Italy

The grapes come from vineyards planted in calcareous clay and gravel soils at an altitude between 350 and 450 meters. Colour: ruby in color with light garnet hues. Aroma : Its seducing scent recalls forest fruits, plums, raspberries and cherries and it is characterised by a juicy and fruit. Taste: It is velvety soft and a fresh acidity on the palate is framed by fine-grained tannins and a slight hint of floral notes. #CT

This Pinot Noir is ruby in color with light garnet hues.  Its seducing scent recalls forest fruits, plums, raspberries and cherries and it is characterised by a juicy and fruit. It is velvety soft and a fresh acidity on the palate is framed by fine-grained tannins and a slight hint of floral notes. The grapes come from vineyards planted in calcareous clay and gravel soils at an altitude between 350 and 450 meters.   #CT  

From vines 250m-550m above sea level. Brilliant ruby red in color. This wine shows scents of fruit and spice. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and structured with generous tannins.

The grapes come from vineyards planted in calcareous clay and gravel soils at an altitude between 250 and 550 meters. Winery Notes: Colour: a full-bodied wine with a deep red color. Aroma: The nose gives off aromas of red fruit and spice. Taste: Our Cabernet is full and structured, with hints of blackcurrant and green peppercorn. We recommend pairing this wine with red meats, game and cheeses.

Rated 93 by Wine Advocate The Capanna 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows fresh primary fruit initially, but the bouquet is otherwise footed in ethereal tones of balsam herb, cola, crushed flowers and autumnal leaf. The wine delivers purity and a nice level of complexity that flirts with both varietal and territory-specific characteristics. It registers 15% alcohol, but thankfully it's not too intrusive. That power and the wine's structure, with some mild tannic bitterness, plays against the delicate quality of fruit you get here. Production is 35,000 bottles. VM93 Rated 93 by Vinous Media The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is smoky with...

Rated 96 by Vinous Media The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva wafts up with a classic Capanna profile, rich yet elegant, with masses of crushed black cherries, sweet herbs, cloves and hints of cigar box. This is velvety yet not weighty, with a salty core of minerals and brisk acids that enliven its citrus-tinged red berries and exotic inner spice. While persistent and structured, the 2016 keeps you coming back to the glass, savory and saline in character with grippy tannins, but also a tug of residual tension that keeps the expression unexpectedly fresh. This is a tremendous Brunello Riserva in the making, and all it needs is time.

Vinous Media 92 points. Rosso di Montalcino Capanna is the simplest and most immediate version of the great Brunello di Montalcino. Like Brunello, it is made from pure Sangiovese grapes, a fresh and elegant expression of Montalcino red wine. Capanna is a real reference point for the wines of this area, and produces this Rosso di Montalcino that ferments in Slavonian barrels at a controlled temperature with maceration on the skins for three weeks. It then matures in Slavonian barrels for about 6-10 months, followed by another 3-4 months in the bottle before release. This Tuscan red wine has an intense ruby red colour, while the nose offers...

TYPE: DOC BLEND: 60% Merlot - 40% Sangiovese VINIFICATION: Alcoholic fermentation - separated by variety - with maceration of the skins (about 20-25 days) at a controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks; spontaneous malolactic fermentation. AGEING: In Slavonian oak casks of 20 to 32 hl for at least 6-8 months; followed by ageing in bottles for a few months. ON SALE FROM: 12-15 months from the harvest. NOTES: Colour: deep ruby red, very strong. Bouquet: intense, of mature red fruits and liquorice. Taste: excellent structure, quite soft, well balanced. Food pairings: roasted red and white meats, cold cuts and slightly aged cheeses.

Gold Medal, Wine Hunter. Top 100 Wines of 2023, Ian D'Agata. Wine Advocate 92 points. "This release of 15,000 bottles is among the most pleasantly accessible wines in this portfolio from Castellare di Castellina. The 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggiale shows soft fruit, cherry, blue flower and sweet potting soil. The wine is texturally rich but not heavy, and these native Italian grapes always have a lot of fresh acidity on offer, even in a vintage like 2020 that was characterized by hot summer weather." The Chianti Classico cru, Reserve obtained from a single vineyard and which received the highest scores for its...

100 Points, Luca Gardini, Gardini Notes: "Bright and dense ruby red. The nose is clean, with clear aromas of blackberry, and notes of rosemary and eucalyptus. Brackish finish with balsamic touches. The mouthfeel has great tension and depth with fine tannins and a fresh saline finish. Pomegranate and aromatic herbs return, of great drinkability. The culmination of Paolo Panerai's project, from Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera. Blueberry jam and Mediterranean shrubs on the nose, in the mouth there’s savory tannins and a balsamic finish." 96 points Goergina Hindle (Decanter): "Lovely abundance and expression on the nose,...

98 Points, Luca Gardini, Gardini Notes: "An iconic wine by Castellare di Castellina winery, a blend of Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera grapes grown organically. It ages in barrique for 24-30 months. The result is a wine with deep ruby color, fruity aromas of red plum jam, blueberries and touches of marjoram. The palate is dense, marked by a nice acid vein that supports the fruit, with compact and elegant tannins. Balsamic finish with red fruits returns." 02/23.   Decanter 96 points.   #CAST

The estate’s base wine produced using the traditional Tuscan vinification technique, which sees the addition of dried grapes after the first fermentation. Ready in the spring, this wine is soft, lively, easy to drink and can also be enjoyed cold in the fridge during the summer. Light ruby red. Floral bouquet. Smooth, lively, easy-drinking wine.   #CAST

James Suckling 94 points. Tuscany is a land of excellence for Merlot. Castellare merlot, thanks to the special location of the vineyard, has a rare personality. Since the first vintage it was defined as a monument to wine excellence. Tasting notes: The colour is deep and vibrant purple, clear, brilliant and beautiful texture. The nose is complex and the black fruit (blackberry and blueberry in particular) prevails in a clear manner. Raspberry, cherry and plum, followed by roasted notes of cocoa, vanilla and coffee. The mouth is soft and enveloping, with fine and elegant tannins. Warm, soft and very balanced. The finish is long and harmonious...

Tuscany is a land of excellence for Merlot. Castellare merlot, thanks to the special location of the vineyard, has a rare personality. Since the first vintage it was defined as a monument to wine excellence. The colour is deep and vibrant purple, clear, brilliant and beautiful texture. The nose is complex and the black fruit (blackberry and blueberry in particular) prevails in a clear manner. Raspberry, cherry and plum, followed by roasted notes of cocoa, vanilla and coffee. The mouth is soft and enveloping, with fine and elegant tannins. Warm, soft and very balanced. The finish is long and harmonious with a marked fruity aftertaste....

Wine Spectator 93 points. Luca Maroni 92 points. Veronelli 3 Stars. WA 91. Here's a sassy and spicy expression of Merlot. The 2014 Poggio Ai Merli is a tight and slightly nervous wine from a cool vintage. The otherwise mellow Merlot grape shows tart aromas of red fruit and cherry with spice, tobacco and white chocolate. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in new French barrique. Only 3,000 bottles are produced. Poggio ai Merli performs very well in cooler vintages (2013 is a case point). But the 2014 vintage offers a lower textural threshold and moderate persistence. ML Dec 2016.   #CAST

Wine Advocate 94+. Always released one year later as if it were a Riserva (although it is not labeled as such), the Col d'Orcia 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Nastagio offers an increased level of clarity and purity that comes directly from the high quality of organically farmed fruit collected in this classic vintage. This growing site is characterized by rocky, limestone-rich soils. This is a broad and large expression of Sangiovese that wraps evenly over the palate, offering good textural weight and freshness along the way. That 15% alcohol is a bit much, but it's a common feature in many wines from this vintage. Production is...

Gineprone refers to the aromatic herb Juniper and indicates how this Chianti from the Siena hills reminds the drinker of all the herbs and spices that are typical of the Mediterranean underwood. Complex and full bodied yet approachable and fruity, Gineprone is the Montalcino version of the Chianti wine that has made Tuscany famous around the world.

Wine Spectator 93 points. WINERY NOTE: The Mediterranean climate, the Montalcino “terroir”, the nobility of Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah, the knowledge and the passion of those who have been looking after vineyards and producing wine ever since. This is how Nearco was born. On the gentle southern hillsides of Montalcino, embedded in the middle of austere Brunello vineyards, one can find the plots dedicated to the great international varieties that made the Tuscan reds so famous. Real “cru”, where Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah have found ideal growing conditions to express their celebrated class at its best. NEARCO is...

Wine Advocate 93+. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the unsung grapes of Montalcino, and because this appellation is whole-heartedly focused on Sangiovese, we only get rare opportunities to taste the French grape. The Col d'Orcia 2015 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia is a beautiful wine and one that has enthusiastically embraced the deep warmth and golden sunlight of the vintage. You taste those hot-vintage characteristics in the fullness, richness and softness of the fruit on display here. This is no doubt the best vintage I have thus far tasted of Olmaia, and the wine has evidently found new confidence in this 2015 expression. Black fruit...

Wine Advocate 94 points. Olmaia (made with certified organic fruit) has emerged as its own brand. The wine underlines the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon in this part of Tuscany, an area almost exclusively dedicated to Sangiovese. The 2016 Sant'Antimo Cabernet Olmaia reminds us of the importance of diversity in a monoculture, which allows us to better understand the potential of a growing area. This wine reveals an inky dark appearance with thick color concentration. It is broad and full-bodied for sure, but it proceeds with nuanced grace over the senses. Black and purple fruits segue to earthy tobacco, cured leather and dark spice....

Wine Advocate 90 points. Made with certified organic fruit, the Col d'Orcia 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Banditella is another protagonist in a storyline that sees this entry-level category of wine emerge with increased importance within this storied Tuscan appellation. We will surely be seeing even more excellent Rosso in the future. This expression offers nice concentration with rich flavors of blackberry, plum and sweet earth. ML Feb 2022. "The baby Brunello". Organic. WINERY NOTE: A modern interpretation of a classic from Montalcino: a special selection from a great Sangiovese vineyard is vinified and refined with advanced...

James Suckling 92 points. Only 6000 bottles made. WINERY NOTES: 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 20% Sagrantino In the winery the staff are all women, they are the doves you see on the label. But there is also a dragon represented, it is Carlo Gardini, husband to Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the owner. The Il Drago e le 8 Colombe was produced for the first time in 2005. At that time there were only 7 doves, and then Valérie Lavigne the consulting wine maker who is professor in the Bordeaux University was added. She changed the blend, removing the Alicante and substituted it with Sagrantino. This variety cones from Umbria, the region right...

Wine Enthusiast 95 points/ Top 5 Brunello Riserva. Wine Advocate 94 points. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with only 6,500 bottles made) is a layered and structured wine that delivers a polar opposite experience especially when you compare this wine to the lighthearted annata 2014 Brunello. This riserva embodies power, grit and textural richness. It also delivers a robust and slightly evolved bouquet with dark fruit, spice and leather. In comparison, the wine from 2014 is thinner and more fruit forward. This wine is suited for grilled meats and steak. It's a hearty winter wine for sure. ML Feb 2019.

Wine Spectator 95 points. Wine Advocate 94 points. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a dense and concentrated personality, owing much to the warm, sunny and delightful conditions of this epic growing season. This wine draws its fruit from a 10-hectare parcel with clay soils and wide-open skies with clouds and sunbeams, which take in most of the landscape to the north of Montalcino. This is a 9,600-bottle production. Black cherry, blackberry confit, spice and warm earth make up the bouquet. Plush and slightly sweet fruit flavors color the softly textured mouthfeel. This Riserva shows a bit of extra...

Wine Advocate 95+. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is silky and fine, but the wine also shows that special power and intensity that is so specific to this classic growing season. The wine's tannins, freshness and fruit flavors reach a point of harmony, and no one element overshadows the other. There is some crunch or tension on the close that underlines the quality of Sangiovese fruit harvested this year. Production is 10,300 bottles. ML Feb 2022.

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso, 2020. James Suckling 95 points. "The ripe-cherry, flower and hot-stone aromas are very attractive. Full body. Dense and layered with a beautiful center palate and intensity. Cedar and light dried-flower character shows through as well. Try after 2022." JamesSuckling.com (JS, 11/07/2019). Wine Advocate 94 points. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino caps long years of careful study and experimentation. When I think back to what this wine tasted like, say, 10 years ago, I notice that the ongoing stylistic tweaks faithfully reflect the general evolution of the appellation. This wine is...

Vinous Media (Antonio Gallono) 90 points. Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Chianti Superiore is made practically with only Sangiovese; the presence of just a few complementary clusters is in respect of the tradition that sees Chianti as a blend of more varieties. Its dominant element is its elegance, typical of Sangiovese with the particular aroma of violet that characterizes this denomination among all the others.

Wine Advocate 95 points. This is a special selezione expression. The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne starts off a bit closed and shy, however it soon gains speed thanks to the intensity of its berry fruit, spice and camphor ash aromas. This wine is built to withstand longer cellar aging. It is firmly compact and tight at its core, recalling a Brunello from a cooler vintage. However, much of that 2015 sunshine and dark fruit exuberance comes through nonetheless. Fruit comes from a 10-hectare site with a large component of clay in the soils. Only 6,600 bottles were made, and the wine was released in January...

Wine Advocate 96 points. Opening to a dark color and rich concentration, the Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne (with 6,600 bottles made) shows a lot of fun character. I want to say that the wine is more modern or contemporary in style, but that's not really true. Yes, there's more fruity richness here, but the bouquet is also very vertical in intensity, lifted and bright. There's a fine spot of sweet cheery and tart apple skin. There is no heaviness. The fruit comes from a six-hectare site at a low 225 meters above sea level with medium-rich soils and lots of clay. That richness that I described...

Wine Advocate 91 points. As I noted last year, I like Donatella Cinelli Colombini's base Brunello more than her 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne selection. Compared to the annata, this wine is slightly less expressive. It offers a horizontal delivery of aromas with bold cherry, blackberry, leather and spice. It shows broad shoulders and tight muscular definition. Perhaps the bouquet is slightly less brilliant. Nonetheless, this is an opulent expression that bursts open with dark cherry fruit, soft tannins and bright acidity. The wine's softness suggests you can drink it sooner rather than later.ML Mar 2016.

Organic. Made with certified-organic fruit. Intense and brilliant ruby ​​red. Fine, complex with vinous aromas reminiscent of Sangiovese and suggestions of small ripe red fruits such as cherries, raspberries and blackberries together with floral elements and specifically violets. Communicative wine that satisfies with its harmonic fullness. The silky effect comes from tannins balanced with the fruit and alcohol. Good persistence, extremely pleasant. QUANTITY PRODUCED: 20,000 bottles

James Suckling: 95 Points "This is very dense and structured with stone and blackberry character. Full-bodied and intense with chewy tannins that frame the wine. Flavorful finish. Smoky and lightly bitter, in a good way. Pure sangiovese. This needs time to soften. Better after 2024." 10/21 Wine Advocate: 95 Points "This wine always stands out in my mind, and it's worth dedicating a few words as to why. Poggio Valente offers us a rare opportunity to taste Sangiovese made according to the highest standards but from a territory—on the Tuscan Coast—that does not share a big legacy with monovarietal Sangiovese reds....

JAMES SUCKLING 99 POINTS - "So much crushed stone, rosemary, lavender, mint and blackberry. Full-bodied and very structured with layers of powerful and polished tannins. It goes on for minutes. Ink, blackcurrants and blueberries. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Needs at least five or six years to open." Wine Advocate: 97 Points. "My article on icon wines from Tuscany focuses primarily on releases from the 2018 vintage. Fattoria le Pupille releases its top wine, the 2019 Saffredi, earlier than the rest. This blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot is explosive. The percentage of...

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is today the only DOCG of Sicily. A wine of remarkable personality obtained from the red vinification of the Frappato(40%) and Nero d'Avola grapes (60%). Very intense and persistent bouquet that reminds one of ripe pomegranate. Cherry-red in color, warm and full-bodied in the mouth. Endorsed by Vittoria Gianbattista Valli.   Deep red cherry colour with a very intense and persistent aroma reminiscent of ripe pomegranate. In the mouth, the wine is warm and full bodied.  

Wine Specytator 91 points.   A last minute disagreement with Valentino has resulted in the merlot being released without the designers name. Merlot loves sunshine and Sicilian merlot delivers the love. It is lush, plush, chewy and delectable. Think Sofia Loren rather than Kate Moss. Lots of cherry, plums and exotic spice.  Produced from one of the first vineyards planted on the Feudi del Pisciotto estates. A Merlot that expresses the full potential and character of this grape variety, which finds an ideal form of expression in Sicily’s terroir. Wine characterised by an important structure and power, while at the same time...

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso. Cerasuolo di Vittoria is the first and only Sicilian DOCG wine. A wine with a great personality obtained through the vinification of the Frappato and Nero d’Avola grape varieties. Label drawn by Giambattista Valli.  Deep red cherry colour with a very intense and persistent aroma reminiscent of ripe pomegranate. In the mouth, the wine is warm and full bodied.    

James Suckling 92 points. Sicily is a region where more or less all grape varieties can give their very best. In this land, Cabernet acquires absolutely unique characteristics. Lacking vegetal notes, typical of this variety in a non-ideal way, here, Cabernet is a wine of great structure and with a polyphenolic component ideal for optimal ageing. Label drawn by Missoni.   Cabernet grown in Sicily is somewhat unique insofar as it has none of the vegetal characteristics that often are associated with the variety. This fine effort from the Castellare empire spends 10 months in oak (50% new) then a further 8 months in bottle before release....

3 Glasses Gambero Rosso. The vine that best expresses the oenological character of Sicily. This wine, made scrupulously of the best grape selections, expresses in absolute purity the extraordinary elegance and ability to evolve over time. The intense ruby ​​red color typical of the vine stands out. The nose is distinguished by delicate and persistent notes of red berry fruits such as blackcurrants, blueberries and cherries. Full, velvety and persistent, it aims at an elegant harmony as a whole. Endorsed by designer house Versace.    Top 100 Italian Wines of 2023., Ian D'Agata. "Nero d'Avola is the grape variety...

Decanter World Wine awards, Platinum Medal and 97 points. Wine Enthusiast 95 points. WineMag UK 94 points. "Aromas of camphor, rose and star anise mingle with whiffs of woodland berry and tilled earth on the nose. Precise and polished, the elegantly structured palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, white pepper and cinnamon, while fine-grained tannins provide support. It's balanced by fresh acidity" Winemag.com 94/100 The nobility of the name of Fontanafredda - a historic company purchased in the mid-19th century by King Vittorio Emanuele II - finds great expression through the equally noble Barolo. Entirely...

James Suckling 95 points. Wine Enthusiast 95 points. "Aromas of dried berries and plums with burnt orange and hints of cedar. Hazelnut and almond undertones. Medium-to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and a pretty finish. A kind of dusty texture at the end. Very elegant and long. Drink after 2024." JS. "Smooth and juicy, this fresh, polished red offers enticing aromas of rose, violet, forest berry and baking spice. On the delicious, succulent palate, refined tannins accompany ripe morello cherry, raspberry compote, nutmeg and cinnamon. It's already thoroughly enjoyable. Drink through 2031. "Kerin O’Keefe, WE....

Decanter , Gold Medal, 95 points. 'A soft, red-fruited wine at first glance, but the wine slowly opens to offer a charming complexity of red fruits, fennel, touches of fresh earth, chocolate, and plenty of cherry stone freshness. The sweet-fruit profile fills the ripe grippy tannins to a well-poised finale.'     #PFF  

Decanter World Wine awards, Platinum Medal, 98 points. Wine Enthusiast 94 points. Tasting Notes: The Fontanafredda Barolo has a vibrant, floral nose, with typical traces of dried flowers, fall leaves and woodland underbrush. Robust and full-bodied, with acidity and firm tannins that give a sense of freshness that prolongs the finish. Estate History: Among the splendid rolling hills of the Langhe, in the heart of Piedmont, stands the beautiful Fontanafredda estate, which once belonged to King Vittorio Emanuele II who n turn gave it to Rosa Vercellana, a commoner with whom he had fallen madly in love. An ancient love story, kept alive by the...

Technical notes Vinification: the fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks adopting the traditional method, such as floating cap with pump-over. After 7-8 days on the skins at a temperature of 28-30 °C, followed by a rapid malolactic fermentation within the months of november. Ageing: at the end of the wine-making process, in january, the wine is transferred into wood for the maturation; part of the wine is aged in large French and Slavonian oak casks, while the remaining is stored in small barrels (225 and 300 litres) made of medium-toasted French and American oak for about a year. The two parts are then blended prior to...

Vinous Media 92 points. The estate's 2000 Barolo Riserva reveals open, super-ripe aromatics and a soft core of dark fruit interwoven with sweet toasted oak. The wine is still fresh, even as it has started to develop more complex nuances in the bottle. This accessible, irresistible modern-styled wine offers a notable length and an engaging personality..

James Suckling 93 points. "The iron, rust and iodine undertones to the ripe fruit are so alluring. Full-bodied with firm and chewy tannins that are polished yet solid..."  

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."

James Suckling 93 points. "Very pretty ripe cherries and strawberries with light toffee undertones. It's full-bodied, but bright and focused. Chewy tannins. Needs time to soften. Better after 2022." Winery Note: TASTING NOTES The colour is garnet-red with ruby thighlights that take on a slightly orange tone over time. It has a clear-cut, intense nose with sweet sensations of spices and hints of dried rose and sous bois. The taste is soft, full, velvety, harmonic and vibrant. PAIRINGS The Barolo par excellence goes well with important dishes, such as traditional Piedmontese meat main courses and medium-long-aged cheeses. But not...

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.