Plum fragrant blue flower exotic brown spice and crushed mint are just some of the aromas you’ll find on the polished and perfumed 2019 Brunello from Altesino. Full-bodied and enveloping the palate features ripe black cherry... Read More

The 2019 Guado al Tasso is a model of total refinement. Deeply pitched spice mocha and leather nuances meld into a core of plush dark fruit as the 2019 reveals its considerable charms. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing but the... Read More

The 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a very beautiful wine but also quite a departure from the style that made it famous years ago. Readers will find an especially polished Guado al Tasso a wine that emphasizes finesse... Read More

The 2020 Tignanello is so primary so intensely fruit-driven that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first followed by hints of blood orange cinnamon spice dried flowers and mocha develop... Read More

This is very spicy with nutmeg cloves and hints of hazelnuts that add complexity to the black-cherry and raspberry undertones. Full-bodied rich and layered with a velvety texture and a flavorful finish. Beautiful center palate.... Read More

The 20th anniversary bottling of Testamatta made from the 2019 vintage in brand new winemaking facilities in Florence. This just shines from the moment it’s poured. Layered and complex this is a gem of a wine filled with cherry... Read More

The 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is layered and unfolds in the glass with incense baking spice ripe red cherry and cedar. It has more concentration and length through the mid-palate and offers an impeccable balance of structure... Read More

It’s almost impossible to imagine that the 1985 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva La Storica has just celebrated its thirty-sixth birthday. It displays a brilliant ruby red color and amazing clarity in the glass with only the slightest... Read More

28 Jul 2020 – A pretty pumped-up Carmignano with lots of ripe fruit and new wood yet there’s underlying seriousness to the full body and intensity with a long flavorful finish. Needs a year

The Caprilli estate is made up of property to the southwest of Brunello in the Tavernelle area that was originally part of the larger Villa Santa Restituta’s holdings, from which it was carved out in 1965. The owner, Alfo... Read More

A rich red/garnet color the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is a muscular and highly expressive moody wine with layered and compelling aromas of cigar box fresh tobacco leaf dried currants worn leather crushed stones... Read More

The estate was founded by Giovanni Neri, a grain merchant from south of Florence, who purchased the 200 hectare Casanova farm on the eastern side of Montalcino in 1971. The first Brunello bottling was made that year but the first... Read More

The estate was founded by Giovanni Neri, a grain merchant from south of Florence, who purchased the 200 hectare Casanova farm on the eastern side of Montalcino in 1971. The first Brunello bottling was made that year but the first... Read More

The estate was founded by Giovanni Neri, a grain merchant from south of Florence, who purchased the 200 hectare Casanova farm on the eastern side of Montalcino in 1971. The first Brunello bottling was made that year but the first... Read More

22 Jul 2022 – A vibrant balanced and fresh red with raspberries pomegranates cherry stones and spice box on the nose. Sleek tight tannins. Focused with a very fine structure and wound-up energy. Sangiovese and malvasia nera.... Read More

The deep rich 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio alle Mura wafts up with an air of crushed ashen stone and hints of graphite before giving way to black cherry minty herbs and hints of shaved cedar. This is elegant yet... Read More

A fine red with blueberry lemon and mineral character. Medium body fine tannins and a fresh and very clean finish. Linear and focused. Structured. Better in a year or two but stylish now.

The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is rich sensual and inviting as it so often is. The addition of Merlot to Sangiovese yields a Chianti Classico built on textural resonance with silky tannins soft curves... Read More

A new wine in this range the 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Montebuoni is effusive deep and powerful. Black cherry plum spice leather and dried herbs all open in the glass. Bright saline notes extend the finish nicely. The 2018... Read More

Here's another very interesting wine from Volpaia that has since been moved up to Grand Selezione status. The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Coltassala (with 9000 bottles made) is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Mammolo. Initially the... Read More

Notable for its pure cherry and kirsch aromas and flavors this red is also stylish and graceful. Rose wild thyme and stony mineral elements come into play as this develops on the palate. Beautifully integrated fresh and firm this... Read More

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is a grand estate of great historical and religious heritage, having been owned by the bishop of Montalcino in the seventeenth century. It is currently run by the grandchildren of Guiseppe Bianchini,... Read More

The 2019 straight Brunello from Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona is a beauty starting with its heady scents of red berry dog rose spice and Mediterranean scrub. Full-bodied and loaded with finesse the smooth palate delivers juicy... Read More

The epitome of a true Riserva Col d'Orcia’s just-released 2016 Poggio al Vento has brilliantly endured long ageing in both cask and bottle. It is only just coming into its own and in fact it should continue to develop leisurely... Read More

One of the original estates in Montalcino, Col d’Orcia is a traditional estate at the forefront of sustainable wine production in Tuscany. Situated at the southern extremity of the Montalcino DOCG at about 300 meters altitude,... Read More

One of the original estates in Montalcino, Col d’Orcia is a traditional estate at the forefront of sustainable wine production in Tuscany. Situated at the southern extremity of the Montalcino DOCG at about 300 meters altitude,... Read More

I like the clarity and linear quality to this with ripe-cherry and bark flavors. It’s full-bodied though not heavy and ponderous. Racy and bright at the end. Drink or hold.

The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is fascinating to taste next to the Rancia as the two parcels are adjacent. Rich and substantial in the glass Colonia is textured and ample qualities that become increasingly apparent... Read More

Darker fruit on the nose with walnut spice box incense and espresso bean too. Medium-bodied firm and structured with polished tannins and a creamy compact mid-palate. Quality dark oak spice throughout. Long and rich. Better from... Read More

Showing seamless and silky execution and light graceful fruit weight the organic and biodynamic Fico Wine 2018 Fico is the best edition so far (with the first vintage released in 2015). This wine is expressive and deep and shows... Read More

An organic and biodynamic wine the 2019 Per Filo is dedicated to Duccio Corsini's son Filippo. The wine reflects a hands-off winemaking style that is without the use of added sulfites or filtering. It reveals a fluid evolution... Read More

Fontodi’s 2018 is one of the vintage’s denser annata. Besides lower rainfall in the area of Panzano, owner Giovanni Manetti also points to a sudden drop in nighttime temperatures just before the harvest - close to... Read More

At an elevation of 400 metres, Vigna del Sorbo boasts Chianti Classico’s classic Galestro soil. The warm southwest-facing vineyard typically yields a powerful, intense wine in need of ageing. The 2019 demonstrates all the... Read More

The 2016 Dino is 100% Sangiovese done in terra cotta which brings out the wine's perfumed aromatics and bright acid profile. A touch of reduction -typical of wines done in amphora - adds striking character to play off the... Read More

The 2009 Flaccianello is gorgeous but the relative shortcomings of the year relative to the sublime 2010 are apparent when the wines are tasted side by side. Firm tannins support a core of dark red fruit smoke and crushed flowers.... Read More

Blackberry, black-cherry, bark and ink aromas follow through to a full body with tight, integrated tannins and a solid core of fruit at the same time. A little hard and tight now. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to open.... Read More

The 2021 Magari is the most elegant Magari I can remember tasting. Vibrant nuanced and medium in body the 2021 possesses notable energy from start to finish. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Dark cherry mocha dried herbs... Read More

The 2019 Gaja Camarcanda has green herbaceous blackberry and strawberry aromas and flavors set in a sumptuous velvety texture. What an exciting combination of richness and freshness! The wine combines sappy dark woodland forest-floor... Read More

A preview of what will be released in March 2023 the 2020 Camarcanda is attractive out of the gate and is sweet with its perfume of purple fruits and red currant violets menthol rosemary and wet stone. It is full bodied though... Read More

A bright magenta/ruby color the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is floral and expressive with aromas of wild roses raspberry liqueur blood orange and fresh pine. Medium-bodied it’s graceful throughout with refined tannins even mouthwatering... Read More

A jeweled ruby/magenta hue the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Rennina shows off smoldering aromas of incense cigar box kirsch lavender and sage. It transitions to the palate with ease and is approachable with refined tannins mouthwatering... Read More

Balsamic aromas of campho

Sweet cherries and berries with some smoke and ash undertones. Medium body with firm silky tannins that are slightly chewy but polished and very pleasant for the vintage. Drink now or hold.

Alessandro Mori’s Il Marroneto estate is situated just north of town at 400 meters of altitude in a cooler, steeply-sloped microclimate with soils of pebble rich limestone and galestro that give wines of precision, finesse... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is one of the very finest vintages of the Isole e Olena Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted and I have had the good fortune to taste them all. Deep and unctuous yet also full of... Read More

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva bursts from the glass with a rich smoky display of cherry and plum sauces balsam herbs and hints of cedar. Cool-toned yet pliant in feel it delivers woodland berries complemented by savory... Read More

The 18 hectare Le Chiuse estate is situated on the northern side of town on calcareous clay soils rich in marine fossils at elevation of between 300 and 330 meters. There are family ties here to the owners of Biondi Santi. There... Read More

After working at Biondi Santi, Gigliona Gianetti opened a wine shop in Montalcino town in 1987. In 1993, with the guidance of legendary consultant Giulio Gambelli, who she had met through the Corsorzio, she purchased her first... Read More

A rich red color the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is a touch volatile on opening and would benefit from a decant if drinking any time soon. It opens to ripe aromas of black cherry licorice candies and balsamic and is full-bodied... Read More

Solid and centred alternating notes of sour cherries strawberries black prunes blackberries cherries fondant chocolate and mandarin blossom. Full bodied very smooth tannins of optimum workmanship and an agile dynamic finale which... Read More

Very aromatic and lively on the nose with currants fresh herbs white pepper and cherry blossoms. Full-bodied with a vertical multilayered structure and ultra fine tannins. Velvety texture. Extremely long and focused. Complex and... Read More

Very aromatic and lively on the nose with currants fresh herbs white pepper and cherry blossoms. Full-bodied with a vertical multilayered structure and ultra fine tannins. Velvety texture. Extremely long and focused. Complex and... Read More

Wonderful raspberry and black cherry fragrance on the nose ripe and sweet and expressive aromas bursting from the glass. Fleshy and sweet sticky and full this is giving a whole load of ripe plush tannins and powerful fruit but... Read More

Wonderful raspberry and black cherry fragrance on the nose ripe and sweet and expressive aromas bursting from the glass. Fleshy and sweet sticky and full this is giving a whole load of ripe plush tannins and powerful fruit but... Read More

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese and a small amount of Cabernet Franc the 2020 Solaia has aromas of blueberry prune exotic brown spice and tobacco. Enveloping and full-bodied the palate shows concentration and finesse... Read More

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese and a small amount of Cabernet Franc the 2020 Solaia has aromas of blueberry prune exotic brown spice and tobacco. Enveloping and full-bodied the palate shows concentration and finesse... Read More

This is so aromatic with flowers such as cherry blossoms and roses together with currants and blackberries. A medium-bodied Tignanello with very fine tannins and depth. Racy and very very long finish. Pure and refined. Lots of... Read More

This is so aromatic with flowers such as cherry blossoms and roses together with currants and blackberries. A medium-bodied Tignanello with very fine tannins and depth. Racy and very very long finish. Pure and refined. Lots of... Read More

Extremely perfumed and vivi

Extremely perfumed and vivi

The 2020 Tignanello is so primary so intensely fruit-driven that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first followed by hints of blood orange cinnamon spice dried flowers and mocha develop... Read More

The 2021 Tignanello is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel and then just after bottling. Silky and polished with exceptional finesse the 2021 has all the pedigree to become a modern benchmark for Tignanello... Read More

The 2019 Masseto is a remarkably potent wine woven with layers of incense, polished leather, and macchia herbs. The palate is full and refined, with well-managed and fine tannin structure. Luxurious with red and black fruits,... Read More

Blackberries menthol sage stone dust and cloves define the youthfully restrained 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto. This flows across the palate with ease silky with depths of ripe raspberry and sour cherry as fine-grained... Read More

What a beautiful nose of elderberries freshly picked blackcurrants citrus herbs licorice and crushed stones amidst a backdrop of coffee beans cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins... Read More

The 2020 Siepi is classy elegant and super-polished. Inky blue fruit lavender new leather cloves and mocha all meld together effortlessly. There is a sense of precision in the 2020 that is incredibly inviting. Even so the 2020... Read More

A new wine in this range the 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badiola is a bit more linear than other Gran Seleziones but that is the personality of Radda speaking. Bright red fruit chalk mint and blood orange all open up... Read More

The 2019 Concerto di Fonterutoli the estate' 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon blend is quite the powerhouse. Cabernet very much drives the blend in 2019 in its aromas flavors and overall structure. Dark cherry herbs... Read More

Aromas of mature plum, blue flower and pipe tobacco shape the nose along with a whiff of leather. The focused palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, blood orange and licorice while taut, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity offer... Read More

The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Campitello is a wild powerful wine. Black cherry sage menthol gravel incense and tobacco show the more virile side of Sangiovese off to great effect. This potent brooding Riserva needs time... Read More

With vineyards in the Canalicchio zone just north of the town of Montalcino Padelletti credits the calcareous clay soil for curbing water stress. Harvest dates and quantities were similar to the average and slightly shorter macerations... Read More

The 2019 Chianti Classico Nuovo is 100% old-vine Sangiovese aged in concrete. Bright and effusive with striking aromatic presence the Nuovo is an absolute delight. Nervy persistent tannins and bright acids are a reminder we are... Read More

WineCritics.com, Raffaele Vecchione:

Extremely complex and authentic on the nose showing subtle yet well formed notes of cherries, blackberries, sour cherries, sandalwood, incense, guaranà and cassis. Full bodied, perfectly... Read More

Vigna San Marcellino is both youthfully fresh and maturely complex. It includes a healthy dose of the deeply coloured Pugnitello grape, and both this and the Sangiovese saw long post-fermentation macerations of over 30 days in... Read More

The 2017 Geremia is a revelation. It might be even better than the 2015 or 2016 which is saying a lot. Soaring aromatics make a strong first impression. In 2017 the fruit profile leans more into the red fruit end of the spectrum.... Read More

Made with grapes from the estate’s Sorgente Piaggione and Teatro vineyards the Salicutti 2019 Brunello is intensely fragrant with alluring aromas of perfumed berry iris menthol and dark spice. Full-bodied and elegantly structured... Read More

Also expressive the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Piaggione is ruby with a magenta tinge and offers notes of raspberry liqueur violets and polished wood spices. Refined with fine tannins and a very balanced texture it’s velvety... Read More

The highest of Salicutti’s vineyards Sorgente sits on heavier clay with a slight incline to the southwest. It is usually the last to be picked and was previously destined for the estate’s Rosso di Montalcino – yet this 2019... Read More

Complex and refined aromas of blackberries flowers sandalwood and a hint of vanilla follow through to a full body with dusty polished tannins that are extremely long and flavorful. Muscular yet agile at the same time. Try after... Read More

Silvio Nardi is made up of two different estates – Casale del Bosco, bought in 1950 and located west of Brunello, and Manachiara situated to the east.

The Casale del Bosco estate is comprised of five separate parcels –... Read More

This is one of the great vintages for this cuvée and would be a wine for lovers of Bordeaux. The 2021 Le Serre Nuove Dell'Ornellaia sports a saturated red hue and opens to a great layered and harmonious nose, with aromas... Read More

Aromas of blackcurrants iodine crushed stone hints of mint and sage. Blue fruits. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that open with air. It’s racy and very long. Very tannin driven and energetic with power and focus. Muscular and... Read More

Lots of sliced grapefruit with lemon rind and aniseed. Medium body. Vivid. Shows lovely brightness. Sauvignon blanc viognier and vermentino. Drink now.

The 2019 Biserno is a gorgeous elegant wine that captures the essence of the house style today. Dark cherry plum mocha espresso licorice and incense are all laced together. The 2019 is deep and fleshy yet also retains mid-weight... Read More

The 2019 Campo di Tenaglia is elegant silky and wonderfully polished. Bright red-toned fruit blood orange mint spice incense and rose petal are all finely sculpted in a Cabernet Franc that impresses with its delineation and focus.... Read More

The 2019 Palazzi is a classic Trinoro wine with maybe a bit less bombastic intensity than some of the earlier wines but all of the seamless elegance that has long made these reds so compelling. All the elements are wonderfully... Read More

According to Tenuta San Guido’s director of winemaking, Carlo Paoli, the 2021 is the best Guidalberto he has ever made. The percentage of Merlot was reduced back to the typical 40% this year because the quality of the Cabernet... Read More

The 2016 Picconero the estate's Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend packs a pretty serious punch. There is plenty of power and density that much is obvious. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the coming years. Today... Read More

Balsam herbs cocoa and sweet white smoke give way to crushed black cherry and plum as the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino blossoms in the glass. This is elegance personified silky deep and round yet delivering a core of saline-minerality... Read More

Brooding yet intense the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino bursts from the glass with a wave of autumnal spices crushed cherries cedar shavings and steeped plums lifted by pine hints. This is deeply textural elegant and refined with... Read More

The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino is drop-dead gorgeous slowly unfolding in the glass; at first smokey and herbal yet gaining depths of dark red fruits and sweet spice over time. It’s silky-smooth in texture contrasted by savory... Read More

The Val di Suga, a winery situated to the north of Montalcino, began making wine in the early 1980s. A wine called Vigna del Lago was first made in 1983 from a northeast-facing vineyard beside the lake opposite the winery. In... Read More

The Val di Suga, a winery situated to the north of Montalcino, began making wine in the early 1980s. A wine called Vigna del Lago was first made in 1983 from a northeast-facing vineyard beside the lake opposite the winery. In... Read More

Dark depths of wilted violets cedar cloves worn leather and dried strawberries form a seductive old-world bouquet as the 2021 Rosso di Montalcino Vigna Spuntali blossoms in the glass. This sweeps across the palate with a mineral-laden... Read More

Situated about 20 minutes’ drive north of Montalcino close to Montesoli, the Valdicava estate was purchased by the current owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese’s grandfather in 1953. Brunello has been made here since 1968. The... Read More

Situated about 20 minutes’ drive north of Montalcino close to Montesoli, the Valdicava estate was purchased by the current owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese’s grandfather in 1953. Brunello has been made here since 1968. The... Read More