Italy - All Red Wines
Italy is renowned worldwide for its exceptional red wines, which showcase the country's rich winemaking traditions and diverse terroir. From the iconic regions of Tuscany and Piedmont to the hidden gems of Sicily and Veneto, Italy offers an extensive selection of fine red wines that captivate the palate and leave a lasting impression.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido produce some of the most renowned red wines in the world. 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. These wines exhibit flavors of ripe berries, elegant tannins, and a harmonious balance that reflects the unique Tuscan terroir.
Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards and wineries that produce outstanding red wines. Renowned names such as Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo are synonymous with excellence. 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 that develop beautifully with age.
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian red 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, showcasing the island's diverse terroir.
In the Veneto region, Amarone della Valpolicella stands out as a distinctive and powerful red wine. Wineries like Allegrini, Tommasi, and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines using dried grapes, resulting in a wine with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture.
These are just a few examples of the remarkable red wines Italy has to offer. Whether you're indulging in a classic Tuscan Sangiovese, an elegant Piedmontese Nebbiolo, a bold Sicilian Nero d'Avola, or a robust Venetian Amarone, Italian red wines transport you to the sun-drenched vineyards and embody the passion, history, and artistry of Italian winemaking.
Experience the allure of Italian red wines and discover the immense variety and quality that make them a true treasure in the world of wine. From prestigious appellations to hidden gems, Italian red wines are sure to impress even the most discerning wine enthusiasts with their complexity, elegance, and ability to age gracefully.
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Italy - All Red Wines
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 9 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£350.81 |
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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
£187.69 |
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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
£274.09 |
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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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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
£253.69 |
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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
£164.81 |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£331.69 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is another benchmark wine from Tuscany that shows the incredible potential of this iconic vintage. This beautiful single-vineyard Sangiovese reveals a graceful side with dark fruit intensity, cherry, plum, fresh violets and tilled earth. Tar, tobacco and licorice appear as delicate background tones, giving more volume and texture to the wine's sensorial impact. Vigna del Sorbo shows its own precise identity that is fiercely faithful to Sangiovese, but that also pushes the boundaries to go beyond our highest expectations of the grape in terms of color, concentration, aromatic complexity and staying power. That's the Panzano magic in a nutshell. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 96+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£331.69 |
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Vinous (96+)The 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is a dense, packed wine. It is also surprisingly, almost shockingly backward. That is probably a good thing for its long-term aging prospects. Readers hoping to get an early glimpse into the 2017 before it shuts down may have a hard time doing that, as today acids and tannin dominate. I expect the 2017 will be stellar in another 4-5 years and drink well to age 25-30 if not longer. Proprietor Giovanni Manetti gave the 2017 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£264.49 |
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Vinous (98)The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is quite possibly the most elegant, refined version of this wine I have ever tasted. It does not offer the immediacy or impact of either the 2015 or 2016, but, instead, impresses with its elegance, persistence and total class. Bright floral and spice notes add perfume to a core of red-toned fruit. The 2018 represents another move towards greater finesse at Fontodi. It spent a year in French oak barrel and a second year in cask. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£502.09 |
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Wine Advocate (96)From an iconic vintage that gave generously to all grape varieties across almost all of Tuscany, this wine ranks high on the Fontodi billboard of greatest hits. The 2010 Flaccianello della Pieve is a rock solid wine that sits firm and begins to peel slowly, each delicate layer at a time. It puts on quite a show with a solid core of dark fruit followed by smoke, spice, tar, licorice and delicate blue flower. On previous tastings of this vintage, I had scored it 97 and 97+ points, respectively. I'm going down one point at this sitting because the wine's fiber has unraveled, ever so slightly, at the edges. It still maintains that solid core, but the wine has taken an important jump forward in its evolution these past three years. Evidently, it is currently in a phase of relaxation and unwinding. Beautifully polished notes of Mediterranean herb and dried mint appear on the long, glossy finish. Giovanni Manetti compares the 2010 vintage to 2006 but considers this vintage slightly more approachable overall. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£353.29 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Beautiful deep ruby with incredible richness in aroma--blackberry, blueberry and plum--tempered by sweet spice from the oak. This offers mouth filling lushness, intense fruit, terrific balance and harmony, with a long, complex finish.--Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Best from 2017 through 2032. 4,000 cases made. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£407.29 |
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Decanter (97)Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In chillier zones than Panzano, Sangiovese struggled to ripen, he says. Even more expressive than when it was initially released, the 2012 has a decidedly exotic manner. Saffron, liquorice and cardamom overlay violets and earth. The tannins are polished with an intriguing chalky texture. It's compact and full but balanced, with a core of vibrant acidity and a long explosive finish. This has the bones to age brilliantly. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£455.29 |
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Vinous (97)The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£580.09 |
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Vinous (100)The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£372.41 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£592.01 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The 2020 Flaccianello della Pieve is the full package. This point is clear when you taste all the other wines in the Fontodi portfolio and conclude with this bottle. This organic Sangiovese shows beautiful intensity and remains balanced throughout with dark fruit, crushed stone, spice and wild rose. It borrows themes of elegance, depth and ripeness played across this vintage. The wine wraps smoothly over the palate with substantial fruit weight and sweet tannins. This warm-vintage expression can be aged or enjoyed straight out of the gate. Production is 60,000 bottles. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£272.81 |
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Vinous (94)The 2018 Barolo Cannubi is bright and effusive, as wines from this site tend do be. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather and macerated cherry are some of the notes that soar from the glass. The Cannubi offers fine depth and tons of site character, both of which were hard to achieve in 2018. |
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Piedmont | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£281.21 |
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Experience the enveloping purr of the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi 2019, a sophisticated emanation from the renowned vineyards of Cannubi. This vintage gem, painstakingly produced in the heart of Italy's esteemed Piedmont region, is a testament to Francesco Rinaldi's unparalleled dedication to depth and distinction. Born under the watchful care of winemaker Luciano Rinaldi, each bottle is curated from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, culminating in a sublime fusion of black cherry, rose petal, and crushed mint. Matured for three years in large Slavonian oak barrels, this wine showcases a superior harmony of power and purity, enhancing the palate with an engagingly robust character and impeccably balanced tannins. Its enchanting nuances and elegant finish evolves admirably with age, providing an exquisite encounter with every pour. A sip of the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi 2019 lingers as a splendid echo of the timeless excellence that defines the Rinaldi legacy. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 93 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£264.41 |
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Wine Advocate (93)I just love the 2013 Barolo by Fratelli Alessandria. The wine is tame and subtle yet powerful at the same time. It starts off with classic aromas of wild berry, smoke, tar and licorice. Those tones build in momentum to show more intensity and volume as the minutes pass. This Barolo wraps thickly over the palate, imparting structure, firmness and density. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£206.81 |
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Wine Advocate (94)From one of the stars of Verduno, Fratelli Alessandria, the 2015 Barolo is a beautifully elegant and compact wine at first. Give it a few moments in the glass, and the wine opens beautifully to reveal polished and detailed tones of wild berry, cassis, licorice and tar. All of this is followed by a delicate floral signature of violets and roses that accompany the wine from start to finish. This vintage is elegant yet voluptuous at the same time. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 17++ (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£270.41 |
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Jancis Robinson (17++)Monforte d'Alba. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, brooding and meaty on the nose. Deep cherry palate that is still taut and framed by sweet clayey tannins. Very long, mouth-filling and finely balanced while maintaining elegance. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£302.89 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2019 Barolo Gramolere, tasted from barrel, is the most elegant wine Vittore Alessandria has made yet from his family's holdings in Monforte. Medium in body and transparent, the 2019 offers up black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice, dried herbs and menthol are all laced together in a layered, mysterious wine that captures the essence of Nebbiolo in Barolo. The classically austere finish is a thing of beauty. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£368.89 |
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Vinous (96)The 2017 Barolo Monvigliero marries the raciness of the year with the floral lift and elegance of this great Verduno site. More than anything, the 2017 is a Barolo of pure and total sensuality. Even so, there is more than enough tannin to allow the 2017 to drink well for many years to come. It is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of real beauty. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£368.89 |
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Vinous (95)The 2018 Barolo Monvigliero is broad, ample and so expressive, all while showing the finesse and classicism that are such a signature of this wine. All elements are so well balanced in a Barolo that speaks to harmony above all else. Sweet red cherry, cedar, orange peel, tobacco and cinnamon give the 2018 tons of aromatic presence. Best of all, the 2018 will drink well with minimal cellaring. It's a gorgeous wine in every way. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94-96 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£484.09 |
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Vinous (94-96)The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero, tasted from barrel, is fabulous. Silky and elegant, with tons of energy, the Monvigliero is showing beautifully today, even as a sample from tank with low SO2 typical of this stage pre-bottling. Even so, all the translucent finesse of Monvigliero comes through loud and clear. Crushed red berry fruit, chalk, blood orange, mint and white pepper lend brightness. The 2019 is shaping up to be a real beauty. It's one of those young wines that is very hard to spit. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 17++ (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£253.69 |
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Jancis Robinson (17++)A shade darker than their Del Comune di Verduno and with a firmer nose of cherry and raspberry with plenty of depth. Ripe and deep. Hints of mint and cardamom, but not from new oak as this has seen only large casks. Elegant and sappy cherry fruit palate with firm, finely chiselled tannins which never dominate the fruit. Succulent and with a fine, long, tannic grip on the finish. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£282.49 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2019 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno, tasted from barrel, is another potent wine from Alessandria. Heady and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous energy and drive from start to finish. Dark red fruit, gravel, incense, scorched earth, rose petal, licorice and iron are some of the many notes that race out of the glass. The 2019 is wild and racy, sort of like a misbehaved child, but in the best sense! I can't wait to see how it turns out. |
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Piedmont | 3 | - |
Inc. VAT
£484.09 |
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Savour the richness of Fratelli Barale Barolo Cannubi 2012, a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of one of Barolo's most respected winemaking dynasties. This luxuriously garnet-hued blend hails from the heart of the prestigious Cannubi vineyard site in Italy's celebrated Barolo region. The hand-harvested Nebbiolo grapes reveal a bouquet of robust red cherries, intertwined with rosy floral undertones and intriguing nuances of tobacco and spice for an unforgettable finish. Every sip evokes the venous clay soils and sun-drenched slopes of Cannubi, cultivated passionately by the Barale Fratelli family since 1870. Aged 24 months in oak barrels, it exhibits an impeccable balance between tradition and innovation. Decant this bottle for a fuller expression of its elegant complexity. Partner the Fratelli Barale Barolo Cannubi 2012 with hearty meat dishes or aged cheeses for a gastronomic journey you'll long cherish. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 9 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£287.00 |
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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
£150.00 |
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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
£222.00 |
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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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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
£205.00 |
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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
£132.00 |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£270.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is another benchmark wine from Tuscany that shows the incredible potential of this iconic vintage. This beautiful single-vineyard Sangiovese reveals a graceful side with dark fruit intensity, cherry, plum, fresh violets and tilled earth. Tar, tobacco and licorice appear as delicate background tones, giving more volume and texture to the wine's sensorial impact. Vigna del Sorbo shows its own precise identity that is fiercely faithful to Sangiovese, but that also pushes the boundaries to go beyond our highest expectations of the grape in terms of color, concentration, aromatic complexity and staying power. That's the Panzano magic in a nutshell. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 96+ (VN) |
In Bond
£270.00 |
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Vinous (96+)The 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is a dense, packed wine. It is also surprisingly, almost shockingly backward. That is probably a good thing for its long-term aging prospects. Readers hoping to get an early glimpse into the 2017 before it shuts down may have a hard time doing that, as today acids and tannin dominate. I expect the 2017 will be stellar in another 4-5 years and drink well to age 25-30 if not longer. Proprietor Giovanni Manetti gave the 2017 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£214.00 |
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Vinous (98)The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is quite possibly the most elegant, refined version of this wine I have ever tasted. It does not offer the immediacy or impact of either the 2015 or 2016, but, instead, impresses with its elegance, persistence and total class. Bright floral and spice notes add perfume to a core of red-toned fruit. The 2018 represents another move towards greater finesse at Fontodi. It spent a year in French oak barrel and a second year in cask. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£412.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)From an iconic vintage that gave generously to all grape varieties across almost all of Tuscany, this wine ranks high on the Fontodi billboard of greatest hits. The 2010 Flaccianello della Pieve is a rock solid wine that sits firm and begins to peel slowly, each delicate layer at a time. It puts on quite a show with a solid core of dark fruit followed by smoke, spice, tar, licorice and delicate blue flower. On previous tastings of this vintage, I had scored it 97 and 97+ points, respectively. I'm going down one point at this sitting because the wine's fiber has unraveled, ever so slightly, at the edges. It still maintains that solid core, but the wine has taken an important jump forward in its evolution these past three years. Evidently, it is currently in a phase of relaxation and unwinding. Beautifully polished notes of Mediterranean herb and dried mint appear on the long, glossy finish. Giovanni Manetti compares the 2010 vintage to 2006 but considers this vintage slightly more approachable overall. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (WS) |
In Bond
£288.00 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Beautiful deep ruby with incredible richness in aroma--blackberry, blueberry and plum--tempered by sweet spice from the oak. This offers mouth filling lushness, intense fruit, terrific balance and harmony, with a long, complex finish.--Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Best from 2017 through 2032. 4,000 cases made. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (DC) |
In Bond
£333.00 |
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Decanter (97)Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In chillier zones than Panzano, Sangiovese struggled to ripen, he says. Even more expressive than when it was initially released, the 2012 has a decidedly exotic manner. Saffron, liquorice and cardamom overlay violets and earth. The tannins are polished with an intriguing chalky texture. It's compact and full but balanced, with a core of vibrant acidity and a long explosive finish. This has the bones to age brilliantly. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 97 (VN) |
In Bond
£373.00 |
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Vinous (97)The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£477.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£305.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£488.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The 2020 Flaccianello della Pieve is the full package. This point is clear when you taste all the other wines in the Fontodi portfolio and conclude with this bottle. This organic Sangiovese shows beautiful intensity and remains balanced throughout with dark fruit, crushed stone, spice and wild rose. It borrows themes of elegance, depth and ripeness played across this vintage. The wine wraps smoothly over the palate with substantial fruit weight and sweet tannins. This warm-vintage expression can be aged or enjoyed straight out of the gate. Production is 60,000 bottles. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£222.00 |
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Vinous (94)The 2018 Barolo Cannubi is bright and effusive, as wines from this site tend do be. Crushed flowers, spice, new leather and macerated cherry are some of the notes that soar from the glass. The Cannubi offers fine depth and tons of site character, both of which were hard to achieve in 2018. |
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Piedmont | 2 | - |
In Bond
£229.00 |
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Experience the enveloping purr of the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi 2019, a sophisticated emanation from the renowned vineyards of Cannubi. This vintage gem, painstakingly produced in the heart of Italy's esteemed Piedmont region, is a testament to Francesco Rinaldi's unparalleled dedication to depth and distinction. Born under the watchful care of winemaker Luciano Rinaldi, each bottle is curated from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, culminating in a sublime fusion of black cherry, rose petal, and crushed mint. Matured for three years in large Slavonian oak barrels, this wine showcases a superior harmony of power and purity, enhancing the palate with an engagingly robust character and impeccably balanced tannins. Its enchanting nuances and elegant finish evolves admirably with age, providing an exquisite encounter with every pour. A sip of the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi 2019 lingers as a splendid echo of the timeless excellence that defines the Rinaldi legacy. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 93 (WA) |
In Bond
£215.00 |
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Wine Advocate (93)I just love the 2013 Barolo by Fratelli Alessandria. The wine is tame and subtle yet powerful at the same time. It starts off with classic aromas of wild berry, smoke, tar and licorice. Those tones build in momentum to show more intensity and volume as the minutes pass. This Barolo wraps thickly over the palate, imparting structure, firmness and density. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£167.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)From one of the stars of Verduno, Fratelli Alessandria, the 2015 Barolo is a beautifully elegant and compact wine at first. Give it a few moments in the glass, and the wine opens beautifully to reveal polished and detailed tones of wild berry, cassis, licorice and tar. All of this is followed by a delicate floral signature of violets and roses that accompany the wine from start to finish. This vintage is elegant yet voluptuous at the same time. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 17++ (JR) |
In Bond
£220.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17++)Monforte d'Alba. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, brooding and meaty on the nose. Deep cherry palate that is still taut and framed by sweet clayey tannins. Very long, mouth-filling and finely balanced while maintaining elegance. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
£246.00 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2019 Barolo Gramolere, tasted from barrel, is the most elegant wine Vittore Alessandria has made yet from his family's holdings in Monforte. Medium in body and transparent, the 2019 offers up black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice, dried herbs and menthol are all laced together in a layered, mysterious wine that captures the essence of Nebbiolo in Barolo. The classically austere finish is a thing of beauty. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
£301.00 |
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Vinous (96)The 2017 Barolo Monvigliero marries the raciness of the year with the floral lift and elegance of this great Verduno site. More than anything, the 2017 is a Barolo of pure and total sensuality. Even so, there is more than enough tannin to allow the 2017 to drink well for many years to come. It is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of real beauty. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£301.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2018 Barolo Monvigliero is broad, ample and so expressive, all while showing the finesse and classicism that are such a signature of this wine. All elements are so well balanced in a Barolo that speaks to harmony above all else. Sweet red cherry, cedar, orange peel, tobacco and cinnamon give the 2018 tons of aromatic presence. Best of all, the 2018 will drink well with minimal cellaring. It's a gorgeous wine in every way. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 94-96 (VN) |
In Bond
£397.00 |
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Vinous (94-96)The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero, tasted from barrel, is fabulous. Silky and elegant, with tons of energy, the Monvigliero is showing beautifully today, even as a sample from tank with low SO2 typical of this stage pre-bottling. Even so, all the translucent finesse of Monvigliero comes through loud and clear. Crushed red berry fruit, chalk, blood orange, mint and white pepper lend brightness. The 2019 is shaping up to be a real beauty. It's one of those young wines that is very hard to spit. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 17++ (JR) |
In Bond
£205.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17++)A shade darker than their Del Comune di Verduno and with a firmer nose of cherry and raspberry with plenty of depth. Ripe and deep. Hints of mint and cardamom, but not from new oak as this has seen only large casks. Elegant and sappy cherry fruit palate with firm, finely chiselled tannins which never dominate the fruit. Succulent and with a fine, long, tannic grip on the finish. |
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Piedmont | 3 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
£229.00 |
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Vinous (93-95)The 2019 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno, tasted from barrel, is another potent wine from Alessandria. Heady and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous energy and drive from start to finish. Dark red fruit, gravel, incense, scorched earth, rose petal, licorice and iron are some of the many notes that race out of the glass. The 2019 is wild and racy, sort of like a misbehaved child, but in the best sense! I can't wait to see how it turns out. |
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Piedmont | 3 | - |
In Bond
£397.00 |
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Savour the richness of Fratelli Barale Barolo Cannubi 2012, a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of one of Barolo's most respected winemaking dynasties. This luxuriously garnet-hued blend hails from the heart of the prestigious Cannubi vineyard site in Italy's celebrated Barolo region. The hand-harvested Nebbiolo grapes reveal a bouquet of robust red cherries, intertwined with rosy floral undertones and intriguing nuances of tobacco and spice for an unforgettable finish. Every sip evokes the venous clay soils and sun-drenched slopes of Cannubi, cultivated passionately by the Barale Fratelli family since 1870. Aged 24 months in oak barrels, it exhibits an impeccable balance between tradition and innovation. Decant this bottle for a fuller expression of its elegant complexity. Partner the Fratelli Barale Barolo Cannubi 2012 with hearty meat dishes or aged cheeses for a gastronomic journey you'll long cherish. |
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