Italian Wine

Winemaker Description

Cerasuolo translates as ‘pale cherry red’, and these wines get their distinctive deep hue from a short maceration of 24 hours or less. The high level of anthocyanins in the skin of the Montepulciano grape imbues the must with both colour and tannin in a short timeframe. 

Expert Review

Decanter Magazine writes | Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo: Italy’s serious rosé. While we consume swathes of lightly coloured rosé every year, it would be a shame to overlook Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, Italy's cherry-coloured alternative. 

Winemaker Description

Light yellow with silvery highlights. Apricot and tangerine with a floral, herbal touch.    
Generous,unoaked palate,driven by white fruit and warm citrus.

Finish Fruit driven yet clean. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Monica Larner writes:  The 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It opens to an impenetrable, full-bodied approach with dark fruit, pencil shaving, toasted oak, Spanish cedar, campfire ash and iron ore. For sure, this is an especially concentrated and oak-driven vintage of this iconic wine. It absolutely requires more aging time. It feels quite tight and firm in its youth. The concentration is abundant.  Drinking 2026 - 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Audrey Frick writes:  The 2020 Ornellaia is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 70% new French oak for 18 months, with another 12 months in bottle prior to release. Flush with herbs and menthol, blackberry, and cedar, it is full bodied and fills the sides of the mouth with rounded fruit of luxurious plum, black cherry, and toast, with supple and velvety tannins. Drink 2026-2046.  - Jeb Dunnuck 96

Jancis Robinson writes: Deep, lustrous crimson. Very sumptuous nose followed up by a hedonistic palate that finishes especially fresh. Ripe but not too-ripe fruit – a drier (much less sweet) vintage than usual which should age well. Unusually, there is some vestige of tannin on the finish. It's certainly possible to drink now if it's aerated before serving but ideally, I'd keep this awhile. Savoury persistence.  Drinking 2024 - 2028  - Jancis Robinson 18

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Inviting aromas of blackberry, black currant, anise, cedar, vanilla and tobacco draw you in to this red, which is sleek and open on the palate. This is so well-balanced, it's approachable now, yet there's a bit of reserve too. The fruit flavors are prominent on the finish, along with mineral and spice notes, while the lasting impression is a salty, flinty element. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2045.   - Wine Spectator 96

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Ornellaia is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Seamless and wonderfully deep on the palate, the 2020 is super-refined from the outset. Even with all of its depth, the 2020 retains terrific freshness and cut to play off its soft, succulent fruit. Overall, the 2020 looks to be a relatively accessible Ornellaia that will drink well with minimal cellaring. I especially admire the precision and understated finesse here.  Drinking 2027 - 2045  - Vinous 96

James Button writes:  Estate director Axel Heinz called 2020 ‘a classic Ornellaia,’ and picked the theme of ‘La Proporzione‘ (proportion) to describe its character. Indeed, the blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot marks a return to a more typical blend following the pendulum swings of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, and 51% Merlot in 2018. Fine-grained and beautifully textured, its finely integrated tannins support a concentration of black fruits lightened by red berries. Aromas of black cherry, liquorice, dark chocolate, cedar and damp earth make for a fragrant wine, accompanied by menthol and balsamic streaks which run through the wine and impart plenty of freshness. It finishes with a stony and salty element along with some chocolatey and woody hints. Tight and moreish, its ripeness of fruit combined with freshness and structure adeptly tells the story of this earlier-ripening vintage. It lacks complexity in the mouth – this will come with time – but the array of aromas gives a hint of what is to come.  Drinking 2023 -2050  - Decanter 96

Georgina Hindle writes:  Black bramble fruit on the nose, heady, expressive, forward and open. Aromatic and inviting - on the riper, jammy side. Lithe and supple, this has an energy and weight giving plush tannins but with an austere, mineral grip. A curious combination but one that serves to give a round, interesting mouthful with both balsamic black and sweet blue fruits with touches of wet stone, cola and liquorice. Dark and brooding, a little sombre right now, clearly powerful with concentration and you can tell it's been well worked - feels controlled but still quite tense and constricted. The overall texture is sublime and I do love the dark sticky liquorice and bitter orange zest but this isn't quite giving the wow factor. Nice layering, linear and pure, tannins a touch dry on the finish. Refined and austere. Has a touch of ripe jamminess that detracts a little from the charming elegance you know this wine can have. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend.  Drinking 2026 -2046

James Suckling writes:  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.  - James Suckling 98

Expert Review

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva shows velvety richness and good textural support. This comes thanks to the warmer microclimate and thicker soils, sometimes with a lot of clay, that distinguish the Castelnuovo Berardenga region of Chianti Classico. The finish is dry and long, but there is plenty of sweet earth, dark fruit, plum and balanced cherry in the mix.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (90% Sangiovese and the rest Merlot) takes on more spiced layers of smoke, cedar, menthol, and blackberry. It is full-bodied, with snappy acidity and fine tannins, and is noted with redcurrant, orange zest, tea leaf, and clove. Hold another year or two and drink 2025-2035.

Winemaker Notes:

Campo di Camagi is one of the three labels of 100% Cabernet Franc produced by Andrea Franchetti from 2014, who wanted to devote the utmost attention to this historic grape of Bordeaux, enhancing its characteristics in relation to three different terroir of the estate. It is produced exclusively with grapes from a single plot of 1.5 hectares composed of a thin layer of quartz and limestone. The 27 year old vines struggle to grow in this space, the stems do not grow, the roots have filled it.

Expert Reviews 

Monica Larner writes:   Made with Cabernet Franc, the Tenuta di Trinoro 2020 Campo di Camagi shows a level of sharpness and precision that you don't get as clearly in the other wines in this series of single-vineyard releases. There is more oak spice with redwood and cedar, along with crushed granite and pencil shaving. The wine is linear and delivers big intensity to the palate, and it has the structure and acidity to accompany a long drinking window.  Drinking 2024 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

James Suckling writes:  So perfumed with violets and lavender with some currants. Medium- to full-bodied with polish and finesse. Racy and fine. Finesse with drive. Very elegant and straightforward with a racy texture. Very long and lightly edgy. 92% cabernet franc and 8% merlot. Drink after 2027 but already beautiful.  - James Suckling 96

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A spicy red, featuring a beam of black currant and blackberry fruit shaded by violet, black pepper, iron and mint. Lithe and ends with a line of resonant tannins on the tobacco-tinged finish. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 166 cases made, 65 cases imported.  Wine Spectator 94

Jancis Robinson writes:  Racy, lively and a little fragile and delicate. Tense.  Drinking 2024 - 2034  - Jancis Robinson 17.5

Winemaker Description

Hugonis with its powerful and austere style is the most prized product of Tenuta Rapitalà, the legacy wine. The seal of Hugonis Bernardi – a knight in armor with two leopards – which appears on the label, is the coat-of-arms of the family of Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and his son, Laurent.

100% estate-grown fruit is sourced from Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon plots situated between 1,000 and 1,300 feet above sea level on rich, clay soils. Guyot-trained vines have limited yields of 28 quintals per acre.

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine Advocate | The top shelf wine released by Tenuta Rapital is the 2013 Hugonis. The wine represents a bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola from the southwest corner of Sicily. This wine is teaming with rich fruit flavors and backing spice. Cola, balsam herb and licorice add to the overall complexity. Hugonis closes with a sweet cherry note and offers thick textural richness. (2013).

90 Points Wine Spectator | Rich notes of black currant, bay leaf and anise are set in an elegant, medium- to full-bodied frame that is well-knit, with supple tannins. Creamy, showing hints of smoke and spicy mineral on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola. Drink now through 2023. (2013). 

Our Notes

For centuries, Sicily has been a crossroad of cultures, languages, and religions. With a multitude of cultural exchange, many things came from distant places, grape varieties included. The Syrah grape had its origins in Persia and Mesopotamia and migrated across Europe finding its way to Sicily. The hot sunny climate is a perfect home for this intrepid grape variety and is conducive to natural organic farming.

The 2021 Tenuta Rapitala Nadir Syrah is rich and well endowed with layers of black fruits and earthy spice. Full bodied and robustly structured with savory complexity and a chewy texture. Abundant and robust in the mouth, with supple tannins providing good grip on the finish, this is a perfect wine for foods of substance, such as pizza, pasta, grilled or roasted meats and hearty vegetable dishes.

-Bart Hopkins

Winery Notes

Intense ruby-red color with damask-violet tints. Generous bouquet with touches of ripe fruit and the typical spices of this grape variety, with attractive hints of vanilla. The flavor is full and delicate, with soft and elegant tannins. A balanced marriage between the depth of this product and the uniqueness of this exceptional terroir.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Danielle Callegar of the Wine Enthusiast writes 90 Points | An earthy, savory nose is defined by aromas of damp soil, fresh coffee, dark chocolate, blackberries and pepper. On the palate, flavors of black cherry and mocha bring out the sweetness of the blackberries for a lush feel, but taut, textured tannins provide contrast. 

Winemaker Description

Nero d’Avola gives this wine a red passion color, hints of ripe fruit and an intense and harmonious taste. Immediate and direct but not trivial, it differs in the altitude at which its grapes are grown, which allows for a fresher wine, with delicate tannins and easy to drink style.

Winemaker Description

A fruity and flowery nose with notes of red berries, rose and sea breeze. Bright, crisp and refreshing on the palate with notes of raspberry and minerals and a crisp, clean finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Jane Eanson 100 Points |  Another great vintage in Tuscany, following a run of exceptional years, and as you might exect from this estate, we are here right at the top of what the vintage has produced. Expect to find softly grilled and smoked.

The Wine Advocate 100 Points |  Here it is: A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido... 

James Button of Decanter writes 99-100 Points | In 2021, ‘we had a nicely paced harvest... surely a very fortunate vintage for us, for Bolgheri,’ said Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta at the launch in London of the 2021 vintage of Sassicaia. Welcome rain in mid-August came at just the right time to save the harvest, and production ended up being slightly higher than in 2020. Around eight to 10 separate vinifications were made, fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and spontaneous malo. The wines were racked to second- and third-use barriques in December 2021, then racked into a mixture of new and used barriques in March 2022. The last step was to make the final blend in stainless tanks, where the wine underwent micro-oxygenation before bottling and further maturation in bottle. Rich dark fruit and herb aromatics are pockmarked by blueberry and petrichor, leading into an intense and vertical palate that's super-fresh with a delightful breezy, saline character. Textured, integrated tannins emphasise the refinement of Sassicaia, showing just a touch of youthful dustiness. Tangy, bright black, blue and red berry fruits overlay underlying hints of dark chocolate and forest undergrowth in a remarkably precise fashion, with pomegranate and a stony minerality surfacing on the mid-palate. 2021 demonstrates lovely sapidity of fruit along with that characteristic freshness and lightness of step, finishing long and poised. Superb.

Kerin O`Keefe writes 99 Points | The gorgeous 2021 Sassicaia stuns with its class, extreme elegance, energy and depth. It’s remarkably fragrant, featuring enticing aromas of cassis, cedar blue flower, exotic spice and a whiff of sea breeze. The delicious palate is focused and loaded with finesse, delivering ripe raspberry, black currant, blood orange, star anise a hint of coffee bean accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity gives it racy tension and provides impeccable balance and serious aging potential. Drink 2029–2041.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is lush, yet dense and lively, offering black cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit, shaded by mineral, cedar and spice elements. Firms up by the finish, echoing fruit, mineral and spice accents, with fine length. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. (2020). 

Wine Advocate 94 Points | From a warm vintage, the Tenuta Sette Ponti 2020 Oreno (a blend of certified organic Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot) is very rich and fleshed out, and definitely softer compared to the 2019 vintage before it. This wine shows lots of savory fruit and velvety concentration with blackberry preserves and baked cherry. Oreno awards you with a very generous expression from Tuscany that can be enjoyed in the near- or medium-term. (2020). 

James Suckling 97 Points |  A red with a layered, velvety texture, showing blackberry and black-olive character, together with some iodine and graphite. Full-bodied and rich with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. Savory. 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to soften. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 is an intense ruby red color. The nose delivers notes of red fruit, in particular black cherries, light hints of flowers and sweet impressions of powdered sugar. The bouquet is completed by hints of cinnamon and dill that impart pleasantly spicy nuances. The vertical palate is taut, pleasantly mouthfilling with supple tannins and closes with a lengthy, sapid, and full finish. 

Expert Reviews 

Wine Spectator 95 points - This ripe style is fresh and harmonious, delivering plum, cherry and boysenberry fruit, with accents of earth, iron and eucalyptus. Supple in texture, with a beautifully integrated structure and long, complex aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2043.

The Wine Advocate 94+ points - This is one of the big surprises of this tasting and ultimately represents one of the best buys in the entire extended Marchesi Antinori portfolio. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori shares the DNA of Tignanello. It is Sangiovese kissed with small parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Of course, the wine is more accessible and open compared to Tignanello, and spiritually, this wine is a Chianti Classico. By that I mean that the elegant minerality of these soils and the sunny flavors of its environs are the determining characteristics. You get wildflower, iris, tart fruit and plum. The wine's enhanced mineral character, with dusty white rock, is what adds lasting complexity and depth.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 90 Points | The 2023 Pinot Grigio is a total pleasure on the nose, blending crushed almonds with white flowers, wet stone and freshly sliced nectarines. It’s soft and round with a stimulating core of acidity to balance. A sour lime tinge nicely offsets ripe orchard fruits. The 2023 leaves a mineral note lingering, finishing crisp, refreshing and with medium length.

Winemaker Description 

Terlato Family Vineyards Friuli Pinot Grigio is a light gold color. Bright notes of white peach, pear and spring flowers. Complex and layered with ripe peach, pear, citrus and a mouth filling texture with crisp mineral finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 93 Points | Wickedly fresh, the 2023 Pecorino opens with a pretty blending of stone dust and white smoke, giving way to young peach and sage. This splashes across the palate with soft textural waves while maintaining fantastic energy. A spicy mix of sour lime and green apples saturate the senses. The 2023 cleans up beautifully, tart and mouthwatering, with a saline feel and a sensation of liquid stone. This zesty and wiry Pecorino from Tiberio is a total pleasure to taste. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Wine Spectator 91 Points: A fresh and elegant red, with a lovely range of spice, graphite and violet aromas wafting through notes of pure black cherry and mineral. Long and creamy, with fine-grained tannins firming the herb-laced finish. Drink now through 2029.

Wine Advocate 92 Points: Made with organically farmed fruit, the Tormaresca 2015 Castel del Monte Aglianico Bocca di Lupo is one of the top-end wines from this estate and indeed the whole region of Puglia. This pure expression of the mighty Aglianico grape opens to a deep array of dark fruit flavors followed by sweet spice, tobacco and savory smoked bacon. This is a linear, but full-bodied expression with the tannins to cut through a juicy rib-eye steak. It ages in oak for 18 months.

James Suckling 94 Points: This shows real freshness for the aglianico grape, contributed in part by the fresh sage and thyme undertones and also the backdrop of fresh blueberries and citrus. Hints of charcuterie. Full-bodied and ripe, but very structured and fine with elegant, caressing tannins. From organically grown grapes.

Winemaker Description

On the palate it has a powerful attack, with a lively acidity, firm and well present tannins, wild bush and red berry notes, with an extremely long finish and great concentration.

Aroma of excellent complexity, with wild bush and spicy notes like curry, pepper and ginger, red berries and black fruits mixed with a light cacao touch, the result of a good maturation, along with a slightly stony finish. 

On the palate it has a powerful attack, with a lively acidity, firm and well present tannins, wild bush and red berry notes, with an extremely long finish and great concentration.
Aroma of excellent complexity, with wild bush and spicy notes like curry, pepper and ginger, red berries and black fruits mixed with a light cacao touch, the result of a good maturation, along with a slightly stony finish. 

Winemaker Description

The 2023 Calafuria is a delicate pale pink color. Captivating on the nose with fruity and citrusy notes of pink grapefruits and white peaches accompanied by pleasant hints of marine breezes and delicate aromas of jasmine and irises.

The palate is pleasantly fresh defined by outstanding aromatic persistence and delicate savory notes. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Barolo Berri comes from a vineyard at the extreme west border of the Barolo area, with an altitude between 370 and 430 mts asl (1200 -1400 ft). Our Barolo Berri doesn’t want to stand out for complexity or longevity, but for drinkability and immediacy, due to its inner fruit profile, sweet ripeness and freshness. Like any Barolo, it is certainly suitable for long ageing but, in our opinion, this wine can be consumed right after the release with extreme pleasure. 

Expert Reviews 

96 Points Vinous | Nicola and Stefania Oberto may very well put Berri on the map with their 2020 Barolo Berri. What a wine. Deep, soaring and wonderfully expressive, the 2020 is stunning in its beauty. Dark red/purplish fruit, orange peel, cinnamon, rose petal and lavender are all amplified in a vertical, soaring Barolo of magnificent intensity. Silky, polished tannins round things out in style. The 2020 is pure and sensual to the core - a total pleasure bomb. (2020).

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | There is already a wonderful balance in the 2020 Barolo Berri, with both vertical drive and rounded fruits, including red berries and spiced red plums. It has ripe tannins and a generous feel, with a spine of fresh acidity raising it to another level. Drink 2026-2040.

92 Points James Suckling | Fresh and brambly nose with red berries, white pepper, stones and hibiscus. Medium body on the palate with tight, chalky tannins and an elegant, firm finish. Drink or hold. (2020).

Winemaker Description

Redigaffi has an intense color that arouses enthusiasm and satisfy the sight, it highlights great complexity characterized by the fruity attack in the mouth leaving then “room” to tobacco and licorice notes. Good concentration given by the pre-harvesting activity, three passages and perfect maturation reached by our grapes. Outstanding complexity. Floral notes typical of our “Macchia Mediterranea” are intense and persistent. The elegance of tannins is enhanced by the great structure and balance. Considerable extraction and good acidity.

Expert Reviews

Susan Hulme MW of Decanter writes 100 Points | (March 4, 2019)  2016 was an exceptional vintage in Tuscany and, according to Stefano, the best in 20 years. The cool night temperatures allowed for beautifully precise aromatics and perfectly ripe, harmonious tannins. This wine expresses the vintage beautifully and is the best Redigaffi I have tasted - simply stunning! Complex and tightly wound, it carries its 15% alcohol really well. There are hints of roasted coffee beans and green herbs on the nose, while the palate is super-concentrated yet beautifully balanced, with very fine-textured tannins. Blackcurrant, smoky plum and liquorice flavours are joined by a lovely freshness. A beauty. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 97 Points | The 2016 Redigaffi is another absolutely compelling wine in this range. Explosive and opulent, the 2016 manages to be both spectacularly rich and yet also retain tremendous freshness. Blueberry jam, lavender, crushed rocks and sweet oak all build as this sumptuous yet structured Merlot shows off its considerable personality. In 2016, Redigaffi is energetic, persistent and also very classy. Drink it over the next decade or so. 

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 97 Points | This vintage hits it out of the ballpark. The Tua Rita 2016 Redigaffi is everything you should expect in terms of complexity, depth and the quality of its bouquet. The wine is especially balanced and focused with pinpoint aromas of dark cherry, plum, spice, tar and dried garden herb. The mouthfeel is generous and rich, but it also offers very silky and long tannins that give the wine its long, persistent mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage is an icon, and the wine has many long years of aging ahead.  Drinking 2023 - 2040 

James Suckling writes 99 Points | Aromas of lavender, ripe cherries, iodine, licorice and walnuts. Some mahogany and amber, too Full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Intense and focused, with a very deep core of perfumed fruit. Still needs time. 100% merlot. Better after 2023.

Winemaker Description

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 93 Points | “Lovely crushed berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a crunchy and delicious finish. A blend of mostly merlot and cabernet sauvignon with some syrah and cabernet franc.

Winemaker Desription

Ugo Contini Bonacossi is a natural wine producer located in a small village in the heart of Tuscany, Roccalbegna. The labels I’ve designed are all about dreamy and fantastic illustrations that take inspiration from the icon of Bonacossi: the hedgehog. From the characterization of the hedgehog as the main character, I’ve illustrated dreamy tales around him and Roccalbegna’s environment.

In Ughetto, a red wine, Ugo – the owner of the business and winemaker – and his hedgehog alter ego are staring at the moon/sun in a dichotomy between day and night. 

Winemaker Description

The wine presents a deep ruby red color with evident shades of violet. The nose is remarkable for a delicate and characteristic, in- tense and aromatic vinous aroma, suggestive of roses, violets and brushwood.

Flavor dry and warm, with clear and pungent but not rasping tannins. Soft and fairly rounded, and also with good body and persistence.
 
This wine is traditionally matched with typical local charcuterie such as Lardellato di Fabriano or Ciavuscolo salami, first courses based on Salsa Rossa and meat sauce, and second courses based on white meats. It can also be accompanied by antipasti of blue fish, marinaded or soused in the same wine, and some types of fish soup. It is also excellent with medium-hard cheeses.

Goblet of medium size and roughly spherical shape, to allow the wine to oxygenate properly and for the aromas to open up completely. 

Winemaker Description 

Straw yellow color with golden hints, to the nose it shows intense and persistent perfumes of wild flowers and aromas of yellow pulp fruit such as peach, apricot and golden apple. To the palate it’s rich and velvety with a good dose of freshness and sapidity to balance the great softness. Dry finish, persistent and intensely fruity.

Ideal with fish dishes, oven-cooked or grilled, roast white meat and fresh cheeses. 

Winemaker Desrcription

This is a very concentrated Brunello that combines intense notes of blood orange with a hint of chinotto mixed with complex Mediterranean spices (Helichrysum Thyme and Broom Flowers). It is a wine with a strong nerve, a vibrant acid structure that sustains a concentrated mouthfeel, rich in silky tannins. The finish is extremely long and soft.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Audrey Frick of JebDunnuck.com writes 95 Points | A deep ruby/red hue, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino displays a brooding and serious profile initially, with aromas of dried cherries, cigar box, smoky incense, mint, and wild herbs. It comes to life with a refined and elegant feel on the palate, offering fine tannins, fresh, even acidity, and a lovely mineral-tinged backbone with wonderful freshness and purity. This is a gorgeous entry to the Brunello offerings of Val di Suga in this stellar vintage. Drink 2024-2040.

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 93 Points | Immediate and accessible in personality, the Val di Suga 2019 Brunello di Montalcino (with 90,000 bottles released) is very clean and polished in presentation and especially from a tactile point of view. Neat fruit aromas of dark cherry, mulberry and cassis fold into spice and earthiness. The wine's bright freshness also stands out and adds intensity and vibrancy to this mid-weight Brunello.

Michaela Morris of Decanter writes 92 Points |  A compilation of three distinctly diverse terroirs within Montalcino, Val di Suga’s estate Brunello is made up of equal shares from Vigna del Lago in the northeast, Poggio al Granchio in the southeast and Vigna Spuntali in the southwest. The bright ruby colour and youthful freshness are well preserved. Focused aromas of red cherry with flecks of pepper give way to deeper violet and sweet earth. Appealing and pure, the mid-weight palate offers a layer of luscious red berries and plump persimmon underscored by juicy acidity. Sandy textured tannins are supple and yielding. Hard to resist now.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Vanilla and resin accents frame the core flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and plum in this firmly structured red. Flashes of violet and spices emerge as this fades gracefully on the long aftertaste.

James Suckling 91 Points | Pretty intense nose with crushed cherries, flowers and stones. Juicy and medium-bodied on the palate, with fresh tannins and a succulent finish drenched with sour cherries.

Winemaker Description 

Expressive floral tones of wild rose, fresh berries, and crushed mineral. The power and intensity of the bouquet is especially attractive and bold. The wine’s dark concentration within layers of blueberry and earth is perfectly balanced by those ethereal aromas.

Serve with pasta primavera, pizza margherita, and grilled or roasted white meats.

Expert Review

James Suckling 95 Points | This has a rather reserved nose with dried-herb, rosehip, potpourri and light cedary aromas, ahead of fragrant dried cherries. The palate has quite dense and smoothly rendered, ripe tannins that deliver a long, composed and approachable Barolo. Drink or hold. 

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby red. Dry, with generous body, harmoniously balanced and velvety texture. Classic, ripe red-fruit, long finish, rich and very elegant. Spices, violet, plums and intense tar, very typical for the Brunate vineyard.

Expert Reviews 

98 Points James Suckling | The density of ripe fruit is fantastic in this young Brunate with black berry, blueberry, stone and earth character. Very pure. It’s full-bodied yet reserved and focused with a long and intense finish. Very fine tannins. Complex. From organically grown grapes. Vegan.

97 Points Robert Parker | The Vietti 2019 Barolo Brunate shows an earthy, almost autumnal quality that you don't get in the other wines presented by this leading estate. The bouquet opens to dark fruit, peat moss and rusty nail. The wine is long and fine-textured with silky sensations that add softness to the mouthfeel. Hints of baking chocolate or espresso bean appear on the close.

96 Points Wine Spectator | Steeped cherry and raspberry paste are propped up by a ballast of graphite in this tasty red. Tannins are fine. There is a yin/yang here between ripe wild cherry, kirsch and raspberry fruit and notes of eucalyptus, juniper and hay. They fall under the grip of dense, assertive tannins on the finish today, yet there is plenty going on in this seductive red. Excellent refinement and length.textured but build in intensity, making for a well-framed close, flecked with black tea and sandalwood notes. A perfumy, energetic style with nice form.

95 Points Jeb Dunnuck | More structured, the 2019 Barolo Brunate has more depth and richness, possibly because the Brunate has a more southwest exposition. It is ripe with strawberry, spice, and pressed flowers and is more monumental in its gripping ripe tannins, with black tea, black raspberry, and turned soil. This can stand up to more substantial fare at the dinner table. Hold it another couple of years and drink.

95 Points Wine & Spirits | Luca Currado’s Brunate shines in this lighter vintage, its fresh cherry flavors tangy and taut yet offering plenty of juicy appeal. Hints of rose petal and fresh herbs lend a softness that’s balanced by lively acidity and a high note of orange peel. The wine continues to brighten over several days.