Italian Wine

Renato Cigliuti may produce some of the best damn Barbaresco you’ve never heard of, but he is, first and foremost, a farmer. In fact, he comes from four generations of farmers who have tilled the Langhe soils to support their families. So, it came as a great shock to Renato’s family and their neighbors in the early 1960s when Renato decided to begin green harvesting, a practice utilized by very few producers at the time. His neighbors wanted to have him committed for “throwing away money,” but Renato had a clear idea of what he wanted to accomplish, having always believed that the local Langhe soil was capable of producing high quality, long-lasting wines.  Renato warded off his neighbors by explaining to them that if he couldn’t have both quality AND quantity, he preferred to opt for quality.  And quality is exactly what he got when he made his first release of 300 bottles of 1964 Barbaresco.

Over the years Renato did not expand his winery a great deal, mostly because he didn’t think his daughters would be interested in working the land. But life, as it often does, surprised him. Today the winery is run by Claudia and Silvia Cigliuti, with Renato and his wife Dina supervising. Both of his daughters began working on the farm in their spare time as students and fell in love with the countryside – just like their father. And that was that! Now, they are the next generation to bring the wines to the market, and Renato just turned 80 years old!

For the Cigliuti family, 90% of the winemaking process happens in the vineyard. Only in this way can the final product capture the characteristics of a vintage and the identity of a terroir. Work in the cellar is kept to a bare minimum; no selected yeasts are used, and grapes ferment in stainless steel at a controlled temperature. All of the wines age in oak. Total hectares farmed by the family are 7.5; 6 in Serraboella and 1.5 in Bricco di Neive, from which about 30,000 bottles are produced annually.

The 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo has bright fruit with excellent tension. Floral and precise, it will develop in the glass; cherry and spice develop on the mid-palate with superb expression of flavor and subtle length. It is drinking lovely now, but will likely keep well and develop for many years. 

Expert Review

Decanter 91 Points | The oldest producer in Emilia, Cleto Chiarli is better known for producing high-quality Lambrusco Secco, but this Grasparossa Amabile is just as captivating. Round and creamy but not cloying, touches of pepper and cinnamon complicate cherry jam flavours. Excellent acidity keeps the residual sugar in balance, underpinning a savoury and slightly grippy finish.

Winemaker Description 

A semi-sweet wine of an intense red color. The wine has very fruity aromas and all the grape fragrances can be felt. Lively and fading bubbles are of a marked rose color. Its smoothness makes it surprisingly pleasant, though avoiding excesses. A captivating wine.

Paired well with traditional cuisine from Emilia, it is also a wonderful accompaniment to desserts.

Winemaker Description 

Cocchi Vermouth di Torino Extra Dry, released on the year of Cocchi’s 130th anniversary, is a classic-style dry vermouth from the birthplace of vermouth, Piemonte. Though the old classic dry vermouths that became so popular for their use in the Dry Martini were traditionally produced in the Southeast of France, in recent years the major players of the Torino vermouth category have produced a spin on the category all their own. Cocchi was long a hold out, but no longer. 

“Ricetta Piemontese”(Piedmontese recipe), stated on the label, is a very precise indication of the content: all the relevant ingredients for this vermouth come from Piemonte and have a strong bond with the region.

The wine used for this vermouth is Cortese, the same grape used for Gavi DOCG. The Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), is 100% from Piemonte mountains. The aromatic profile is also characterized by Menta di Pancalieri, a local variety of peppermint, and lemon, traditionally used to garnish vermouths of all styles in Piedmont. 

Producer Description 

The last remaining example of appellation Vermouth di Torino to comply with all of the classical requirements, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino has been produced since 1891. Cocchi uses estate Moscato as the wine base, and vibrant, spicy botanicals such as cocoa, citrus, ginger, and rhubarb.

In contrast with other popular Italian vermouths, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino retains wines of Piedmont as the base and avoids a heavy sheen of vanilla or caramel that clashes with other cocktail ingredients. Delicious when poured on ice and a small lemon zest, but also an essential base for the creation of the most classic cocktails from Negroni to Manhattan. Cocchi has produced wine-based aperitifs and traditional Piemontese sparkling wines since 1891.

Giulio Cocchi was a young and creative pastry chef from Florence, where he worked in a popular bar located in Piazza del Duomo. In the late nineteenth century he moved to Asti, a small but lively town in northwest Italy, not far from Torino, and established himself as a distiller and winemaker.

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Notes of acacia flowers, apple, lemon peel and grapefruit are balanced by refreshing and bright acidity.Produced using the Charmat, or tank method, the wine is a bright, straw yellow and presents a delicate and persistent bead.Produced using the Charmat, or tank method, the wine is a bright, straw yellow and presents a delicate and persistent bead.

Our Notes

"One of my favorite great value reds! Velvety textured with delicious flavors of blackberry, plum and strawberry with savory spice and aromatic herbs. Medium to full bodied with supple tannins that provide lift and structure.  Great for pizza, pasta and any midweek excursion."
Bart Hopkins

Winery Notes

Intense, dark ruby red. On the nose, notes of black fruit, strawberries, flowers and herbs. Dry and full-bodied on the palate.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2015

Eric Guido writes: Brown spice, crushed fall leaves cherry sauce and a lifting hint of fresh mint form a darkly alluring bouquet as the 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Memoira opens in the glass. This washes across the palate with a velvety wave of ripe red and black fruits, underscored by saline minerals and a burst of spiced citrus. Long and potent, the 2015 leaves a web of fine tannins that are surprisingly sweet and round, nicely framing the notes of sour wild berries and dark chocolate that linger. - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes: The candied strawberries and caramelized orange peel draw you in on the nose; then you notice hints of ash and red licorice. The full-bodied palate has quite a serious tannin backbone, and vibrant red fruit lies beneath waiting to be drawn out tightly by a fine acid edge. The finish is quite fruit-forward. Drink now. - James Suckling 92

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 100 Points | Dense and powerful right out of the gate. Broad, ample, and explosive, the 2021 has it all. Time in the glass brings out the wine's aromatic presence. Readers will find a Barolo of tremendous structure and pedigree. Blue-toned fruit, leather, licorice, incense and dried flowers are all amplified to the maximum. Magnificent.

Monica Larner of The Wine Advocate writes 99 Points | Another stunning wine from Comm. G.B. Burlotto, the 2021 Barolo Cannubi is gorgeous with silky and long-lasting sensations. I love the shape of this wine, its contoured profile, linearity and neatly tucked-in elegance. There are no loose ends, with stacked aromas of cherry, blue flower and dusty chalk that extend to the fine-knit texture of the mouthfeel. Vintner Fabio Alessandria leaves us all wondering how he achieves this magic.

Winemaker Description 

Rigor and warmth, power and class are the four themes of a great Cannubi. For centuries a legendary vineyard, and always consistent: the “white fire” of its sands distills an elegance that knows no fashion. A winemaker does not “take measurements” at Cannubi; he is measured by it. If there is harmony, a masterpiece can be born here every year.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Audrey Frick of JebDunnuck.com writes 99 Points | The 2021 Barolo Acclivi marks the return of this cuvée after the 2020 crop was destroyed by hail. The nose is layered and complex with notes of clove spice, ripe red raspberry liqueur, blood orange, framboise, peppery spices, and pressed floral notes. The palate has lovely, refined concentration, ripe tannins, haunting notes of strawberries that last long on the finish, and notes of leather. While it has the fruit and freshness to drink now, it certainly has the structure to age. It’s one of the more contemplative wines in the range to enjoy over the coming decades.

Keron O'Keeffe  99 Points | Fragrant and loaded with finesse, the 2021 Acclivi is simply magnificent, starting with its beautiful scents of rose, forest berry, menthol, star anise and whiffs recalling sweetgrass. A blend of selected Nebbiolo from the estate’s best and oldest vineyards in Verduno, in the Monvigliero, Neirane, Rocche dell’Olmo and Boscatto sites, the chiseled, elegantly structured and delicious palate reflects the nose, delivering red cherry, raspberry, licorice and crushed mint accompanied by taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced and fuels even more intensity while a cinnamon note lingers on the finish. This is a captivating, extraordinary wine and the best Acclivi I have had to date.

Monica Larner of The Wine Advocate writes 97 Points | This wine was not produced in 2020. The Comm. G.B. Burlotto 2021 Barolo Acclivi is a blend of old-vine fruit from Monvigliero, Neirane and Rocche dell’Olmo, three MGA sites in the village of Verduno. I tasted this sample at two stages with 24 hours between them, and the change was impressive. The wine goes from feeling tight and almost squeaky to relaxed, fragrant and ethereal with aeration. The bouquet reveals layers of lilac, raspberry tart with custard and finely shaved pencil. Drink 2027-2055.

James Suckling writes 96 Points | A graceful Barolo that shows aromas of smoke, licorice, violets, delicate red currants and strawberries. It’s restrained and elegant on the palate, with a slight sweetness, a medium to full body, refreshing acidity and ripe, chewy tannins. Tight and savory. There is a huge structure that’s well covered by the fruit. Drinkable now, but best from 2026 or 2027.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media writes 94 Points | The 2021 Barolo Acclivi is a suave, sensual wine. All of this fruit is from vineyards in Verduno. That is very much evident in the wine's aromatic profile and overall weight. Blood orange, rose petal, mint, chalk and spice give the 2021 very pretty top notes. I admire the overall depth and brilliance here. This is a very serious Barolo. Drink 2026-2041.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Spicy ripe berries, chocolate and hints of walnuts and dry soil. Medium-bodied with vivid, fleshy fruit, framed with firm, dusty tannins. Focused and tense

Winemaker Description

This wine's ripe, dark-skinned fruit, culinary spice and new leather scents lead the way, along with a menthol note. The firmly structured, chewy palate offers dried Morello cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and espresso flavors alongside fine-grained tannins. Pair with pasta and beans, risotto with porcini mushrooms, chicken chasseur. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points | A well-built, structured and vivid nero d’avola, showing notes of dark berries, stones and wafers on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Attractive and focused, with more purple-fruit character in the finish. Drink or hold. Glass stopper.

Winemaker Description

Cusumano Nero d'Avola is a deep ruby red, with violet reflections. Fresh aromas of red and black berries. Fruit-forward with firm tannins and plummy spice flavors on the palate. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Danielle Callegari of the WIne Enthusiast writes 88 Points | Hot chili peppers burst off the nose of this Nero d'Avola, lifted by wood smoke, macerated blackberries and bitter chocolate. Spiciness carries over to the palate, with notes of black pepper and tomato-pepper jam, but also more berries and some tobacco leaf. Tannins are firm but polished.  

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James Suckling 95 Points | A fine-tuned, elegant Barolo with aromas of dried cherries, dried roses, licorice and mint. Full-bodied, it shows smoothness, density, weight and soft tannins despite the structure, with refreshing acidity and a long, vibrant finish full of savory flavors. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

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Harvest hand made. Fermented in stainless steel with hyper-oxygenation of the musts. Maturation on fine lees. Malo-lactic done. Bottled under vacuum. Straw yellow, elegant and refined on the nose with complex fruit aromas. Mature wines have a bouquet of toasted almonds and straw.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Vinous 93 Points | The first of the two white wines, the 2024 Versante Nord is a blend of varieties sourced from six different vineyards at varying altitudes from the north side of the valley, which receives more sunlight during the day. This wine offers a wealth of power, with notes of salted pineapples, fresh sage, smoky earth, and saline. It’s bright with acidity, salinity, and a light wild side, though very well-managed. It had been bottled just three weeks earlier, so this tasting was a preview prior to its release. Drink over the coming 8-10 years.

Winemaker Description 

This wine offers a strikingly pure expression of Mt. Etna’s eastern slopes. Grown on volcanic soils at high elevation, this white blend is taut, mineral, and refreshingly saline, with notes of citrus zest, herbs, and crushed rock. A brilliant new bottling from one of Etna’s most exciting voices—available now on pre-sale in limited quantities.

Eric Guido also last year assigned 91 Points to this plot- and said as follows of the 2023 vintage - Crushed rocks, dried flowers, raw almonds and freshly sliced nectarines form a savory bouquet as the 2023 Carricante Versante Est opens in the glass. Nearly salty in character, it washes across the palate with ease, showing tart orchard fruits and hints of lemony custard. The 2023 finishes with medium length, leaving a pleasant chamomile air to linger.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Vinous 94 Points | The first of the two white wines, the 2024 Versante Nord is a blend of varieties sourced from six different vineyards at varying altitudes from the north side of the valley, which receives more sunlight during the day. This wine offers a wealth of power, with notes of salted pineapples, fresh sage, smoky earth, and saline. It’s bright with acidity, salinity, and a light wild side, though very well-managed. It had been bottled just three weeks earlier, so this tasting was a preview prior to its release. Drink over the coming 8-10 years.

Winemaker Description

Vibrant and mineral-driven white from the cooler northern slopes of Mt. Etna. Made from native Sicilian varieties grown on volcanic soils, it’s a wine of precision, tension, and layered complexity. Saline, citrusy, and full of energy, this is a must-try for lovers of terroir-expressive whites. A rising star from one of Etna’s most exciting young winemakers.

To get an idea of what this wine is, Eric Guido of Vinous Media said of last year’s vintage - 91 Points - A pretty blend of crushed yellow apples, lemon zest and ginger wafts up from the 2023 Uve Bianche Versant Nord. It splashes across the palate with tart orchard fruits and crunchy mineral tones enlivened by a core of sour citrus. Spice nuances embellish the close. This ends with a flowery concentration and sour lime, crisply refreshing yet potent and long. Fantastic.

High-altitude, volcanic red that captures the wild beauty of Mt. Etna’s northern slopes. Made primarily from Nerello Mascalese and other native Sicilian varieties, this wine is lifted and aromatic, with notes of red berries, herbs, crushed stone, and spice. Elegant yet energetic, "Quota N" reflects Eduardo’s low-intervention style and deep respect for Etna’s terroir. A pure and soulful expression of Sicilian winemaking.

Eduardo acquired this flat, half-hectare parcel of ungrafted, 80 to 100 year-old, co-planted bush vines. The vines are a a field blend of of red and white grapes. 

It is surrounded by stone walls at the high elevation of 1070 meters in the contrada. The parcel is named Germana for its historical family owner.Eduardo was not allowed to use this name and was also not permiited to use the Nave contrada name, because the site is too high to fall within DOC Etna Rosso rules.

A vivid, high-altitude red from the cooler northern slopes of Mt. Etna. Made primarily from Nerello Mascalese, it showcases bright red fruit, volcanic minerality, and savory herbal notes. Elegant and energetic, it reflects Eduardo’s minimalist, organic approach and deep connection to Etna’s rugged terroir.

Eric Guido commented of the 2022 vintage - 92 Points - The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Versante Nord entices with a dusty blend of rose petals, wild strawberries and sweet spice. This is soothingly round with a pretty inner sweetness and depths of ripe red and blue fruits that swirl across a stream of juicy acidity. It tapers off long and staining, just gently tannic, ending with a wild blueberry and blood orange saturation. The 2022 aims to please. 

A striking single-vineyard expression from the sandy, mineral-rich soils of Mt. Etna’s northwestern flank. Made primarily from old-vine Nerello Mascalese, it offers fine tannins, bright red fruit, and a savory, stony core. This is one of Eduardo’s most refined and site-specific wines—elegant, earthy, and deeply expressive of Etna’s unique terroir.

Eric Guido said of the 2022 vintage - 94+ Points - The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Arenaria takes its time in the glass. It is darkly floral and spiced with a smoldering blend of blackberries and grilled herbs offset by a tinge of tangerine. This impresses further with its combination of tart wild berries and zesty citrus tones elevated by juicy acidity over a stream of silken textures. Complex yet wildly energetic, the 2022 leaves the palate reeling as licorice comes together with black raspberry and cocoa over a bed of fine-grained tannins. The Arenaria is painfully young today yet full of potential, displaying incredible depth and refinement. In a word, spellbinding."

The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Pirrera is impossible to ignore. It blends crushed blackberries with lavender pastille and hints of candied citrus and spice. This is zesty, with a reverberation of brisk acidity and masses of mineral-doused wild berry fruits. The 2022 finishes with medium length and a chalky concentration, leaving the cheeks puckered with youthful poise as hints of tart blackberry slowly taper off.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Sourced from six different vineyards at varying altitudes, the 2022 Versante Nord is aged in concrete tank and exhibits perfumed and lifted aromas in the glass, featuring wild raspberries, brambly Mediterranean herbs, dried roses, and dusty earth. It’s pure on the palate, with great energy and peppery spice, as well as lots of focus. It’s a total pleasure to drink now and will drink well over the coming 10 years.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Versante Nord entices with a dusty blend of rose petals, wild strawberries and sweet spice. This is soothingly round with a pretty inner sweetness and depths of ripe red and blue fruits that swirl across a stream of juicy acidity. It tapers off long and staining, just gently tannic, ending with a wild blueberry and blood orange saturation. The 2022 aims to please.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is supple and complex, delivering cherry, strawberry, summer meadow, earth, leather and iron aromas and flavors. Firmly structured, this picks up a hint of licorice as it winds down on the lingering finish, with tannins that are solid yet civilized. Shows fine potential. Best from 2028 through 2046. 1,670 cases made, 540 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | The medium red 2020 Barolo Cascina Nuova is spiced and fruity with notes of ripe grenadine, pink peppercorn, dried apricots, and polished leather. Open and approachable, it offers ripe, supple tannins, even acidity, and a clean finish with good length. It’s a very charming wine with a wide drinking window for enjoyment over the next 10 years.

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Straw-yellow with typical greenish hues.

Wide, delightful, wildflower, almonds scent, white and yellow fruits such as apple, pear, white plum and gooseberry.

Fresh, dry, intense, harmonic and pleasantly fruity, smooth with a good body, well-balance acidity and pleasantly long-lasting aftertaste. Perfect affinity Nose-Palate.

Winemaker Description

Harvest is done by hand to select the best fruit. Only the most mature berries are chosen, it is followed by a secondary selection to avoid any compromise on quality. Wild yeasts (pied de cuve) that are naturally present on the skins of the berries are used to obtain exceptional wines that really reflect the terroir with complex flavors and texture. After resting with the skins for 30 days, the juice is fermented in Troncais barrels of French oak barrels for 12-15 days with frequent pump overs. The wine then ages 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels and at least an additional 6 months in the bottle.

The end result is a wine with garnet color with red fruit and cassis aromas
with licorice, smoke and caramel notes with silky tannins.

Winemaker Description 

This Prosecco, boasts a flavor profile guaranteed to delight your palate. With notes of white peach and ripe apple, as well as dog roses and other florals, this white wine is perfectly balanced.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | A rich, savory Brunello di Montalcino that is already drinking perfectly. Powerful yet elegant with maraschino cherry and ripe black fruit flavors accented with roasted herbs, wild rose petals, leather sandalwood and earthy spice. The tannins are ripe and supple , with good depth of flavor and a robust finish.
Bart Hopkins.

Expert Review

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | The nose is primarily savory, with aromas of coffee, herbs and soil, but also has the fresh gleam of wild cherries. On the palate, an emergent orange-peel element bolsters the cherry note, at least until a bitter finish of dark chocolate and espresso. Spice blazes behind dense, grippy tannins. (2018).

Winemaker Description

A brilliant ruby red, on the nose it is intense and fruity with ripe red fruits, a perfect example of classic Montepulciano-wines from this region. Rich, full-bodied, warm, fresh, with soft tannins and a long finish, it is the perfect accompaniment to grilled red meat, but also great just by the glass all at a great price.