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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Basilicata | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£174.41 |
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Wine Advocate (97)Here's a new discovery that I'd like to broadcast far and near. This Riserva is a new wine from Elena Fucci that was initiated with this vintage. It is a limited-edition wine made only in magnums. In fact, I tasted bottle number 1 of 400 made to write this review. The 2013 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Riserva Titolo is a dark and savory expression with an evolved and profound bouquet that covers all the bases. It offers dried fruit and blackberry with smoke, ash and crushed river stone. That mineral identity is the wine's most important defining characteristic. Aglianico tends to deliver astringent tannins, but this Riserva shows excellent integration and structural management. A new benchmark wine for southern Italy has just been created. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£149.29 |
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Wine Advocate (93)The Barbera grape can often act like Nebbiolo showing its best results in the later vintages that end on a cool note. Those conditions are what define the beautiful 2016 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina. The wine sees 20 days of maceration with submerged cap, and the bouquet is flowing, polished and impactful as a result. Blackberry, summer cherry and plum rise from the glass. Some 18 months of oak aging adds delicate touches of spice, leather and cedar. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£557.21 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2010 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is an amazing wine born 430 meters above sea level from white limestone and sandy soils. The elegance expressed by the wine is unforgettable. It opens to a pretty garnet color with ethereal tones of licorice and balsam herb with sharp, delineated contours. This vineyard is usually harvested later than the others, so the growing cycle is extra long and steady. The wine is silky, finessed and profound. Drink: 2018-2040. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£239.21 |
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James Suckling (98)Extremely perfumed, showing lots of rose, lavender and dark-berry character. Full body with intense density and chewiness that gives the wine great structure. Lots of flavor and focus at the finish. Needs five to six years to finish. Drink in 2024. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96.5 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£370.01 |
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Vinous (96.5)The 2016 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a vibrant, massively tannic, austere wine, the likes of which I have never tasted here before. Vertical and explosive in the glass with tons of pure power, the 2016 Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous Barolo that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit. White pepper, mint, orange peel and floral notes develop a bit later, but the 2016 remains reticent and inward, with brilliant acids and tannins that dominate today. The 2016 is a striking wine, but it is going to require considerable patience. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£245.21 |
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Vinous (96)Grasso's 2017 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is fabulous. In fact, the Gavarini is easily one of the wines of the vintage because it retains all of its classic signatures, which is also the sign of a first-class vineyard. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the Gavarini pulses with energy. Crushed red flowers, mint, chalk, white pepper, cinnamon and orange peel give the 2017 a super-classic Nebbiolo profile, as expressed in a relatively high-altitude site. The precision and finesse of the tannins - so hard to find in 2017- elevates the Gavarini into the realm of the sublime. |
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Piedmont | 8 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£209.21 |
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Vinous (91)The 2018 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous, elegant wine that offers fine depth for the year. Silky and pliant, with terrific resonance, the 2018 has a lot to offer. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, blood orange and rose petal all build effortlessly in the glass. All the Gavarini signatures are present, but naturally in miniature in this vintage. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£270.41 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is classically austere and just gorgeous right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and fine, sculpted fruit race out of the glass. Crushed rose petal, cinnamon, orange peel and mint are all beautifully delineated. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2019 is going to need years to be at its best, yet it has that embryonic inner sweetness that characterizes the very finest wines here. Superb. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£283.61 |
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Vinous (96)The 2012 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè soars out of the glass with remarkable precision, tension and energy. A brilliant wine, the 2012 is translucent, powerful and super-expressive. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and pine give the 2012 its sensual, inviting personality. Today, it is the wine's pure nuance that truly stands out. This is a superb showing from the 2012. In this tasting, the Ginestra is much more expressive than the Gavarini. This is an especially precise style for the year. |
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Piedmont | 7 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£245.21 |
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Wine Advocate (97)There is slightly more structure to the 2015 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté than to the Gavarini Chiniera of the same vintage, and the only differences here are the soils and that this fruit is harvested about ten days later. It's a pretty fascinating demonstration of the power of the single vineyard. The Gavarini Chiniera parcel offers slightly sandier soils, whereas this site is composed of more clay. In rainy years, the Gavarini Chiniera vineyard drains more effectively, whereas the Ginestra's soil retains more moisture in the hot and dry vintages. As a result, in vintages such as this one, Ginestra shows a more compact nature and, in general, provides more impact and more structure. This is a very robust expression, extremely linear and tight. The Ginestra Casa Maté narrowly wins this round. It's another beautiful Barolo. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£324.49 |
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Vinous (97)Ample and creamy on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2016 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is super impressive, even in the early going. Next to the Gavarini Chiniera, the Ginestra Casa Matè is a Barolo of textural resonance and volume. Black cherry, plum and a range of balsamic notes infuse the 2016 with tons of character. The is one of the real standouts of the year. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£246.49 |
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Vinous (96)The 2017 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is a dark, mysterious wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, spice, new leather and pine meld together in a super-classic expression of Ginestra. Deep, rich and enveloping, the 2017 is so impressive in the early going. Here, too, the finesse of the tannins is remarkable. |
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Piedmont | 11 | 88 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£209.21 |
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Vinous (88)The 2018 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè shows just how challenging this vintage is for sites that are moisture retentive. Large-scaled tannins and awkward contours are impossible to escape. Game, iron, licorice, smoke, tobacco and dried herbs add to a distinctly wild, feral feel. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£270.41 |
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Vinous (95)The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is rich, dark and explosive. Dark-fleshed fruit, cloves menthol, licorice, scorched earth, leather and dried flowers are some of the notes that infuse the 2019 with character. Deep and resonant, with tremendous depth, the Ginestra is a wine of unbridled intensity. Swaths of tannin wrap around the huge, substantial finish. This virile, strapping Barolo is quite simply classic Ginestra. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£812.81 |
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Wine Advocate (100)If any Italian wine from this decade can undeniably be called a reserve, it is the 2013 Barolo Riserva Rüncot. This wine was not made in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 nor 2018. (The 2013 vintage will be released commercially in February of 2020, and this is the wine's first official review.) Gianluca Grasso holds the precious bottle I tasted from as if it were a newborn child. This vintage saw a relatively long growing season, and it offers greater fruit density, structure and acidity than the last edition that was made, the 2010. There is more vibrancy here and a true sense of energy brimming right there under the surface. The wine goes through 45 days of extended maceration post-fermentation and then a solid seven years of aging between oak and bottle. The resulting Riserva Rüncot has a stunning bouquet that is all violets and prunes, followed by a classic palate of minerals, herbs, cinnamon and delicate wafts of white truffle. This wine tells a story from nose to finish, like a flashing film reel. Fewer than 5,000 bottles were made. This is a crowning achievement for the hard-working and passionate Grasso family, led by father Elio and son Gianluca. Congratulations. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£485.21 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The last time we saw this iconic wine was in 2013 (a vintage that earned a perfect score). Following up on that success, the Elio Grasso 2015 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is a generous, open-knit Nebbiolo that has much of the warmth and sunshine locked deep within its core. The bouquet reveals broad brush aromas of black fruit, blackberry preserves, smoky tar and baked plum. With 7,000 bottles made, this Riserva is smooth and velvety in texture. There's no reason why it can't hold until the mid-century mark. |
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Piedmont | 6 | 100 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£581.29 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)The 2016 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is quite possibly the single greatest wine I have tasted in more than twenty years I have been coming here, with the possible exception of the 1989s and 1990s. Deep and powerful, but not at all heavy, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark cherry/plum fruit, menthol, lavender, licorice and mocha saturate the palate in a Barolo of extraordinary richness and intensity. The 2016 spent four years in 100% new oak, and yet there is no trace at all of wood. Magnificent! |
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Piedmont | 4 | 97 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£325.61 |
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Wine Enthusiast (97)Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It's already irresistible but will also age well for years. Drink 2022–2035. |
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Piedmont | 5 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£504.41 |
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Vinous (97)The 2016 Barolo Riserva Ravera Vigna Elena is such a complete wine. Elegant, deep and powerful, like only great Barolo can be, the Vigna Elena possesses tons of nuance and dimension from the very first taste. Exotic spice and orange zest notes open first. Ripe raspberry, mocha and autumn leaves develop later. The Vigna Elena is an absolute delight. |
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Tuscany | 9 | - |
Inc. VAT
£208.09 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£353.29 |
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Vinous (92)The 1993 is a beguiling, graceful Saffredi laced with plums, prunes, wild herbs, spices and licorice. It possesses gorgeous inner perfume and freshness that frame the fruit through to the elegant, impeccable finish. The French oak confers a level of textural richness and sweetness, but is beautifully balanced in this vintage. At the same time, the 1993 could have been a truly great wine with a more restrained approach to cooperage. |
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Tuscany | 9 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£352.01 |
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Vinous (95)The 2007 Saffredi is drop-dead gorgeous. Roasted coffee beans, grilled herbs, mocha and dark fruit emerge from this beautiful, textured wine. The richness of the fruit radiates through to the long, polished finish. The 2007 Saffredi impresses for its fabulous balance and soft, enveloping personality. It is another superb effort from proprietor Elisabetta Geppetti. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£190.09 |
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James Suckling (97)A fantastic nose to this with currant, sage, rosemary and rose-petal character. Sweet tobacco and spicy chocolate, too. Very complex. The palate shows lovely depth of fruit with blackberries, blackcurrants and fine tannins. It’s racy and refined with a direct, focused palate. Just a baby. A blend of cabernet sauvignon 60%, merlot 32% and petite verdot 8%. This needs at least two or three years to soften. Try in 2023. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£276.49 |
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James Suckling (99)So much crushed stone, rosemary, lavender, mint and blackberry. Full-bodied and very structured with layers of powerful and polished tannins. It goes on for minutes. Ink, blackcurrants and blueberries. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Needs at least five or six years to open. Try after 2025. |
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Marche | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£186.49 |
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The Fattoria San Lorenzo Campo delle Oche Integrale 2016 is a splendid example of exquisite Italian winemaking. Produced by the third-generation vintner, Natalino Crognaletti, in Ancona, Marche, this fine vermentino holds a unique personality. The wine benefits from organic and biodynamic vineyards rooted in limestone and clay soils, eliciting a full spectrum of depth and flavour. The Integrale indicates the whole cluster, skin contact approach utilised in making this wine, yielding robust and vital hues in each bottle. Echoing its complex crafting process, the Fattoria San Lorenzo Campo delle Oche Integrale 2016 showcases aroma profiles ardently entwined with orchard fruit, citrus and herbal notes, closely followed by a mineral backbone. This range of bouquet is reflected vibrantly in the palate with a good grip and a long evolving depth. A wine of finesse and elegance, it is the embodiment of Italian winemaking tradition expertly combined with sustainable practices. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£197.21 |
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Decanter (97)The south-facing Rancia vineyard reaches altitudes of 420 metres, overlooking the lower-lying vineyards of Colli Senesi. It boasts complex soils of calcareous clay layered with the chalky white limestone-like alberese and schistose galestro. This 2016 vintage is simply stunning. It's stately yet gracious, with personality for days, leading with a sumptuous nose of smoke, exotic spice and iron-rich earth. Ripe fruit coats the mouth yet it remains buoyant and tangy as chalky tannins charge in to frame the palate. A seductive wine with an appetising, savoury edge and a long, long life ahead. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£186.41 |
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Wine Advocate (98+)The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more. |
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Campania | 1 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£256.09 |
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Vinous (90)One of the many very successful 100% merlot wines made in Italy today, this wine created an unbelievable stink a few years ago when it won a major award, and then someone pointed out that it couldn't legally have been made in that part of Campania as merlot wasn't an allowed grape variety there. All the controversy has since cleared up, leaving us with a monumental merlot that is held in high esteem everywhere. Almost black in color. Redolent of licorice, coffee liqueur, dark chocolate, overripe plum and red and bing cherry jam. Supple and silky enough to be enjoyable already; shows dark chocolate and roasted coffee bean notes as well as an attractive smokiness. Finishes extremely long, with massive tannins. A bit more finesse would only add to the pleasure of the experience. |
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Piedmont | 4 | 96 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£148.01 |
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Wine Enthusiast (96)Truffle, camphor violet and ripe berry aromas come together on this fragrant red. Full-bodied and full of flavor, the delicious palate doles out juicy Morello cherry, raspberry compote, baking spice and star anise while firm, refined tannins provide support. Bright acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2027–2039. |
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£160.01 |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Basilicata | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£140.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)Here's a new discovery that I'd like to broadcast far and near. This Riserva is a new wine from Elena Fucci that was initiated with this vintage. It is a limited-edition wine made only in magnums. In fact, I tasted bottle number 1 of 400 made to write this review. The 2013 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Riserva Titolo is a dark and savory expression with an evolved and profound bouquet that covers all the bases. It offers dried fruit and blackberry with smoke, ash and crushed river stone. That mineral identity is the wine's most important defining characteristic. Aglianico tends to deliver astringent tannins, but this Riserva shows excellent integration and structural management. A new benchmark wine for southern Italy has just been created. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93 (WA) |
In Bond
£118.00 |
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Wine Advocate (93)The Barbera grape can often act like Nebbiolo showing its best results in the later vintages that end on a cool note. Those conditions are what define the beautiful 2016 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina. The wine sees 20 days of maceration with submerged cap, and the bouquet is flowing, polished and impactful as a result. Blackberry, summer cherry and plum rise from the glass. Some 18 months of oak aging adds delicate touches of spice, leather and cedar. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£459.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2010 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is an amazing wine born 430 meters above sea level from white limestone and sandy soils. The elegance expressed by the wine is unforgettable. It opens to a pretty garnet color with ethereal tones of licorice and balsam herb with sharp, delineated contours. This vineyard is usually harvested later than the others, so the growing cycle is extra long and steady. The wine is silky, finessed and profound. Drink: 2018-2040. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£194.00 |
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James Suckling (98)Extremely perfumed, showing lots of rose, lavender and dark-berry character. Full body with intense density and chewiness that gives the wine great structure. Lots of flavor and focus at the finish. Needs five to six years to finish. Drink in 2024. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96.5 (VN) |
In Bond
£303.00 |
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Vinous (96.5)The 2016 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a vibrant, massively tannic, austere wine, the likes of which I have never tasted here before. Vertical and explosive in the glass with tons of pure power, the 2016 Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous Barolo that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit. White pepper, mint, orange peel and floral notes develop a bit later, but the 2016 remains reticent and inward, with brilliant acids and tannins that dominate today. The 2016 is a striking wine, but it is going to require considerable patience. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£199.00 |
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Vinous (96)Grasso's 2017 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is fabulous. In fact, the Gavarini is easily one of the wines of the vintage because it retains all of its classic signatures, which is also the sign of a first-class vineyard. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the Gavarini pulses with energy. Crushed red flowers, mint, chalk, white pepper, cinnamon and orange peel give the 2017 a super-classic Nebbiolo profile, as expressed in a relatively high-altitude site. The precision and finesse of the tannins - so hard to find in 2017- elevates the Gavarini into the realm of the sublime. |
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Piedmont | 8 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
£169.00 |
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Vinous (91)The 2018 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous, elegant wine that offers fine depth for the year. Silky and pliant, with terrific resonance, the 2018 has a lot to offer. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, blood orange and rose petal all build effortlessly in the glass. All the Gavarini signatures are present, but naturally in miniature in this vintage. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£220.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is classically austere and just gorgeous right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and fine, sculpted fruit race out of the glass. Crushed rose petal, cinnamon, orange peel and mint are all beautifully delineated. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2019 is going to need years to be at its best, yet it has that embryonic inner sweetness that characterizes the very finest wines here. Superb. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£231.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2012 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè soars out of the glass with remarkable precision, tension and energy. A brilliant wine, the 2012 is translucent, powerful and super-expressive. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and pine give the 2012 its sensual, inviting personality. Today, it is the wine's pure nuance that truly stands out. This is a superb showing from the 2012. In this tasting, the Ginestra is much more expressive than the Gavarini. This is an especially precise style for the year. |
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Piedmont | 7 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£199.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)There is slightly more structure to the 2015 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté than to the Gavarini Chiniera of the same vintage, and the only differences here are the soils and that this fruit is harvested about ten days later. It's a pretty fascinating demonstration of the power of the single vineyard. The Gavarini Chiniera parcel offers slightly sandier soils, whereas this site is composed of more clay. In rainy years, the Gavarini Chiniera vineyard drains more effectively, whereas the Ginestra's soil retains more moisture in the hot and dry vintages. As a result, in vintages such as this one, Ginestra shows a more compact nature and, in general, provides more impact and more structure. This is a very robust expression, extremely linear and tight. The Ginestra Casa Maté narrowly wins this round. It's another beautiful Barolo. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£264.00 |
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Vinous (97)Ample and creamy on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2016 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is super impressive, even in the early going. Next to the Gavarini Chiniera, the Ginestra Casa Matè is a Barolo of textural resonance and volume. Black cherry, plum and a range of balsamic notes infuse the 2016 with tons of character. The is one of the real standouts of the year. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£199.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2017 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is a dark, mysterious wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, spice, new leather and pine meld together in a super-classic expression of Ginestra. Deep, rich and enveloping, the 2017 is so impressive in the early going. Here, too, the finesse of the tannins is remarkable. |
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Piedmont | 11 | 88 (VN) |
In Bond
£169.00 |
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Vinous (88)The 2018 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè shows just how challenging this vintage is for sites that are moisture retentive. Large-scaled tannins and awkward contours are impossible to escape. Game, iron, licorice, smoke, tobacco and dried herbs add to a distinctly wild, feral feel. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£220.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is rich, dark and explosive. Dark-fleshed fruit, cloves menthol, licorice, scorched earth, leather and dried flowers are some of the notes that infuse the 2019 with character. Deep and resonant, with tremendous depth, the Ginestra is a wine of unbridled intensity. Swaths of tannin wrap around the huge, substantial finish. This virile, strapping Barolo is quite simply classic Ginestra. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£672.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)If any Italian wine from this decade can undeniably be called a reserve, it is the 2013 Barolo Riserva Rüncot. This wine was not made in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 nor 2018. (The 2013 vintage will be released commercially in February of 2020, and this is the wine's first official review.) Gianluca Grasso holds the precious bottle I tasted from as if it were a newborn child. This vintage saw a relatively long growing season, and it offers greater fruit density, structure and acidity than the last edition that was made, the 2010. There is more vibrancy here and a true sense of energy brimming right there under the surface. The wine goes through 45 days of extended maceration post-fermentation and then a solid seven years of aging between oak and bottle. The resulting Riserva Rüncot has a stunning bouquet that is all violets and prunes, followed by a classic palate of minerals, herbs, cinnamon and delicate wafts of white truffle. This wine tells a story from nose to finish, like a flashing film reel. Fewer than 5,000 bottles were made. This is a crowning achievement for the hard-working and passionate Grasso family, led by father Elio and son Gianluca. Congratulations. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£399.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The last time we saw this iconic wine was in 2013 (a vintage that earned a perfect score). Following up on that success, the Elio Grasso 2015 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is a generous, open-knit Nebbiolo that has much of the warmth and sunshine locked deep within its core. The bouquet reveals broad brush aromas of black fruit, blackberry preserves, smoky tar and baked plum. With 7,000 bottles made, this Riserva is smooth and velvety in texture. There's no reason why it can't hold until the mid-century mark. |
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Piedmont | 6 | 100 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£478.00 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)The 2016 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is quite possibly the single greatest wine I have tasted in more than twenty years I have been coming here, with the possible exception of the 1989s and 1990s. Deep and powerful, but not at all heavy, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark cherry/plum fruit, menthol, lavender, licorice and mocha saturate the palate in a Barolo of extraordinary richness and intensity. The 2016 spent four years in 100% new oak, and yet there is no trace at all of wood. Magnificent! |
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Piedmont | 4 | 97 (WE) |
In Bond
£266.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (97)Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It's already irresistible but will also age well for years. Drink 2022–2035. |
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Piedmont | 5 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£415.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 2016 Barolo Riserva Ravera Vigna Elena is such a complete wine. Elegant, deep and powerful, like only great Barolo can be, the Vigna Elena possesses tons of nuance and dimension from the very first taste. Exotic spice and orange zest notes open first. Ripe raspberry, mocha and autumn leaves develop later. The Vigna Elena is an absolute delight. |
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Tuscany | 9 | - |
In Bond
£167.00 |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£288.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 1993 is a beguiling, graceful Saffredi laced with plums, prunes, wild herbs, spices and licorice. It possesses gorgeous inner perfume and freshness that frame the fruit through to the elegant, impeccable finish. The French oak confers a level of textural richness and sweetness, but is beautifully balanced in this vintage. At the same time, the 1993 could have been a truly great wine with a more restrained approach to cooperage. |
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Tuscany | 9 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£288.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2007 Saffredi is drop-dead gorgeous. Roasted coffee beans, grilled herbs, mocha and dark fruit emerge from this beautiful, textured wine. The richness of the fruit radiates through to the long, polished finish. The 2007 Saffredi impresses for its fabulous balance and soft, enveloping personality. It is another superb effort from proprietor Elisabetta Geppetti. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£152.00 |
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James Suckling (97)A fantastic nose to this with currant, sage, rosemary and rose-petal character. Sweet tobacco and spicy chocolate, too. Very complex. The palate shows lovely depth of fruit with blackberries, blackcurrants and fine tannins. It’s racy and refined with a direct, focused palate. Just a baby. A blend of cabernet sauvignon 60%, merlot 32% and petite verdot 8%. This needs at least two or three years to soften. Try in 2023. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£224.00 |
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James Suckling (99)So much crushed stone, rosemary, lavender, mint and blackberry. Full-bodied and very structured with layers of powerful and polished tannins. It goes on for minutes. Ink, blackcurrants and blueberries. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Needs at least five or six years to open. Try after 2025. |
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Marche | 2 | - |
In Bond
£149.00 |
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The Fattoria San Lorenzo Campo delle Oche Integrale 2016 is a splendid example of exquisite Italian winemaking. Produced by the third-generation vintner, Natalino Crognaletti, in Ancona, Marche, this fine vermentino holds a unique personality. The wine benefits from organic and biodynamic vineyards rooted in limestone and clay soils, eliciting a full spectrum of depth and flavour. The Integrale indicates the whole cluster, skin contact approach utilised in making this wine, yielding robust and vital hues in each bottle. Echoing its complex crafting process, the Fattoria San Lorenzo Campo delle Oche Integrale 2016 showcases aroma profiles ardently entwined with orchard fruit, citrus and herbal notes, closely followed by a mineral backbone. This range of bouquet is reflected vibrantly in the palate with a good grip and a long evolving depth. A wine of finesse and elegance, it is the embodiment of Italian winemaking tradition expertly combined with sustainable practices. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£159.00 |
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Decanter (97)The south-facing Rancia vineyard reaches altitudes of 420 metres, overlooking the lower-lying vineyards of Colli Senesi. It boasts complex soils of calcareous clay layered with the chalky white limestone-like alberese and schistose galestro. This 2016 vintage is simply stunning. It's stately yet gracious, with personality for days, leading with a sumptuous nose of smoke, exotic spice and iron-rich earth. Ripe fruit coats the mouth yet it remains buoyant and tangy as chalky tannins charge in to frame the palate. A seductive wine with an appetising, savoury edge and a long, long life ahead. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98+ (WA) |
In Bond
£150.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98+)The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more. |
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Campania | 1 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
£207.00 |
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Vinous (90)One of the many very successful 100% merlot wines made in Italy today, this wine created an unbelievable stink a few years ago when it won a major award, and then someone pointed out that it couldn't legally have been made in that part of Campania as merlot wasn't an allowed grape variety there. All the controversy has since cleared up, leaving us with a monumental merlot that is held in high esteem everywhere. Almost black in color. Redolent of licorice, coffee liqueur, dark chocolate, overripe plum and red and bing cherry jam. Supple and silky enough to be enjoyable already; shows dark chocolate and roasted coffee bean notes as well as an attractive smokiness. Finishes extremely long, with massive tannins. A bit more finesse would only add to the pleasure of the experience. |
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Piedmont | 4 | 96 (WE) |
In Bond
£118.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (96)Truffle, camphor violet and ripe berry aromas come together on this fragrant red. Full-bodied and full of flavor, the delicious palate doles out juicy Morello cherry, raspberry compote, baking spice and star anise while firm, refined tannins provide support. Bright acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2027–2039. |
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Tuscany | 2 | - |
In Bond
£128.00 |
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Italy has gone from strength to strength, with standards of winemaking improving all the time and more indigenous varietals than ever before reaching foreign markets. Every single region is a treasure trove of undiscovered gems worth exploring, while the more classic wines like Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino have more than caught up in quality with their French counterparts without catching up in price. A dizzying array of style and a natural affinity with food means there is really no need to look any further no matter the occasion.
