Italy - All Italian Wines
Italy, known as the "Land of Wine," is celebrated for its exquisite range of fine wines. With a winemaking history dating back thousands of years and a diverse array of terroirs, Italy offers a remarkable collection of wines that delight the senses and captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido have become synonymous with excellence. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards like Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins. Veneto, renowned for its sparkling Prosecco wines, is also famous for Amarone della Valpolicella. Vineyards like Allegrini and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality.
These are just a few examples of the renowned vineyards and wines Italy has to offer. From the northern regions of Piedmont and Veneto to the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and down to the southern regions of Sicily and Puglia, Italy's wine regions are a treasure trove of exceptional wines. Experience the allure of Italian wines and immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse terroirs, and passionate winemaking that define the Italian wine scene. Whether you're sipping a prestigious Barolo, a refined Brunello di Montalcino, a refreshing Prosecco, or a bold Nero d'Avola, Italian wines promise a journey of flavors and a celebration of Italy's winemaking heritage.
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Italy - All Italian Wines
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 2 | 95 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£425.63 |
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Wine Spectator (95)A tight and chewy wine, with full body and lots of raisin and spice character. Impressive, ripe tannins. Thick and powerful; needs time in the bottle. From one of the most serious producers in Montalcino now. Best after 2007. 21,660 cases made. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,044.83 |
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Vinous (96)The 2013 Barbaresco is fabulous. In fact, this is one of the best Barbarescos I have tasted at Gaja in many years. Vibrant, perfumed and beautifully sculpted in the glass, the 2013 possesses tons of understated intensity. Sweet red cherry, mint, white pepper and anise are all lifted in the glass. The 2013 is an almost shockingly classic Barbaresco from Gaja. The translucent color, vibrant Nebbiolo fruit and austere but noble tannins represent a move towards a much more traditional style. For readers who can find it, the 2013 is simply a must-have wine. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£3,098.03 |
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Vinous (97)The 1982 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is laced with sweet red cherries, freshly cut flowers, mint, spices and pine. This is an especially polished, refined San Lorenzo that emphasizes finesse over the power that is more typical of this site, although there is no shortage of tannin. With air, the 1982 keeps getting better and better. The long, bright finish is particularly of note. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£920.20 |
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Decanter (96)With young soils and steep hills, the importance of Arione is easily understood. The southern exposure helped the quality in this vintage and the wine shows a restrained red currant fruit aroma with graceful cinnamon, sweet violet and watermelon, allied to an anise, almost herbal, whiff. Full, refreshing and very elegant yet not without a firm structure, it features an extracted chalky finish. It will age quite well for a 2018. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,459.00 |
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James Suckling (98)Glorious aromas of roses, whole white truffles, earth and raspberry. Dusty. Subtle rosemary and lemon grass too. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Yet it opens and caresses every inch of your palate. So gorgeous now to drink. No Monfortino in this year; so absolutely amazing because it all went in here. Wow. Drink or hold. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£920.20 |
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Wine Advocate (97)I tasted the Giacomo Conterno 2017 Barolo Francia shortly before bottling. Like Roberto Conterno's other wines from this controversial vintage, this wine shines with brilliant and unexpected purity and intensity that is harder to find in its peers. It shows a deep understanding of the potential of a warm growing season, and the Nebbiolo is supple, velvety and uncharacteristically exuberant (for a grape whose elegance starts famously with understatement). Francia in Serralunga d'Alba evokes power and profound depth, with black and purple fruit highlights, rusty nail, crème de cassis, grilled rosemary and reddish rock or baked terracotta. The wine carries its considerable fruit weight with grace, and at the end of the day, it offers a complete portrait of vintage, variety and vintner. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96-98 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£1,275.40 |
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The Wine Independent (96-98)The 2018 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia is very densely concentrated with fine tannins but it is not revealing much yet as it is so young. When tasted in May 2022 it was due to be bottled the following month. It is deep ruby in color with perfumed violet and freesia aromas on the nose, with oak spice notes. The tannins are firm but beautifully refined as you would expect from this producer. At the moment, the wine is like a beautiful statue, immaculately carved and pristine but not revealing very much. Roberto Conterno felt this wine needed 18 months before approaching and that it will last for 40 years. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,289.80 |
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Vinous (95+)A dark, virile wine, the 2011 Barolo Cerretta shows just how far Conterno has come with this site. The flavors are dark, bold and incisive throughout, with plenty of dark red cherry, plum, leather, smoke, tar, licorice and scorched earth overtones. Powerful and intense, with a real sense of vertical structure, Cerretta is going to need time to settle down. There is none of the early appeal of the vintage here, so readers will have to be patient. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow as it ages over the coming decades. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,361.63 |
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Vinous (97+)The 2013 Barolo Cerretta is the most complete wine Roberto Conterno has made since he acquired this site in 2008. Crazy aromatics make a strong opening impression. Rose petal, mint, sweet tobacco and licorice overtones all develop in a captivating, hauntingly seductive Barolo. Constantly changing in the glass, the 2013 is mesmerizingly beautiful. Supporting beams of tannin carry the flavors through to the finish. The 2013 Cerretta is stunningly beautiful in every way. Don't miss it. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,459.00 |
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Vinous (95)Conterno's 2017 Barolo Cerretta offers a classic expression of this Serralunga site. The tannins are just a bit nervy today, which lends a feeling of energy and brightness that is palpable. Bright floral and white pepper accents lift bright red-toned fruit in a Barolo that is wonderfully translucent and nuanced. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,624.60 |
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Vinous (95)The 2019 Barolo Cerretta is positively stellar. Remarkably harmonious for a bottled, young Conterno Barolo, the Cerretta is sublime. It's as if the tannins are totally wrapped into the fruit. The tannins are present, but also not there. Bright cherry, red plum, cinnamon and blood orange all race across the palate. The luxuriousness of the fruit is so captivating. In 2019, the Cerretta is a Barolo of pure and total seduction. I don't think I have ever tasted anything like it here. Best of all, the 2019 will drink well with minimal cellaring. It is already irresistibly delicious. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98-100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£6,413.63 |
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Wine Advocate (98-100)Tasted from botte number 45, the 2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is gorgeous. Roberto tells me, “Monfortino is not a drinking wine, it’s a chewing wine.” His comment makes perfect sense and offers incredible insight into the profound beauty beholden before us. You almost feel the crunch of the young tannin and the snap of its presence in the mouth. The bouquet is perfectly matched to the wine. Elegance and finesse add contrast to the wine’s sheer power and determination. Dried rose, licorice, tar, spice and tobacco show immense definition and focus. The 2006 vintage is noted for its extraordinary aging potential. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£8,154.83 |
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Vinous (100)I debated whether or not to include the 2010 Barolo Riserva Monfortino in this tasting. Conventional wisdom says it is way too young, especially from magnum. You know what? I hate conventional wisdom. One of the undeniable truisms is that Monfortino is more enjoyable young now than it was twenty years ago. As for the 2010, it is every bit as monumental as everyone in the room expects. A wine of breadth and grandeur, the 2010 boasts tremendous depth in every dimension. Time in the glass brings out kirsch, rose petal, menthol, leather and mocha nuances, but the 2010 is ultimately a wine to adore for its complete and profound beauty. From magnum it is truly mesmerizing. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 99.0 |
Inc. VAT
£4,828.43 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 100 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£5,645.63 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The Giacomo Conterno 2014 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is made with 100% fruit from the Francia cru, which is not the case for the 2015 vintage (that sees 22% Arione in the blend) or likely future vintages. In a sense, this 100-point wine represents a milestone or a chapter finale in the long and exciting trajectory of Italy's collected and revered Monfortino. I've had the great fortune of tasting this wine from barrel over the course of four years and twice again this summer during my visits to the Conterno estates (in Gattinara and in Monforte d'Alba). |
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Piedmont | 2 | 99 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£6,994.43 |
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Vinous (99)The 2015 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is magical. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from Arione, so the 2015 is 80% Francia and 20% Arione. That marks a return to Monfortino as a multi-vineyard wine, which it mostly was until 1978, when the first Monfortino from Francia was made. The combination of sites works so well. I remember tasting the 2015 as separate components and seeing what exactly the Arione piece adds, and that is aromatic explosiveness, texture and breadth. Rose petal, mint, sage, tobacco and cedar lend complexity. More than anything else, though, I am blown away by how utterly delicious the 2015 is. Of course, the 2015 will be better in time, but its pedigree is plainly evident today. Roberto Conterno gave the 2015 just five years in cask, the shortest time in wood for any Monfortino in recent memory, maybe ever. Like most producers around the world, Conterno is thinking deeply about what the optimal period of time in oak is. As for the 2015, it is a flat-out stunner in every way. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£473.63 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is deeply expressive, showing peppery red berries and pomegranate plus hints of tomato leaf and sage, reminding me of that moment you add fresh herbs to a just-finished ragù. This is pure silk on the palate, rich and pliant, as it slowly saturates the senses with mineral-laced red and hints of blue fruit. Intensely primary and licorice-tinged, it tapers off grippy and classically dry to lasting rosy florals. The 2017 is a bit like a tamed beast of a Brunello. |
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Piedmont | 27 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,428.83 |
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Vinous (94)“The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva Vanotu 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is drinking beautifully. Silky and perfumed, the 2010 is now entering its first plateau of maturity. Sweet tobacco, dried flowers, menthol and coffee lend striking aromatic complexity as the 2010 opens in the glass. The 2010 is rich and layered, as all of Giorgio Pelissero's wines are, but time has mellowed some of that exuberance.” |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£1,429.00 |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£1,299.23 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,043.23 |
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Vinous (95)The 2017 Barolo Brunate is a dark, powerful wine. A huge swath of tannins gives the Brunate its feeling of gravitas. Readers will have to be patient with the 2017, as it is going to need a number of years to come together. Dark cherry fruit, lavender, sage, licorice, spice and earthy notes build into a crescendo of aromas and flavors that is just captivating. The 2017 finishes with tremendous substance and intensity, both of which bode so well for the future. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£3,000.83 |
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Vinous (95)Rinaldi's 2018 Barolo Brunate is one of the more satisfying wines of the vintage. Austere, medium in body and classic in feel, with that extra bit of textural resonance that is such a Brunate signature, the 2018 has real potential. Dark cherry, melted road tar, tobacco, spice, menthol, sage and licorice all build in the glass. The 2018 is going to need a few years to soften and start hitting its stride, but all the ingredients are there. It's a powerhouse, that much is certain. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£1,016.03 |
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Vinous (100)The 2018 Il Caberlot is a stunning wine. It's not the most immediate nor explosive Caberlot, but it is such a tremendous example of this wine. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. Crushed herbs, rose petal, mint, blood orange, incense and sweet pipe tobacco all build in the glass. Imagine Cheval Blanc, but with a good dose of Tuscan sun. Readers who can find the 2018 should not hesitate, as it is magical. I imagine it will be even better in the commercial magnums than this 750ml tasting sample. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£1,108.43 |
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Wine Enthusiast (98)Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£512.03 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a stunning creation from an iconic vintage. Sangiovese specifically requires the perfect growing conditions to show its magic, and this vintage delivers those special qualities in troves. You are aware of the deep inner power and integrity of the fruit, yet the wine opens softly on the bouquet with elegance and grace. This bottle shows stunning complexity with a bouquet that peels back to reveal dark cherry, spice, balsam herb and dried violets. The mouthfeel has yielded to a greater sense of inner softness and mellowness since I last tasted this gorgeous wine upon its commercial release. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 96 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£261.23 |
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Decanter (96)The harvest date returned once more to that of tradition, commencing on 23 September – whereas these days it usually begins around 3 September. This could therefore be considered a fresh if not cool vintage, yet the long growing season helped the extraction of velvety tannins, concentrated on the mid-palate. The structure, combined with bright cassis notes, a core of cherry and crystallised violet, and savoury minerality on the finish, will keep the wine in good shape for the long haul. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£514.60 |
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Wine Advocate (97)This single-vineyard Riserva delivers a generous, abundant and determined personality. This is Brunello with a capital B. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli benefits from a warm and sun-soaked microclimate that is shielded from cold winter winds. You can taste the good health of the grapes thanks to those very direct aromas of black cherry, plum, tar, campfire ash and chalky mineral. The Paganelli vineyard is 12 hectares in size, with vines planted in 1964. The last time this wine was made was in 2012. Fruit from those old vines shape complex aromas, elegant tannins and bright freshness. Despite that handsome DNA, this is another new release from Il Poggione that will require more cellar age. I'd suggest drinking a bottle from this 40,000-bottle release after the 10-year mark. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WI) |
Inc. VAT
£676.60 |
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The Wine Independent (100)Paolo di Marchi’s leaving present to Tuscany is this delightful 2019 Isole e Olena Cepparello. Cepparello is a blend of Sangiovese from different vineyards, selected by Di Marchi on the basis of "the best exposure, elevation, soil, genetics and age. I feel this adds complexity.” The first vintage was in 1980 when 100% Sangiovese was not permitted under the Chianti Classico rules. Those rules have since changed but the wine remains an IGT Toscana. It has a supremely enticing nose with cream and exotic spice, reminding me of Arabian spice markets. With the 2019 there is an added precision to the aromas, less heavy oak, and no greenness on the palate. It is concentrated with a rich velvety texture but without any heaviness and with a gentle unforced quality. The tannins are fine and very well integrated, in fact finer and better integrated than even the excellent 2016 vintage. It is of course very young now but it’s almost too delicious not to drink! Supremely graceful, it just gets better and better. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£1,478.03 |
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Wine Enthusiast (98)Messorio (a 100% expression of delicious Merlot) is a wine that has already reached elite cult status and for very good reason. The opulence, richness and overall pleasure factor are unbeatable and the wine is sophisticated, elegant and balanced at the same time. The long fade is characterized by vanilla, chocolate, espresso, cherry and blackberry. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£789.23 |
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Vinous (96)The 2011 Messorio takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. Rich and explosive to the core, the 2011 boasts stunning intensity and depth. Today, the 2011 is painfully young and packed with tannin. Even with all of its size, the 2011 retains gorgeous aromatic complexity and tons of nuance. This is a fabulous showing from Le Macchiole. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 2 | 95 (WS) |
In Bond
£344.00 |
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Wine Spectator (95)A tight and chewy wine, with full body and lots of raisin and spice character. Impressive, ripe tannins. Thick and powerful; needs time in the bottle. From one of the most serious producers in Montalcino now. Best after 2007. 21,660 cases made. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£860.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2013 Barbaresco is fabulous. In fact, this is one of the best Barbarescos I have tasted at Gaja in many years. Vibrant, perfumed and beautifully sculpted in the glass, the 2013 possesses tons of understated intensity. Sweet red cherry, mint, white pepper and anise are all lifted in the glass. The 2013 is an almost shockingly classic Barbaresco from Gaja. The translucent color, vibrant Nebbiolo fruit and austere but noble tannins represent a move towards a much more traditional style. For readers who can find it, the 2013 is simply a must-have wine. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,571.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 1982 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is laced with sweet red cherries, freshly cut flowers, mint, spices and pine. This is an especially polished, refined San Lorenzo that emphasizes finesse over the power that is more typical of this site, although there is no shortage of tannin. With air, the 1982 keeps getting better and better. The long, bright finish is particularly of note. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£754.00 |
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Decanter (96)With young soils and steep hills, the importance of Arione is easily understood. The southern exposure helped the quality in this vintage and the wine shows a restrained red currant fruit aroma with graceful cinnamon, sweet violet and watermelon, allied to an anise, almost herbal, whiff. Full, refreshing and very elegant yet not without a firm structure, it features an extracted chalky finish. It will age quite well for a 2018. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,203.00 |
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James Suckling (98)Glorious aromas of roses, whole white truffles, earth and raspberry. Dusty. Subtle rosemary and lemon grass too. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Yet it opens and caresses every inch of your palate. So gorgeous now to drink. No Monfortino in this year; so absolutely amazing because it all went in here. Wow. Drink or hold. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£754.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)I tasted the Giacomo Conterno 2017 Barolo Francia shortly before bottling. Like Roberto Conterno's other wines from this controversial vintage, this wine shines with brilliant and unexpected purity and intensity that is harder to find in its peers. It shows a deep understanding of the potential of a warm growing season, and the Nebbiolo is supple, velvety and uncharacteristically exuberant (for a grape whose elegance starts famously with understatement). Francia in Serralunga d'Alba evokes power and profound depth, with black and purple fruit highlights, rusty nail, crème de cassis, grilled rosemary and reddish rock or baked terracotta. The wine carries its considerable fruit weight with grace, and at the end of the day, it offers a complete portrait of vintage, variety and vintner. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96-98 (WI) |
In Bond
£1,050.00 |
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The Wine Independent (96-98)The 2018 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia is very densely concentrated with fine tannins but it is not revealing much yet as it is so young. When tasted in May 2022 it was due to be bottled the following month. It is deep ruby in color with perfumed violet and freesia aromas on the nose, with oak spice notes. The tannins are firm but beautifully refined as you would expect from this producer. At the moment, the wine is like a beautiful statue, immaculately carved and pristine but not revealing very much. Roberto Conterno felt this wine needed 18 months before approaching and that it will last for 40 years. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,062.00 |
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Vinous (95+)A dark, virile wine, the 2011 Barolo Cerretta shows just how far Conterno has come with this site. The flavors are dark, bold and incisive throughout, with plenty of dark red cherry, plum, leather, smoke, tar, licorice and scorched earth overtones. Powerful and intense, with a real sense of vertical structure, Cerretta is going to need time to settle down. There is none of the early appeal of the vintage here, so readers will have to be patient. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow as it ages over the coming decades. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97+ (VN) |
In Bond
£1,124.00 |
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Vinous (97+)The 2013 Barolo Cerretta is the most complete wine Roberto Conterno has made since he acquired this site in 2008. Crazy aromatics make a strong opening impression. Rose petal, mint, sweet tobacco and licorice overtones all develop in a captivating, hauntingly seductive Barolo. Constantly changing in the glass, the 2013 is mesmerizingly beautiful. Supporting beams of tannin carry the flavors through to the finish. The 2013 Cerretta is stunningly beautiful in every way. Don't miss it. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,203.00 |
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Vinous (95)Conterno's 2017 Barolo Cerretta offers a classic expression of this Serralunga site. The tannins are just a bit nervy today, which lends a feeling of energy and brightness that is palpable. Bright floral and white pepper accents lift bright red-toned fruit in a Barolo that is wonderfully translucent and nuanced. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,341.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2019 Barolo Cerretta is positively stellar. Remarkably harmonious for a bottled, young Conterno Barolo, the Cerretta is sublime. It's as if the tannins are totally wrapped into the fruit. The tannins are present, but also not there. Bright cherry, red plum, cinnamon and blood orange all race across the palate. The luxuriousness of the fruit is so captivating. In 2019, the Cerretta is a Barolo of pure and total seduction. I don't think I have ever tasted anything like it here. Best of all, the 2019 will drink well with minimal cellaring. It is already irresistibly delicious. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98-100 (WA) |
In Bond
£5,334.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98-100)Tasted from botte number 45, the 2006 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is gorgeous. Roberto tells me, “Monfortino is not a drinking wine, it’s a chewing wine.” His comment makes perfect sense and offers incredible insight into the profound beauty beholden before us. You almost feel the crunch of the young tannin and the snap of its presence in the mouth. The bouquet is perfectly matched to the wine. Elegance and finesse add contrast to the wine’s sheer power and determination. Dried rose, licorice, tar, spice and tobacco show immense definition and focus. The 2006 vintage is noted for its extraordinary aging potential. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£6,785.00 |
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Vinous (100)I debated whether or not to include the 2010 Barolo Riserva Monfortino in this tasting. Conventional wisdom says it is way too young, especially from magnum. You know what? I hate conventional wisdom. One of the undeniable truisms is that Monfortino is more enjoyable young now than it was twenty years ago. As for the 2010, it is every bit as monumental as everyone in the room expects. A wine of breadth and grandeur, the 2010 boasts tremendous depth in every dimension. Time in the glass brings out kirsch, rose petal, menthol, leather and mocha nuances, but the 2010 is ultimately a wine to adore for its complete and profound beauty. From magnum it is truly mesmerizing. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 99.0 |
In Bond
£4,013.00 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 100 (WA) |
In Bond
£4,694.00 |
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Wine Advocate (100)The Giacomo Conterno 2014 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is made with 100% fruit from the Francia cru, which is not the case for the 2015 vintage (that sees 22% Arione in the blend) or likely future vintages. In a sense, this 100-point wine represents a milestone or a chapter finale in the long and exciting trajectory of Italy's collected and revered Monfortino. I've had the great fortune of tasting this wine from barrel over the course of four years and twice again this summer during my visits to the Conterno estates (in Gattinara and in Monforte d'Alba). |
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Piedmont | 2 | 99 (VN) |
In Bond
£5,818.00 |
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Vinous (99)The 2015 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is magical. This is the first vintage that includes fruit from Arione, so the 2015 is 80% Francia and 20% Arione. That marks a return to Monfortino as a multi-vineyard wine, which it mostly was until 1978, when the first Monfortino from Francia was made. The combination of sites works so well. I remember tasting the 2015 as separate components and seeing what exactly the Arione piece adds, and that is aromatic explosiveness, texture and breadth. Rose petal, mint, sage, tobacco and cedar lend complexity. More than anything else, though, I am blown away by how utterly delicious the 2015 is. Of course, the 2015 will be better in time, but its pedigree is plainly evident today. Roberto Conterno gave the 2015 just five years in cask, the shortest time in wood for any Monfortino in recent memory, maybe ever. Like most producers around the world, Conterno is thinking deeply about what the optimal period of time in oak is. As for the 2015, it is a flat-out stunner in every way. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£384.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is deeply expressive, showing peppery red berries and pomegranate plus hints of tomato leaf and sage, reminding me of that moment you add fresh herbs to a just-finished ragù. This is pure silk on the palate, rich and pliant, as it slowly saturates the senses with mineral-laced red and hints of blue fruit. Intensely primary and licorice-tinged, it tapers off grippy and classically dry to lasting rosy florals. The 2017 is a bit like a tamed beast of a Brunello. |
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Piedmont | 27 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,180.00 |
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Vinous (94)“The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva Vanotu 60th Anniversary Limited Edition is drinking beautifully. Silky and perfumed, the 2010 is now entering its first plateau of maturity. Sweet tobacco, dried flowers, menthol and coffee lend striking aromatic complexity as the 2010 opens in the glass. The 2010 is rich and layered, as all of Giorgio Pelissero's wines are, but time has mellowed some of that exuberance.” |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
In Bond
£1,178.00 |
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Piedmont | 1 | - |
In Bond
£1,072.00 |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£1,692.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2017 Barolo Brunate is a dark, powerful wine. A huge swath of tannins gives the Brunate its feeling of gravitas. Readers will have to be patient with the 2017, as it is going to need a number of years to come together. Dark cherry fruit, lavender, sage, licorice, spice and earthy notes build into a crescendo of aromas and flavors that is just captivating. The 2017 finishes with tremendous substance and intensity, both of which bode so well for the future. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,490.00 |
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Vinous (95)Rinaldi's 2018 Barolo Brunate is one of the more satisfying wines of the vintage. Austere, medium in body and classic in feel, with that extra bit of textural resonance that is such a Brunate signature, the 2018 has real potential. Dark cherry, melted road tar, tobacco, spice, menthol, sage and licorice all build in the glass. The 2018 is going to need a few years to soften and start hitting its stride, but all the ingredients are there. It's a powerhouse, that much is certain. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£836.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2018 Il Caberlot is a stunning wine. It's not the most immediate nor explosive Caberlot, but it is such a tremendous example of this wine. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. Crushed herbs, rose petal, mint, blood orange, incense and sweet pipe tobacco all build in the glass. Imagine Cheval Blanc, but with a good dose of Tuscan sun. Readers who can find the 2018 should not hesitate, as it is magical. I imagine it will be even better in the commercial magnums than this 750ml tasting sample. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) |
In Bond
£913.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (98)Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£416.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a stunning creation from an iconic vintage. Sangiovese specifically requires the perfect growing conditions to show its magic, and this vintage delivers those special qualities in troves. You are aware of the deep inner power and integrity of the fruit, yet the wine opens softly on the bouquet with elegance and grace. This bottle shows stunning complexity with a bouquet that peels back to reveal dark cherry, spice, balsam herb and dried violets. The mouthfeel has yielded to a greater sense of inner softness and mellowness since I last tasted this gorgeous wine upon its commercial release. |
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Tuscany | 3 | 96 (DC) |
In Bond
£207.00 |
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Decanter (96)The harvest date returned once more to that of tradition, commencing on 23 September – whereas these days it usually begins around 3 September. This could therefore be considered a fresh if not cool vintage, yet the long growing season helped the extraction of velvety tannins, concentrated on the mid-palate. The structure, combined with bright cassis notes, a core of cherry and crystallised violet, and savoury minerality on the finish, will keep the wine in good shape for the long haul. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£416.00 |
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Wine Advocate (97)This single-vineyard Riserva delivers a generous, abundant and determined personality. This is Brunello with a capital B. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli benefits from a warm and sun-soaked microclimate that is shielded from cold winter winds. You can taste the good health of the grapes thanks to those very direct aromas of black cherry, plum, tar, campfire ash and chalky mineral. The Paganelli vineyard is 12 hectares in size, with vines planted in 1964. The last time this wine was made was in 2012. Fruit from those old vines shape complex aromas, elegant tannins and bright freshness. Despite that handsome DNA, this is another new release from Il Poggione that will require more cellar age. I'd suggest drinking a bottle from this 40,000-bottle release after the 10-year mark. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (WI) |
In Bond
£551.00 |
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The Wine Independent (100)Paolo di Marchi’s leaving present to Tuscany is this delightful 2019 Isole e Olena Cepparello. Cepparello is a blend of Sangiovese from different vineyards, selected by Di Marchi on the basis of "the best exposure, elevation, soil, genetics and age. I feel this adds complexity.” The first vintage was in 1980 when 100% Sangiovese was not permitted under the Chianti Classico rules. Those rules have since changed but the wine remains an IGT Toscana. It has a supremely enticing nose with cream and exotic spice, reminding me of Arabian spice markets. With the 2019 there is an added precision to the aromas, less heavy oak, and no greenness on the palate. It is concentrated with a rich velvety texture but without any heaviness and with a gentle unforced quality. The tannins are fine and very well integrated, in fact finer and better integrated than even the excellent 2016 vintage. It is of course very young now but it’s almost too delicious not to drink! Supremely graceful, it just gets better and better. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) |
In Bond
£1,221.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (98)Messorio (a 100% expression of delicious Merlot) is a wine that has already reached elite cult status and for very good reason. The opulence, richness and overall pleasure factor are unbeatable and the wine is sophisticated, elegant and balanced at the same time. The long fade is characterized by vanilla, chocolate, espresso, cherry and blackberry. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£647.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2011 Messorio takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. Rich and explosive to the core, the 2011 boasts stunning intensity and depth. Today, the 2011 is painfully young and packed with tannin. Even with all of its size, the 2011 retains gorgeous aromatic complexity and tons of nuance. This is a fabulous showing from Le Macchiole. |
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