Italy

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...

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), therefore with a non-prevaricating use of wood and at the same time capable of structuring the wine with velvety tannins.   Alcohol: 13.5-15%   Tasting notes ​ Color: ruby ​​red, with typical garnet reflections. ​ Aromatic...

Made with Barbera grapes, aged in oak barrels for up to 18 months   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%   Tasting notes ​ Color: intense ruby ​​red. ​ Aromatic Profile: in the early stages of bottle aging, it still has a very intense and complex fruit (violet, plum, ripe...

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, showing at the same time great depth and persistence.   Alcohol: 13-14.5%   Tasting notes ​ Color: very intense ruby ​​red with purple reflections. ​ Aromatic Profile: very intense, vinous, floral, with hints of plum, dark cherry and...

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...

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,...

The luscious, rich and ripe Italian. Awarded 99 Points by Italian wine guru Luca Maroni, not once (2017), not twice (2018) but three in a row with the Masso Antico 2019, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now on the 2023. Maroni publishes a much sought after Best Italian Wines Annual (Annuario Dei Migliori Vini Italiani).  Known in Australia and the US as Zinfandel, this Primitivo is at home in Puglia's warmth. This is made using dried, concentrated grapes, in the same way as Amarone. The resultant wine is rich, ripe, bright, luscious and laden with roasted plum, black cherries, vanilla and sweet spice. It will continue...

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...

James Suckling 94 points. The Mazzei family has been making wine since 1435. The Concerto wine was first produced in 1981. It is a blend of 90% old vine sangiovese and !0% cabernet sauvignon, with the vines dating back to the 1930's. A splendid blend with perfect balance. Wine Advocate (93-95) points. I tasted this 80-20 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon as a barrel sample. The Mazzei 2018 Concerto di Fonterutoli offers an authentic Tuscan character with the robust personality and fruit weight to pair with a classic T-bone bistecca alla Fiorentina. Concerto is fleshy and succulent with black cherry, plum, cardamom spice and...

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...

DC 98 Decanter, July 2022 Dried herbs and sweet spices on the nose, forest notes with bramble fruits, concentrated and expressive. Such a smooth delivery on the palate, tannins glide across the tongue giving the sweet strawberry, raspberry and plum fruit time to expand in the mouth as the acidity gives a mouthwatering aspect. This is very much on the lively and vibrant fruit - shouting loudly about its energy. Feels extremely well made, clear definition, finesse and balance. Such a gorgeous fruit profile, the high-toned strawberry and cherry, bright and piercing, yet also round and generous with tobacco and wood nuances. Ample tannins are...

Castello di Fonterutoli is an estate in Chianti Classico owned by the Mazzei family. It makes a range of classic regional wines, primarily from Sangiovese including the Super Tuscan blend Siepi. Review "An opulent yet tensioned young red with blackberries, violets and black olive skin character. Full-bodied. But has so much energy and focus. Goes on for minutes." -  98pts, James Suckling    

Wine Advocate 95 points. The Michele Chiarlo 2018 Barolo Cerequio opens to a pretty lacework of aromas with smaller berry fruits, crushed stone, rusty nail, pressed lilac or blue flower and a dusting of spicy licorice powder. The bouquet is vertical and tight, leading to a very precise succession of varietal tones that flavor the wine's polished finish. The Cerequio has ample power as well, with etched tannins that grip this Nebbiolo firmly to the palate.ML Jun 2022.

Winery Deep purple red. Intense nose with plum jam, small red fruits, with an overtone of caper and spicy hints. Fresh, well balanced, structured and persistent. This is a full bodied wine with very soft tannins. Renowned winemaker Dr Riccardo Cottarella has been crafting the Morgant wines for over 20 years.    

Wine Advocate 94points. This is one of the bottles that symbolizes the Sicilian Wine Renaissance that started a few decades ago. The Morgante 2019 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Riserva Don Antonio is a real beauty with bold lines and big intensity. The inky and extracted style does evoke a winemaking style that was popular during the first decade of the new millennium, but Don Antonio pulls off that style with pride and confidence. There is plenty of black cherry and baked plum with spice, tobacco and tarry smoke over a full-bodied style. The alcohol content is high at 15%. Production is 20,000 bottles. ML May 2023.   Rated 93 by James...

Case includes 5 x bottles of 'standard' label and 1 x bottle of the limited edition artist label. The only way to be assured of getting one of them is to purchase a seald case of six.   WA 97 "This is a beautiful expression of coastal Tuscany and the sunny Mediterranean. The Ornellaia 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia (a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot) pours from the bottle with a specific darkness that has elements of both inky saturation and ruby highlights. The wine is saturated and rich—this is something you notice off the bat—but it also reveals a pleasing...

Case includes 5 x bottles of 'standard' label and 1 x bottle of the limited edition artist label. The only way to be assured of getting one of them is to purchase a seald case of six. jamessuckling.com. Issue Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 (JS-98) Alluring aromas of lead pencil and currants with crushed stone and iodine. Full-bodied with hemmed in tannins that are tight and focused. Very fresh and energetic with wonderful length and intensity for this vintage. Needs four or five years to come together. Better in 2028 and onwards. Wine Advocate 95-97 points. Tasted from barrel, the 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be...

Wine Spectator 93 points. Leads off with scents of graphite, mineral and menthol, giving way to flavors of cherry and black currant. Dense and powerful, with big, dusty tannins guarding the finish for now. Needs time. Best from 2022 through 2045. 375 cases made.WS. James Suckling 93 points. Purity of fruit comes through with a plum, porcini and rose-petal character, which follow through to a medium to full body. A round and juicy finish. Delicious now, but will age nicely in the future. Drink or hold. JS. #WIN

Rated 93 by James Suckling Lots of dried flowers here with blackberry and ripe-strawberry aromas that follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins that integrate nicely into the wine. Fresh and vivid at the end. Drink after 2023. WS93 Rated 93 by Wine Spectator A core of pure cherry is the hallmark of this alluring red. As this gathers intensity on the palate, rose, strawberry, menthol and iron notes chime in. Backed by vibrant acidity and refined tannins, this leaves a long aftertaste of fruit, mineral and savory elements. Best from 2025 through 2048. 400 cases made, 100 cases imported.

Critical Acclaim JS95 James Suckling A ripe, velvety red with lots of ripe strawberries, chocolate and some hazelnuts. It’s full-bodied with ripe tannins and a flavorful finish. RP93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Of these three new Baroli from Pecchenino, the 2016 Barolo le Coste di Monforte shows the greatest focus and sharpness. The other two wines are noticeably softer in terms of their aromatic direction compared to this wine. Le Coste di Monforte offers dark fruit, balsam herb, spice, campfire ash and ferrous earth in nicely balanced proportions. This wine sees long skin maceration times lasting 60 days (at 28 degrees...

James Suckling 96 points. Loads of dried flowers on the nose with dark fruit, such as ripe strawberries and plums. It’s full-bodied with super integrated tannins that give a dusty texture and creaminess. Flavorful finish of fruit and hazelnut with some smoke. Drink in 2025 and onwards. JS.

Designation: Dogliani D.O.C.G. Variety: 100% dolcetto First vintage produced: 1994 Harvest time: second / third week of September. Vinification: from grapes coming from vineyards surrounding the Dogliani winery. The territory is part of the San Luigi mention from where the name of the wine originates. The vines are cultivated with guyot and have a density of 5000 plants per Ha. The wine is the product of several vineyards with south-east, south and south-west exposures. The soil is calcareous-clayey. After pressing, the must ferments in steel tanks for 10-12 days at a temperature of 26°C. After a first racking the malolactic fermentation...

Vinous Media 92 points. The 2019 Dogliani Superiore Bricco Botti is powerful, dark and maybe just a bit rustic, but also nicely balanced. Black cherry game, tobacco and scorched earth add layers of dimension to this brooding powerhouse Dogliani. SOMMELIER'S DESCRIPTION The Dogliani Superiore "Bricco Botti" by Pecchenino is one of the best Dolcetto currently on the market; very fine, crisp, clean and with a great character and personality. The cellar Pecchenino is a landmark in the Langhe, a cellar that has retained its connotation family passing on his farms from generation to generation. Today we find the brothers Attilio and...

Winery COLOR: Ruby red with violet highlights. NOSE: Intense bouquet of ripe fruits with notes of currants, blackberries and black cherries. FLAVOR: The flavor is balanced with smooth, sweet tannins and a persistent finish. SOMMELIER'S DESCRIPTION The peculiarities of Dogliani Siri d'Jermu are essentially summarized by the close relation that the family Pecchenino enjoyed for centuries with Dogliani in the Langhe area, famous for its cultivation of this native vine. The farm Pecchenino was founded towards the end of '700: it has always been a family-run estate and have been handed down from father to son, being enriched, with the...

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 94 points. A very traditional Barbaresco. 100% Nebbiolo. TASTING SHEET: "It has an intense ruby red colour, to the nose it has both fruity and fl oreal notes that go from the ripe red fruit to the offi cinal herbs. Soft, tasty, velvety at the same time, leaves on the taste buds a note of sweetness and roundness typical of ripe grape with a slightly dry and astringent closure that distinguishes the Nebbiolo."

Bibenda 5 Grappoli James Suckling 92 points Wine Spectator 91 points. "Powerful, boasting black cherry and plum fruit wrapped in toasty, vanilla-laden oak. Wild herb, tar and tobacco accents chime in as this unwinds on the long finish. A tad dry in the end. Best from 2022 through 2038. 1,300 cases made, 350 cases imported. -BS" (WS) "The 2015 Barbaresco Tulin is dark, ample and inviting. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and spice notes all flesh out effortlessly. This is an especially sensual, inviting Barbaresco from Giorgio Pelissero. I would give it a few years to come to its own, as all the Tulin signatures...

Vinous 93 points. This wine is produced with modern techniques and tools, but still in traditional way trying to harmonize the austerity of this great vine with the new conceptions of persuasiveness and pleasantness linked to international tastes. Maceration in contact with the skins for about 15 days in steel casks at controlled temperature and, after a period of natural decantation always in steel, the wine passes into wood where it rests for 18/20 months. Then the part, about 50%, aged in oak casks of 50 hl is blended with the other part aged in barrique. This allows us to avoid that an excessive presence of wood further dries this...

Vinous 93+. “Pelissero’s 2015 Barbaresco Vanotu exudes freshness and energy, not to mention exceptional balance. Blood orange, pomegranate, ripe red cherry and french oak run through this super-expressive Barbaresco. The 2015 is bold and racy.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous. Wine Spectator 93 points. #DEC

Wine Spectator 94 points. Bibenda 5 Stars. First vintage was 1960. Very limited production. Vanotu is the local dialect name for Giovanni....Giorgio's grandfather. "A supple, elegant style, this offers cherry, floral, iron, tar,toasty and spice aromas and flavors. Fleshy midpalate, this stands up to the tannins that emerge on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2042. 1,380 cases made." Wine Spectator, BS. WINERY NOTES: Uur aim to take into bottle the grapes characteristics conditions all the operations of transformation and ageing. This wine is produced with modern techniques and tools, but still in traditional way trying to...

3 bicchieri Gambero Rosso,  Vinous 94 points, 5 Stars Bibenda.  CHARACTERISTICS: Vanotu is the diminutive in Piedmontese dialect of Giovanni, Giorgio’s grandfather and previous owner of this vineyard. Therefore it is a part of our winery to which we are very fond of. Thanks to the particular climate and exposure of this vineyard we can obtain even in poor vintages great character and personality wines. WINE MAKING TECHNIQUES: produced through modern and innovative methods (controlled temperatures, mechanical automatic timed and planned mixing) trying to take into the bottle the maximum exaltation of the varietal...

Antonio Galloni 92 points. CHARACTERISTICS: Piani, the name of the zone where this vineyard is located, in Italian means “flat” and, in fact, the portion of this hill is little steep. This site has always been well known for high quality Barbera production. The elegance of many Barbera (a grape rich in colour and acidity but poor in tannins) from Langhe region is here integrated with a good structure which gives to this wine a particular identity.  TECHNICAL NOTES: the wine is produced with the aim of exalting its own characteristics: vinosity, complexity and persistency. Maceration takes 15-20 days in stainless steel...

Antonio Galloni 93 points. CHARACTERISTICS: Rich and complex wine produced using vines grafted in 2004 on a surface of around 1,5 hectares. The choice of little productive clones, the use of a little vigorous rootstock as the Rupestris du Lot and the wonderful climatic position of the Tulin vineyard allowed us to reach quickly an unexpected result. TECHNICAL NOTES: Accurate selection in vineyard with double cluster thinning (green harvest) and following hand harvesting. Further selection in cellar before the destemming and crushing. Fermentation with maceration for about 15 days. Ageing 2 years in wooden barrels and 1 year in bottle. TASTING...

Rated 95 by Wine Advocate Closed with a red wax capsule with beautiful artwork on the front label, the organic Petrolo 2021 Val d'Arno di Sopra Riserva Bòggina C is quite dense and rich, especially for a youthful Sangiovese such as this. The wine reveals a medium-dark appearance with dried cherry fruit, blackcurrant and baked plum. The wine is considerably lighter in terms of mouthfeel, with powdery tannins and mid-weight texture that adds to its overall elegance. The wine delivers authenticity and personality. This is a 6,400-bottle release.  

"The 2020 Galatrona is stunning....best ever....Magnificent". Antonio Galloni 98 points Aug 2023'   Subtle yet intense aromas of black fruit and violets. Extremely perfumed. Crushed stones. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a mouth-feel of velvet that goes on for minutes. Refined and fresh. Al-dente fruit. From organically grown grapes. Better in three to four years. - James Suckling 97 points. The Petrolo 2020 Galatrona is a pure expression of organic Merlot and the estate's headline wine. It was first created in 1994 when Luca Sanjust's second child, Lucia, was born. Despite the summer heat that...

100 points Falstaff Magazine. 98 points James Suckling  The aromas here are very distinct with dried flowers such as lavender and violets. Some sage as well. Black berries and black olive skin. Full-bodied yet linear and energetic with very fine tannins and fantastic length. Fresh and lively in the finish.   (7/2023)  98 points Vinous  The 2021 Galatrona is a fine follow-up to the 2020. In most vintages, Galatrona is very showy right out of the gate. That is not at all the case with the 2021, a wine that is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Black cherry, plum, mocha, leather, licorice and...

Very perfumed with sweet-berry and fresh-flower aromas that already show brightness and beauty. Perfumed. Full-bodied with very well-integrated tannins and pure, vivid fruit at the finish. This is all in finesse and depth. Drinkable now, but better in a couple of years. 95 points, James Suckling (Sep 2021).     The Petrolo 2019 Torrione is Sangiovese with with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This is a terrific wine with an exciting delivery of fresh and bold fruit that recalls pressed cherry and wild plum. One of the main features of the 2019 vintage is that standout concentration. The wine delivers good texture and...

Rated 95 by James Suckling Inviting aromas of dark and blue fruits together with subtle notes of chocolate and spices with hints of blue flowers and crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied, complex and structured, but ethereal and weightless at the same time. That’s where generosity meets delicacy. It’s fluid, dynamic and so drinkable now, yet better to give it a couple of years in the bottle. From organically grown grapes.

James Suckling  A perfumed nose of dark cherries, mulberries, dried herbs, toffee and spices. Full-bodied with grainy tannins. Opulent and perfumed with rich oak spice. A blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot. Drink from 2023.   WINERY NOTE: Made from equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Campanaio is the result of meticulous attention starting with the selection of the plants themselves. Alessandro Cellai (chief winemaker at Castellare di Castellina and Rocca di Frassinello) began by searching for superior rootstocks and clones and quickly found a passion. His painstaking efforts have resulted in a wine of...

James Suckling 92 points. A rich blend of fresh blackcurrants and blackberries on the nose, over an underlay of lightly polished oak. Medium- to full-bodied with super-clean fruit and fine, lightly firm tannins. Good length. 50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot. Drinkable now, but will improve with another year in bottle. March 2023. WINERY NOTE: Made from equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Campanaio is the result of meticulous attention starting with the selection of the plants themselves. Alessandro Cellai (chief winemaker at Castellare di Castellina and Rocca di Frassinello) began by searching for superior rootstocks and clones...

While Pinot Nero is capable of producing wines of extraordinary elegance and harmony, it sometimes has difficulty adapting to conditions in Italy. To succeed with this grape in a land known for indigenous varietals, Alessandro Cellai had to approach every operation in the vineyard and the cellar meticulously. For example, he found that allowing the skins to macerate with dry ice prior to fermentation brought out more finessed perfumed aromas. The wine’s name takes inspiration from the surrounding pine forests, as ”La Pineta” translates to ”pine tree”. Always a modern, bold and robust style. Pure expression of...

Wine Spectator 94 points. Grapes: 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Sangioveto. The first label, le grand vin according to the Bordeaux classification, the highest expression of this Italian-French project. A wine that succeeds in combining strength, intensity and elegance, with soft tannins to give it a roundness in the mouth. It achieved the highest critical acclaim right from the first harvest, the 2004 vintage. A great competition wine according to Christian Le Sommer, winemaker at Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, who created it together with Alessandro Cellai. An intense ruby red colour with hints of garnet. A wine that...

Wine Advocate 95 points James Suckling 95 points. Vinous Media 95 points Gambero Rosso 3 bicchieri. 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Sangioveto. The first label, le grand vin according to the Bordeaux classification, the highest expression of this Italian-French project. A wine that succeeds in combining strength, intensity and elegance, with soft tannins to give it a roundness in the mouth. It achieved the highest critical acclaim right from the first harvest, the 2004 vintage. A great competition wine according to Christian Le Sommer, winemaker at Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, who created it together with Alessandro...

The iconic merlot flagship of the estate. The house challenger to Masseto. 98 points and Best Italian Red wine, I Migliori Vini Italiani. 3 Glasses Gambero Rosso.   Baffonero takes its name from a vineyard, 100% Merlot, that was one of the first to be planted at Rocca di Frassinello. The company was born of a joint venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, the most famous chateau in the world. The Baffonero vineyard lies below the winery designed by Renzo Piano, on terrain with perfect exposure. Intense ruby red. The nose is fruity with aromas reminiscent of various black fruits, in particular...

Falstaff 98 points I Migliori Vini d'Italia 98 points. Vinous Media 97 points Gambero Rosso 3 bicchieri. Baffonero takes its name from a vineyard, 100% Merlot, that was one of the first to be planted at Rocca di Frassinello, the company that benefited from being born at the time as a joint venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, the most famous chateau in the world. The Baffonero vineyard lies below the winery designed by Renzo Piano, on terrain with perfect exposure. Intense ruby red. The nose is fruity with aromas reminiscent of various black fruits, in particular blackberries, blueberries and...

Top 100 Wines of the World, Wine Spectator (93 points and # 69). James Suckling 92 points. A wine of great substance, in which Sangioveto and the international grape varieties of Cabernet and Merlot fuse for an ideal Italian-French creation. It has already been chosen as one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.   #FRASS