, from blackberries and black cherries to crushed stones and crumpled petals, before a gentle addition of vanilla and toasted coconut. Mixed berries with vanilla and cardamom soak the palate, followed by freshly tilled dirt and flinty stone notes, and finally an astringent, brooding spiciness on the back. Tannins are tightly stitched together across the palate like a tapestry, with acrobatic acid emphasizing a salt and pepper finish. A wine that speaks volumes without shouting.

  JD 100 jebdunnuck.com, January 2024 (98-100 points) Tasted from barrel, the 2021 Masseto pours a youthful magenta hue and brings forward an inviting bouquet with some blue fruit coming through and more chocolate aromas as well with to me it is fresh with blackberry, and purple violet flowers. It boasts outstanding concentration and depth, with a plush, cushiony texture at this stage, incredible finesse and balance, and a wonderful mineral aroma of wet asphalt coming through. A harmonious wine with well-integrated oak, this may be the best vintage of this cuvée that I have tasted to date.  TWI 100 The Wine Independent,...

DC 96 Decanter, August 2023. Sweet, baked red fruits with rose and pink floral aromas on the nose alongside touches of clove, toast and cinnamon. Smooth and soft in the mouth, rich yet elegant with a supple core of strawberry, cherry and raspberries lifted by high acidity and such excellent tannins. Fully flavoured with a mineral, iron, salty tang that lingers on the tongue from the mid palate onwards with tobacco and dried spices providing nice contrast to the ripe, herbal-edged fruit. A really delicious, mouthwatering compelling glass of wine. Succulent and oh so lifted and juicy. Wondrous with a lingering sense of Italian sunshine and...

Jane Anson 97 points. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is savoury, dry in the best possible way, with a ton of red fruits, dried roses and herbs, and waves of fragrance. It’s a successful blend where the Sangiovese is dominant, conferring the wine with its warm personality but the Cabernet Sauvignon adds a touch of austerity to the tannins and a sense of quiet confidence. Turmeric and olive tapenade as it opens, alongside raspberry, red cherry and smoky oak, the whole thing both extremely delicate and intensely fragrant. Can drink now with a short carafe - there are tannins here but they are well defined and finely layered...

96 points, jamessuckling.com, July 2022 An extremely aromatic red with currants, flowers and spices, following through to a full-bodied yet so crunchy and juicy palate with crushed blackberries and raspberries. Citrusy acidity. Bright and agile. Drink or hold. DC 95 Decanter, August 2022 This Toscana IGT from Chianti Classico stalwart Fonterutoli is a blend of 80% tonneaux-aged Sangiovese and 20% barrique-aged Cabernet Sauvignon, both matured for 18 months. Tobacco and cedar-laced black fruit aromas lead to a bright and concentrated palate full of focused red and black fruits, showing great balance and structure for long ageing. A finish of...

Vinous 99 points. The 2019 Siepi continues a trend towards greater finesse and nuance in this wine. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice, licorice and plum meld together effortlessly in the glass. Dense and layered, with striking detail, the 2019 is so impressive. The flavors are bright, bold and punchy. An exceptionally beautiful and riveting wine, the 2019 is rich and concentrated, but not at all heavy. What a total knock-out. -- Antonio Galloni.   James Suckling 98 points. "This is a really racy and fine Siepi with currant, black-cherry and dark-chocolate character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very long, intense...