Italian Wine

Critics Notes

Eric Guido writes:  The 2023 Kerner is delicately floral in the glass, with a whiff of sweet spice and candied lime forming its bouquet. This is built on energy with vibrant acidity and a combination of saline minerals and tart citrus, adding a zesty character throughout. The 2023 reverberates with tension through the long and cheek-puckering finale with hints of chamomile and lemon zest.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Vinous 91

James Suckling writes:  A fresh and creamy white with aromas of sliced pears, peaches and lemons. Medium-bodied, lightly pithy and refreshing. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Winemaker Notes

A particular specialty of the Valle Isarco. Greenish to bright yellow in color. Peaches, apricots, and tones of tangerines on the nose. Very lively, juicy, and sleek on the palate, with a mineral-rich finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Winemaker Description

A deep violet color, the wine presents aromas of red fruits and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with black fruit flavors and soft, saline notes along with elegant traces of capers, rosemary, and black pepper. The finish is long and silky.

Pair with grilled steak, lamb and spicy pasta dishes.

Expert Review 

James Suckling 91 Points | Aromas of dark cherries, blackberries and baking spices. Medium body with fine tannins and bright acidity. Fresh and crunchy at the center with red fruits on the palate and a lively, powdery finish.

Winemaker Description

This Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with a perfect blend of fruit, acidity and mouth coating tannins. This is the perfect bottle for Brunello lovers.

Pair with steak au poivre, rack of lamb or beef carpaccio.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | There is a more forward personality to the 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva, which pours a slightly darker hue. Aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, and violets emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers more ripe concentration, with black raspberry, tea leaf, cedar, and rosemary. It is elegant yet expressive of the warm vintage, with fine, ripe tannins and ripe fresh fruit through the mid-palate and a great balance between roundness and elegance.

James Suckling 95 Points | Complex and fragrant nose of neroli, currants, sour cherries, sandalwood, cassis and wild herbs. Roasted walnuts, too. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Full of energy and power.

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

Decanter 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This red starts out round, turning more precise and taut as it builds to the finish. Shows cherry, wild herb, soy and loam flavors that ply the supple texture, before the tannins exert their influence and the finish tightens up (a good sign for the future). (2017).

Vinous 90 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger. The vintage has left its mark on the 2017 Riserva, yet cellaring will help relieve its youthful structure.

Winemaker Description

Brunello di Montalcino is the ambassador of top quality Italian wines around the world, the first wine to receive the DOCG appellation. Brunello is a brilliant ruby ??red color, tending towards garnet red with age. Its bouquet is intense, pure, pleasant and refined, reminiscent of sweet violet, tobacco, chocolate and pleasant hints of wild berries and vanilla. Its flavor fully confirms the above in a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with good tannins and a solid structure.

Expert Rating

James Suckling 95 Points | This has fantastic intensity with concentrated hazelnut, chocolate and dark berry aromas alongside dried flower and dried orange undertones. Firm and medium- to full-bodied, with powerful yet integrated tannins. Excellent structural integrity. (2018).

Robert Parker 93 Points | The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is an especially graceful wine with tart fruit, clean mineral lines and a mid-weight approach. Like other wines from this vintage, the 2018s are more accessible than, say, the 2016s or the 2013s. You can drink the wine soon or choose to cellar it a bit longer. The young tannins are nearly fully approachable, and the wine ends with dryness and ample freshness.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino is a medium ruby hue, with aromas of licorice, dried red flowers, red cherry, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins, it is approachable with its more delicate nature and fresh acidity. It has no harsh edges and offers notes of ripe raspberry, blood orange, and tea leaf. (2018).

Vinous 92 Points | Wild strawberries, roses, lavender and hints of flowery underbrush form a vividly fruity yet earthy bouquet as the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino opens in the glass. This is round, nearly juicy in character, with ripe red and black berries that cascade across a core of silty minerality. It leaves only a light coating of tannin while tapering off with a flourish of inner sweetness and floral tones, as nuances of licorice slowly fade. This may not be a classic Brunello from Altesino, but I can't argue with how incredibly delicious it is.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Rich and fruity, evoking plum, cherry, iron, tobacco and eucalyptus flavors. This has a bit more flesh to offset the dusty tannins, with a lingering, fresh finish. (2018).

Decanter 92 Points | With vineyards throughout Montalcino, Altesino started harvest at the beginning of September with its southernmost holdings. After rain mid-month, the estate continued with plots in the north. The resulting wine is light yet bright in colour with an immediately attractive nose of raspberry and tarragon. Linear and direct, the chiselled palate offers mineral intrigue with an expansive juiciness. Dainty tannins are almost an afterthought, but acidity will carry this midweight, balanced charmer.

Winemaker Description

Its bouquet is intense, pure, pleasant and refined, reminiscent of sweet violet, tobacco, chocolate and pleasant hints of wild berries and vanilla. Its flavor fully confirms the above in a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with good tannins and a solid structure. 

Expert Reviews 

Decanter 95 Points | Altesino counts approximately 50 hectares throughout Montalcino’s northern and southern stretches. A compilation of diverse sites, the estate Brunello is among the denomination’s best values. If the Montosoli bottling is more solemn in tone, this 2019 is joyful and bright. Heady red currant and cherry mingle with plum and anise. The sumptuously fruited, plush palate is mouth filling yet agile. Sandy textured tannins envelop and caress while citrusy acidity lifts the whole. Already accessible, it has sufficient depth, concentration and backbone for a solid decade of enjoyment. (2019). 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality). (2019). 

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. (2019). 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is packed with ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, with floral, mineral, juniper and wild herb accents adding depth and complexity. There's plenty of energy and structure as well, providing excellent balance, with a long aftertaste. (2019).

James Suckling 94 Points | A dark ruby color in the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a beguiling blend of dusty earth, crushed rocks, savory herbs and dried roses. This is racy and sleek, with vividly ripe wild berry fruits elevated by orange and sage, all guided by vibrant acidity. Grippy tannins take control through the finish, yet the mouth is left watering for more as a bitter licorice tinge and dark chocolate adds a crunchy sensation. (2019). 

"Laced with ripe cherry, strawberry, floral, spice, iron and leather flavors, this red is complex and charming, yet with serious tannins that ply the structure and lift the long finish. The fine balance should facilitate longevity. Best from 2024 through 2048." Wine Spectator - 97 points

"The Altesino 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 10,000 bottles made) shows a tight and firm delivery with the abundant fruit and the generous richness that is associated with this warm and sunny vintage. The wine is fermented in steel vats and ages in Slavonian oak casks for three years. The tannins are nicely integrated, however the wine's solid structure will carry it forward over the years." The Wine Advocate - 95 points

"While Altesino’s Montosoli bottling is a closeup of a single cru, this Riserva is a panoramic shot of Montalcino. It draws on a selection of bunches from the estate’s vineyards spread throughout the region. It's an attractive and seductive interpretation of 2015 with scents of rose, orange and exotic spice. The palate offers ample depth of macerated cherry and ripe strawberry. Tannins are supple, though build with a chalky texture and carry the weight of plentiful fruit effortlessly. A tangle of tarragon, fennel and mint linger on the finish." Decanter Magazine - 94 points

"Warm with baking spice, the 2015 Brunello Riserva has comforting aromas of cherry pie and purple plum. Full of ripe fruit, the palate gives way to more vinous, savory characteristics of cherry pit, black licorice, and tea leaf. The 2015 was aged for four years in new and used Slavonian oak. This is a contemplative wine in the Altesino lineup which deserves time to show what its potential will hold. Cellar 3-5 years and enjoy 2025-2035." Jeb Dunnuck - 94 points

"A very pretty Brunello now with sweet berry, orange-peel and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, yet refined and relatively soft with silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Fine tannins. Drink or hold." James Suckling - 94 points (2015 vintage)

James Suckling 97 points - This has a complex nose of cranberries, dried pineapple, soy, bark, cardamom, mocha, iodine and wet leather. Full-bodied, with firm and very fine tannins. It really builds in intensity, expanding into a broad array of fresh and dried fruit and espresso bean, before converging again on a long and driven finish. Fantastic already.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 points - Attractive smoky perfume lifts from the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli, with sunny red plum, anise, lavender, and cedar. It is full-bodied, with a refined tannin structure, and a bit more wood influence that will integrate nicely in time. Offering notes of black cherry, licorice, crushed stones, and warming spice, it displays a broader nature compared to the rest of the range, which is to be expected from this iconic site with a somewhat warmer, south-facing exposition.

The Wine Advocate 94+ points - The word "Vigna" has been added to the official name of this wine to underline work in the appellation meant to focus on single-vineyard designates. The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli comes from a unique growing site with some of the best exposures from hillside vineyards. This wine shows a slightly dark hue with added concentration and depth. I am delighted by the bouquet that reveals dark cherry, blue flower, crushed stone and grilled herb. There is sweet toast and spice at the back. This is one of the more complete and age-worthy wines from the 2018 vintage.end quote.

Wine Spectator 94 points - A dense, tannic red, with plum, cherry, menthol, iron and spice flavors driven by lively acidity. A bit more burly than many 2018s, yet this remains vibrant, superlong and complex.

Vinous Media - 94 points - The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is dark and brooding with a lavender-tinged mix of crushed rocks, dusty cherry, curry leaf and hints of balsamic spice. It's delicate with a balanced inner sweetness and smooth contours, showing vividly ripe wild blackberry, and even hints of blueberry fruit. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, like liquid violets, yet finishes only lightly structured and wonderfully perfumed. The magic of Montosoli shines through, but don't expect the 2018 to make old bones. Production was down by 20% due to a more-severe selection of grapes in 2018.

Expert Review

James Suckling:  Fragrant nose of violets, orange zest, raspberries, green peppercorns, clay and thyme. Medium-bodied with precise, tight tannins and vibrant acidity. Sleek and fresh, yet surprisingly firm and structured. 

Winemaker Description

Fun and refreshing, this delicate and fruity wine opens with aromas of tropical fruit, green apple, grass and floral notes, peach, and a hint of almond. A clear, light Pinot Grigio with a pale lemon color. Smells clean and not intense. It is excellent with appetizers, flavorful soups, poultry and seafood: particularly shellfish.

This crisp, elegant and balanced Pinot Grigio comes from our vines cultivated with 100% sustainable techniques in sunny and dry Central-Western Sicily. Here Pinot Grigio expresses a uniquely decisive character, while maintaining its fresh and elegant taste known in the world.

Anterra, or “ancient land” in Italian, refers to the long, rich viticultural history of the peninsula. A keystone in winemaking and wine trading since ancient times, Italy has refined its viticulture over the centuries. Tapping into the vast knowledge bestowed by their ancestors, Anterra’s creators have made winemaking an art form. Cultivated from the vineyards in Sicily, this Pinot Grigio is dry in flavor and has a pleasant and delicate bouquet.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

The 2020 Guado al Tasso is an intense ruby red in color. The nose offers notes of small dark fruit with sweet spice and toasted oak. On the palate, pure flavors and refined tannins lead to a persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed immediately, but also has great aging potential. 

Expert Reviews

96 Points Robert Parker | The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast | The nose is rich with notes of blackberries, black cherry and soil, while a white pepper undertone provides pop. On the supple, warm palate, berries continue leading the way, before a salty, chocolaty finish with another kick of pepper. Stoic tannins are balanced by lively, persistent acidity.

95 Points James Suckling | Aromas of black olives, berries, herbs, red beans, sour cherries, and sage follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and plenty of structure. It’s flavorful and intense. Needs time to come together. Best after 2027.

95 Points Wine Spectator | Packed with exuberant blackberry, black currant and blueberry fruit, this red shows the expressive character of the vintage. Just when you think it's too flamboyant, the solid structure reins it in. Shows excellent balance and length, with a touch of lavender and wild herbs on the lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040.

From the bright straw yellow colour with greenish undertones, the aroma stands out with mineral notes, citrus, yellow peaches and floral hints, typical of the vine in Bolgheri. It is a fresh, well-balanced and persistent, with a pleasant mineral finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 vintage Solaia is deep ruby red in color. The nose offers complex notes of red fruit, apricots and red oranges with hints of rose petals. Distinct aromas of coffee beans, chocolate, licorice and white pepper complete the rich bouquet of this red wine. On the palate, the wine is enveloping and harmonious with excellent balance and structure. Vibrant tannins lead into an exceptionally long finish. 

Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc

Expert Reviews

91 Points James Suckling | A bright and fruity red with currant and berry character. Light vanilla. Medium body. Crisp finish. Sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot. Drink now

90 Points Wine Spectator | There’s a lot going on in this complex red, which is loaded with cherry, strawberry, earth, spice and iron flavors, revealing hints of menthol and tobacco. Harmonious, with a long, resonant finish that echoes both the fruit and savory notes. Best from 2026 through 2045. 625 cases made, 365 cases imported.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | The nose balances rich fruit and stony minerality, with a flash of raw meat lending additional depth. That sanguinity swells on the palate, but plum skin and sour cherries push back. The tannins and acidity are both composed and serene

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Villa Antinori is packed with succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and spice. As always, the Villa Antinori is a rich, boisterous wine, but in 2020 it is less forthcoming than it can be. There's a bit more Sangiovese in this year's blend, which explains its overall profile.  Drinking 2023 - 2028.  - Vinous 90

Amy Wislocki writes:  Antinori is one of the biggest names in Italian winemaking, with a winemaking history stretching back over 26 generations. Its Villa Antinori red is like an entry-level SuperTuscan, a blend of Sangiovese with the international grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It works well, with both Tuscan character and something riper and richer going on too – the deep ruby hue a hint at what is to come. Sweetly fruited on nose, there is a soft perfume of cherries, blackberries and forest fruits, with a touch of sweet spice. Its well balanced in the mouth, a lovely balance of mouthwatering acidity and fine tannins with a weight of black plum and tart sour cherry, cranberry fruit, some rosehips, a hint of cloves, and subtle toasty oak on the finish.  - Decanter 90

Winemaker Description:

Villa Antinori 2020 is ruby red in color. The nose is intense, captivating and defined by fruity notes of black cherries and black currant with hints of cocoa and coffee. The pleasant bouquet is completed by aromas of spices and boxwood. The enveloping palate presents supple, velvety tannins sustained by excellent freshness and sapidity.

Our Review

The attack is relaxing and refined, with firm, dusty, velvety tannins and crisp acidity. It's austere and powerful enough to cellar but with the grace to drink now due to an amazing balance between the supple fruit and the structure.

Winemaker Description

1.3 hectares of vineyards in the hills around Gattinara. The steep vineyards contain soils that are a rocky mix of granite, quartz, and iron. The Wine is fermented on the skins for 18 days in stainless steel tanks that are temperature controlled, then aged in medium capacity wood casks for 30 months and released after 12 months of bottle time. 

Expert Rating

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This has mellowed nicely, featuring fading aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, spice, leather and tobacco. Complex and supple, this red delivers fine balance and a long, detailed, saline aftertaste. Drink now through 2032. 1,500 cases made, 450 cases imported. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

1.3 hectares of vineyards in the hills around Gattinara. The steep vineyards contain soils that are a rocky mix of granite, quartz, and iron. The Wine is fermented on the skins for 18 days in stainless steel tanks that are temperature controlled, then aged in medium capacity wood casks for 30 months and released after 12 months of bottle time.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This has mellowed nicely, featuring fading aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, spice, leather and tobacco. Complex and supple, this red delivers fine balance and a long, detailed, saline aftertaste. Drink now through 2032. 1,500 cases made, 450 cases imported. (2018).

Expert Reviews 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Saturated with black currant, plum, iron, vanilla and toasty oak flavors, this red packs serious power. Remains focused, thanks to the lively structure, while refined tannins provide support on the lingering aftertaste of fruit and spices. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Sangiovese. Best from 2025 through 2038.

Wine Advocate 94 Points | A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, 20% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese, the hot-vintage 2020 Solengo (in a heavy glass bottle) is very rich and dense with firm textural support and a full-bodied style. The wine is bold and beautiful and so is the quality of the fruit; however, there is a lot of oak spice and toast to take in. That oak is good reason to put this bottle aside in your cellar for three or four more years.

James Suckling 96 Points | Profound nose here with chili chocolate and sandalwood beneath the sweet blackberry background. A hint of violets, too. An opulent and densely packed palate with full body and concentrated blackberries. Very tight tannins rendered in a fine-grained and almost seamless way, with a lingering finish.

Orvieto is Umbria’s and one of Italy’s most famous white wine and Argillae wishes to pay homage to its regional tradition creating a fresh dry wine, with intense aromas of flowers, citrus and tropical fruits. Broad to the nose and persistent on the palate, this wine surprises with its elegance, its perfect balance between flower and fruit scents and its extraordinary freshness. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Costera shows the typicity of the Cannonau grape with flavors of very ripe strawberries, black cherries, herbs, and spices. The warmth and intense sunlight of southern Sardinia can be seen and felt in the wine with unexpectedly deep color and fullness on the palate. French oak barriques provide rounded tannins and flavors of vanilla.

Meat cooked over an open flame is an artform in Sardinia and specialties such as spit-roasted suckling pig or lamb seem perfect for the rich and complex flavors of Cannonau.

Expert Rating

Wine Enthusiast 89 Points | A juicy but umami nose on this wine begins with black cherries, blackberries and plums. Aromas then turn to soy sauce and salty seaweed crackers. Saline notes remain prominent on the palate alongside dark berries mixed with roots and soil, with tannins standing at attention.

Intense ruby red with violet shadings, nearly opaque with traces of garnet
Bouquet. Expansive and persistent with sweet fruits, notes of blackberry, black cherry and a subtle nuttiness. Sweet spices lead to a mineral finish

Soft, sweet, voluptuous body, persistent and velvety. The tannins are thick and sweet, the acidity is well balanced, cutting the density and heaviness, while giving structure. Long finish, persistently fruity with notes of underbrush, forest fruit, and complex, intense spices. Producer Description. 

Winemaker Description

Surprising complexity from blackberry jam to rose potpourri, nutmeg to pepper, pine resin to mint, clove to cocoa. Soft and persuasive, intense, persistent finish. Fresh, with complex.

Expert Review

Wine Advocate 95 Points:  This bottle is a true ambassador for Umbria. You get ample varietal tones in the 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni, with bitter chocolate and baking spice, but Caprai does a terrific job of softening up and fleshing out the Sagrantino grape to display a more contemporary and ultimately more approachable and versatile wine. It boasts a huge, bold and opulent mouthfeel with plenty of structure and determination.

Vinous 95 Points:  The truly captivating [wine] pulls you close to the glass with a beguiling bouquet that mixes citrus-tinged black fruits with exotic spices, hints of oregano, menthol and a dusting of cocoa. While there’s admirable weight and depth here, the textures are more like pure silk, delicately draped across the palate, yet leaving behind a saturating blend of intense dark fruits, minerals and fine-grained tannin...This is a fantastic rendition of Arnaldo Caprai’s 25 Anni.

One of our favorite Umbrian whites, we enjoyed selling and drinking the Grechetto for now three vintages. 

Critics Notes

Alison Napjus writes:  This sleek white offers a salty underpinning, with a lively mix of melon, lime zest, blanched almond and white blossom notes. Drink now.   - Wine Spectator

Eric Guido writes | Vintage 2021:  The 2021 Grecante is sweetly floral with ripe orchard fruits and hints of chamomile. This impresses with its soft, gentle textures and sweet inner spice. A bump of zesty acids comes through in the finale, along with a staining of salty minerals. It’s very pleasing.  - Vinous 90

Winemaker Description

12 months in French oak barrique and minimum 4 months aging in the bottle. Small red woodland fruits, dark flowers, and light herbaciousness enriched with a note of pepper. Dry and fresh, with enough softness to counterbalance the tannins. Can be enjoyed by itself or with food, red and white meats, charcuterie or aged cheeses. Best served around 64-65 ̊F. 

Winemaker Description

Sensationally intense, with notes of wild flowers, violet and red berry jam. Full bodied, rich, dry with a long finish and delicate hint of spice.

Expert Rating

92 Points James Suckling | Bright and fruit-forward with ripe raspberries and cherries as well as sweet spices, chocolate and candied orange peel. Medium- to full-bodied with deep, succulent fruit and firm, tightly packed tannins. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

Located near the base of fabled Mount Etna on the Northside of the volcano. Pietramarina (marine rock) is almost 2000 ft above sea level with the Alcantarra River gently flowing over the partially terraced terrain. Produced exclusively from estate-grown grapes since 1968. Arrigo has about 2 hectares of vineyards. Every practice is done completely by hand. They make a total of 5000 bottles per year.

100% Nerello Mascalese grapes.

The 2017 Arrigo Nerello Mascalese is made from all estate grown fruit from Contrada Pietramarina with minimal sulfites and no wood. Fresh, red fruit aromas of cherry and pomegranate, savory wild herbs and spices, mineral stone, igneous stone, and smoke. Fresh on the palate with medium acidity, making the tannins delicate but persistent and easy to drink.

Expert Rating

Wine Spectator 91 Points | A powerful red, with savory eucalyptus, tobacco and tomato leaf aromas and flavors offset by cherry and plum notes. Beefy tannins set the stage for a lingering, grainy finish. Best from 2024 through 2033. -- Bruce Sanderson (2018).

Winemaker Description

In the glass it shows intense garnet red reflections. On the nose aromas of small red fruits, strawberries and currants. Then pomegranate and the unmistakable violet scent of good Sangiovese. In the background a touch of vanilla, sweet spices and licorice. The palate is well balanced with hints of ripe cherries and plums, supported by precise and elegant tannins. The body is warm and enveloping with a long and persistent finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Giusto Occhipinti of COS is a benchmark producer in the Vittoria appellation of Sicily, and certainly one of the most important, influential, producers in all of Sicily if not Italy as a whole. The winery was founded in 1980 by three friends, Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano. The initials of their last names form the winery’s name.

For Giusto, “the vineyard is like our life’s savings in the bank, so we must protect it.” Protecting it means that they work organically and biodynamically to support the health of the soil. They have never used any synthetic or chemical additives in the vineyard since the outset in 1980. Officially, the winery was an early practitioner of Biodynamic viticulture starting in 2000 and was certified organic as of 2007. The climate of Vittoria is also generally warm and dry making it well-adapted to organic & biodynamic viticulture. Giusto and his vineyard team also prepare many of the Biodynamic treatments in-house, though a few are purchased elsewhere from small, reputable sources for these important products.

Throughout the entire range, there is a focus on elegance and purity, especially the joyous, floral Frappato – Sicily’s answer to Cru Beaujolais.

The bright red fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry are vibrant and aromatic with low tannins and fresh acidity.

Winemaker Description

Giusto Occhipinti of COS is a benchmark producer in the Vittoria appellation of Sicily, and certainly one of the most important, influential, producers in all of Sicily if not Italy as a whole. The winery was founded in 1980 by three friends, Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano. The initials of their last names form the winery’s name.

For Giusto, “the vineyard is like our life’s savings in the bank, so we must protect it.” Protecting it means that they work organically and biodynamically to support the health of the soil. They have never used any synthetic or chemical additives in the vineyard since the outset in 1980. Officially, the winery was an early practitioner of Biodynamic viticulture starting in 2000 and was certified organic as of 2007. The climate of Vittoria is also generally warm and dry making it well-adapted to organic & biodynamic viticulture. Giusto and his vineyard team also prepare many of the Biodynamic treatments in-house, though a few are purchased elsewhere from small, reputable sources for these important products.

Expert Rating

James Suckling 92 Points | Lovely aromas of crushed stone, cherry and sliced oranges with some flowers. Medium body. Juicy and crunchy with delicious fruit.

Bacaro Pinot Grigio has an intense straw color and also an ample, lasting fruity bouquet. The palate is dry, soft and well balanced, due to its full body. Winemaker Description.