Italy
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
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Vinous (96)
The 2016 Pinot Nero Case Via is fabulous. In fact, the 2016 may very well be the finest edition of Fontodi's Pinot I have ever tasted. A wine of tremendous aromatic intensity, inner sweetness and delineation, the 2016 Pinot simply has it all. Of course, the highly favorable growing season adds quite a bit of pedigree as well. The Fontodi Pinot is not especially varietal, but it is off the charts beautiful and absolutely compelling. It was fermented in terra cotta and aged in French oak, 50% new. What a wine!Inc. VAT£412.84 -
Vinous (94)
The 2016 Chianti Classico Fontodi brings together all the elements that make the Fontodi wines so unique, but with an extra kick of freshness and aromatic intensity that is the result of a year with notable diurnal shifts during the growing season. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and menthol develop in the glass, but it is the wine's extraordinary balance and sheer appeal that stand out most. In time, 2016 may very well become the new benchmark for Fontodi's Chianti Classico. The 2016 is flat-out delicious. That's pretty much all there is to it.Inc. VAT£378.04 -
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.Inc. VAT£329.29 -
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.Inc. VAT£546.29 -
Vinous (100)
The 2016 Flaccianello della Pieve is off the charts. Fresh, vibrant and explosive, with tremendous overall intensity, the 2016 possesses magnificent richness, with sumptuous fruit purity and simply unreal balance. Creamy, silky tannins add to the wine's sophistication and overall polish. The 2016 is dark, inky and powerful, but not at all heavy. Giovanni Manetti gave the 2016 18 months in French oak (75-80% new), followed by 6 months in cask. This is the first vintage in which a small amount (2%) of the wine was aged in amphora. In a word: stunning! Don't miss it.Inc. VAT£1,157.09 -
The Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 is a remarkable superb Italian red wine, crafted with an artisanal touch in the renowned region of Piedmont. Produced by third-generation winemaker Francesco Brigatti and mature in oak barrels for 36 months, this wine is testament to his time-honoured winemaking techniques.
The Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco is a Nebbiolo-dominant blend, exhibiting refined layers of red fruit, nuanced by hints of spice and a toasted earthiness. This fine wine stands as a celebration of the terroir's granite soil, gentle undulations and temperate micro-climate. Its beautiful balance of acidity and tannins contribute to a long, pleasurable finish.
As a limited production wine, each bottle of Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 embodies the passion of the vintner and the spirit of the locality, making it a perfect choice for discerning collectors and connoisseurs of fine Italian wines.
Inc. VAT£189.89 -
Vinous (94)
The 2016 Barolo Brunate is captivating. Dried herbs, mint, sage, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and gentle earthy notes give the 2016 lovely aromatic complexity. Like all of the Rinaldi 2016s, the Brunate has a bit more early appeal than some other recent vintages. Even so, there is plenty of depth, Brunate muscle and overall structure to support a number of years of fine drinking.Inc. VAT£481.24 -
Inc. VAT£413.09 -
Wine Advocate (97)
If you consider the Barolo playbook at Fratelli Alessandria, the 2016 Barolo Gramolere takes the intensity and power up one more notch. You get black fruit and blackberry, but there is enough vibrant red fruit to keep this wine aligned with the more elegant and traditional side of Barolo. The wine shows compelling infinities with both the powerful and the elegant side of Nebbiolo. There are noticeable mineral notes and even a spot of savory salinity. However, Gramolere definitely has the power and inner grit to withstand long cellar aging. Only 7,000 bottles were made.Inc. VAT£721.24 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is a total knock-out. A burst of sweet red berry fruit, mint, pine and red berry fruit give the Monvigliero its effusive aromatic presence. A Barolo of tremendous pedigree, the Alessandria’s Monvigliero is sure to put a smile on the face of Piedmont lovers. Although it is very young, the 2016 is off the charts gorgeous. It is everything first rate Barolo can and should be. The 2016 is to die for. Don’t miss it.Inc. VAT£629.54 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is a total knock-out. A burst of sweet red berry fruit, mint, pine and red berry fruit give the Monvigliero its effusive aromatic presence. A Barolo of tremendous pedigree, the Alessandria’s Monvigliero is sure to put a smile on the face of Piedmont lovers. Although it is very young, the 2016 is off the charts gorgeous. It is everything first rate Barolo can and should be. The 2016 is to die for. Don’t miss it.Inc. VAT£1,607.09 -
Vinous (95+)
The 2016 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno bristles with energy, as all these wines do. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 needs time to shed some of its youthful austerity. Sweet tobacco, spice, cedar, earthiness and dried cherry are some of the many notes that open up with some coaxing. Time in the glass bring out a whole range of tar and incense nuances that work so well with the wine’s personality.Over the years, I have been fortunate to taste the Alessandria Barolos with quite a bit of bottle age. I don’t want to scare readers off, but the 2016 is likely to be at its best in another decade or so, once the muscular tannins start to soften a bit. My impression is that the wait will be worth it.Inc. VAT£688.84 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
A great year for Brunello and this is like a breath of fresh air, transporting you to Tuscany. Emphasis on dried herbs, leather, campfire smoke with traces of sweet cherry, butterscotch and coffee bean. Love the soft and gentle waves of flavour that gather power through the palate; tannins are grippy and mouthwatering, and this is pretty irresistible. One of the original producers of Brunello in the 1800s, with vineyards planted between 250-400 metres above sea level, still setting the pace.Inc. VAT£220.84 -
Decanter (100)
Mocha notes on the nose, coffee, cola, vanilla, cinnamon and pink flowers. Fresh with a tannic hold, ample, massy and fleshy but with such clear definition - tannins are mouthfilling but detailed and nuanced so you feel the precision going on as well as the flavours themselves. Feels extremely well worked, all in its place. I love the chewiness, the concentrated ripeness and overall 'in your face' expression because you feel the detail behind it as well as the nuance ranging from primary blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant fruit to more tertiary elements of tobacco, coffee beans, leather, sweet exotic spices and peppery tones. It's lifted and sophisticated, powerful but poised. What a wine! Amazing potential here. It gives you the chills tasting a wine like this. From vines at 450m on schist-based Galestro soils.Inc. VAT£461.54 -
James Suckling (99)
The complexity and beauty of this wine is something else on the nose, offering perfume, cedar, dried flower, black cherry, blueberry and crushed stone. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied with incredible layers of ultra-fine tannins that give this wine horizontal depth that almost seems endless. Extremely long and lightly chewy at the end. This is one for the cellar. Try after 2026.Inc. VAT£919.24 -
Vinous (96)
Gaja's 2016 Barbaresco is positively stellar. A wine of poise and grace, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive spice and floral notes open up first, but what really stands out is the wine's nuance and delineation. There is a sense of translucency to the 2016 that is impossible to miss. Sweet red cherry, mint, cinnamon and rose petal develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance. Quite simply, the 2016 is one of the very finest Gaja Barbarescos in recent memory. This is such a gorgeous wine. Don't miss it.Inc. VAT£1,225.24 -
This assortment case includes:
2 bts x Gaja Barbaresco Sori Tildin 2016 | 100 VN
2 bts x Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2016 | 98+ VN
2 bts x Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2016 | 98 VNInc. VAT£2,713.24 -
Inc. VAT£764.44 -
Wine Advocate (97)
This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.Inc. VAT£494.42 -
Wine Advocate (97)
This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.Inc. VAT£708.04 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.Inc. VAT£1,585.22 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.Inc. VAT£2,467.24 -
Vinous (92)
Gaja's 2016 Alteni di Brassica is terrific. White pear, slate, crushed rocks, mint and white flowers are beautifully delineated in the glass, with bright saline notes that extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the finer recent vintages of Alteni I can remember tasting.Inc. VAT£837.64 -
Wine Advocate (90+)
Crisp and luminous, the 2016 Langhe Rossj-Bass is Chardonnay enhanced with a tiny part Sauvignon Blanc. This second grape only constitutes 5% of the blend, yet its presence is felt in a big way. The wine presents pristine and sharply delineated tones of exotic fruit, peach and white rose. Fruit is sourced in Barbaresco and in Serralunga d'Alba. This wine delivers a bright spot of acidity that was shaped by the steep diurnal temperature shifts that characterized the tail end of the growing season. Much work has been achieved in the vineyards to optimize farming and to ensure that ripening does not advance too quickly or with too much alcohol. This wine will be released at the end of July 2017 and I tasted it just before bottling.Inc. VAT£573.64 -
Greg Sherwood MW (96)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino normale is a fabulously plush, concentrated and intense expression of Brunello and represents probably the estate’s best vintage to date. The aromatics are perfumed and detailed showing cherry blossom, violets, vanilla oak spice and ripe dark layers of red and black berries, sweet cherry tobacco, cola and subtle red liquorice notes with just the faintest spearmint menthol top note. On the palate, the tannins are ripe but powerful with broad mouth-coating grip supported by pure cherry and cranberry fruit concentration, hints of balsamic, crystalline fresh acids and a wonderfully long harmonious finish. Distinguished and refined, but showing tremendous breadth, depth and structural power making this a perfect wine for medium to long-term cellaring. Drink from 2024 to 2036+Inc. VAT£495.64 -
James Suckling (97)
Some much shaved black truffles to the blackberry, walnut and chocolate undertones. It’s full-bodied and layered with chewy yet soft tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Smoke, mahogany and wet-earth undertones. Needs three or four years to soften and come together. Best after 2024Inc. VAT£751.24 -
James Suckling (98)
Plenty of black cherries, cedar, dried flowers and red cherries on the nose, following through to the palate, which is dense and compressed with gorgeous, intense fruit and chewy yet integrated tannins. Very, very impressive red here. Try after 2024Inc. VAT£969.64 -
Vinous (98+)
The 2016 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is an eternal wine that will need 10-15 years in bottle to truly come around. Sorì San Lorenzo is often a big, virile wine. There is plenty of heft to the 2016, but at the same time, I also find an element of refinement and nuance that Sorì San Lorenzo has rarely, if ever, shown. Black cherry, cloves, menthol, licorice, gravel and incense are some of the many aromas and flavor that meld together in this dramatic and dramatically beautiful Barbaresco from the Gaja family. The Sorì San Lorenzo just explodes on the finish, with an array of aromas, flavors and textures that will leave readers weak at the knees. The 2016 is an outrageously beautiful, vivid wine of real gravitas and power.Inc. VAT£3,004.84 -
Vinous (100)
The 2016 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is a fabulous, incredibly complete wine that soars out of the glass with explosive structure and vertical lift. The tannins are very much present, but also matched beautifully by the wine's aromatic intensity and overall drive. Dark macerated cherry, spice, leather, licorice, plum and mocha add darker shades of nuance. In 2016, Sorì Tildìn is a bit more brooding and bigger than it often is, and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. It is quite simply a majestic wine of real grandeur and total class, but it is not obvious. Sorì Tildìn will appeal most to readers who understand what the truest essence of Nebbiolo is all about. In a word: magnificent!Inc. VAT£3,033.64 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The golden touch, that proverbial Gaja magic, is taken to a whole new level in the 2016 Barolo Sperss. Angelo Gaja has taught his children to follow their own path, and now that the generational switch is well underway at the family estate, we can see that Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni have done him proud. Very proud. This stunning expression from the 2016 vintage (with 16,000 bottles released) represents quite a few celebratory milestones. We are now in the fifth generation to protect the Gaja legacy in an unbroken family chain that has endured since 1859. This wine is 100% Nebbiolo, and since the 2013 vintage, it is part of the Barolo DOCG appellation. Winemaking has been tweaked to embrace a more elegant, ethereal and streamlined personality, instead of the bigger extraction we saw in the past. This upgraded identity is distinctly evident in this newest release of Sperss. Starting with appearance, the wine is luminous and bright with shiny ruby and garnet gemstone. Its aromatic reach is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Delicate berry tones cede to pressed lilac, anise, sandalwood and cardamom spice. I double decanted and left the bottle open for a few hours before my tasting. The results are tight and gentle, and the wine shows beautiful vertical lift and intensity. To achieve this much power without the excess fruit weight is really quite an accomplishment. This is the magic of Nebbiolo, and the magic of Gaja.Inc. VAT£2,994.04
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Vinous (96)
The 2016 Pinot Nero Case Via is fabulous. In fact, the 2016 may very well be the finest edition of Fontodi's Pinot I have ever tasted. A wine of tremendous aromatic intensity, inner sweetness and delineation, the 2016 Pinot simply has it all. Of course, the highly favorable growing season adds quite a bit of pedigree as well. The Fontodi Pinot is not especially varietal, but it is off the charts beautiful and absolutely compelling. It was fermented in terra cotta and aged in French oak, 50% new. What a wine!In Bond£328.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2016 Chianti Classico Fontodi brings together all the elements that make the Fontodi wines so unique, but with an extra kick of freshness and aromatic intensity that is the result of a year with notable diurnal shifts during the growing season. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and menthol develop in the glass, but it is the wine's extraordinary balance and sheer appeal that stand out most. In time, 2016 may very well become the new benchmark for Fontodi's Chianti Classico. The 2016 is flat-out delicious. That's pretty much all there is to it.In Bond£299.00 -
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.In Bond£268.00 -
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.In Bond£436.00 -
Vinous (100)
The 2016 Flaccianello della Pieve is off the charts. Fresh, vibrant and explosive, with tremendous overall intensity, the 2016 possesses magnificent richness, with sumptuous fruit purity and simply unreal balance. Creamy, silky tannins add to the wine's sophistication and overall polish. The 2016 is dark, inky and powerful, but not at all heavy. Giovanni Manetti gave the 2016 18 months in French oak (75-80% new), followed by 6 months in cask. This is the first vintage in which a small amount (2%) of the wine was aged in amphora. In a word: stunning! Don't miss it.In Bond£945.00 -
The Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 is a remarkable superb Italian red wine, crafted with an artisanal touch in the renowned region of Piedmont. Produced by third-generation winemaker Francesco Brigatti and mature in oak barrels for 36 months, this wine is testament to his time-honoured winemaking techniques.
The Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco is a Nebbiolo-dominant blend, exhibiting refined layers of red fruit, nuanced by hints of spice and a toasted earthiness. This fine wine stands as a celebration of the terroir's granite soil, gentle undulations and temperate micro-climate. Its beautiful balance of acidity and tannins contribute to a long, pleasurable finish.
As a limited production wine, each bottle of Francesco Brigatti, Ghemme, Oltre il Bosco 2016 embodies the passion of the vintner and the spirit of the locality, making it a perfect choice for discerning collectors and connoisseurs of fine Italian wines.
In Bond£139.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2016 Barolo Brunate is captivating. Dried herbs, mint, sage, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and gentle earthy notes give the 2016 lovely aromatic complexity. Like all of the Rinaldi 2016s, the Brunate has a bit more early appeal than some other recent vintages. Even so, there is plenty of depth, Brunate muscle and overall structure to support a number of years of fine drinking.In Bond£385.00 -
In Bond£325.00
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Wine Advocate (97)
If you consider the Barolo playbook at Fratelli Alessandria, the 2016 Barolo Gramolere takes the intensity and power up one more notch. You get black fruit and blackberry, but there is enough vibrant red fruit to keep this wine aligned with the more elegant and traditional side of Barolo. The wine shows compelling infinities with both the powerful and the elegant side of Nebbiolo. There are noticeable mineral notes and even a spot of savory salinity. However, Gramolere definitely has the power and inner grit to withstand long cellar aging. Only 7,000 bottles were made.In Bond£585.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is a total knock-out. A burst of sweet red berry fruit, mint, pine and red berry fruit give the Monvigliero its effusive aromatic presence. A Barolo of tremendous pedigree, the Alessandria’s Monvigliero is sure to put a smile on the face of Piedmont lovers. Although it is very young, the 2016 is off the charts gorgeous. It is everything first rate Barolo can and should be. The 2016 is to die for. Don’t miss it.In Bond£515.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Barolo Monvigliero is a total knock-out. A burst of sweet red berry fruit, mint, pine and red berry fruit give the Monvigliero its effusive aromatic presence. A Barolo of tremendous pedigree, the Alessandria’s Monvigliero is sure to put a smile on the face of Piedmont lovers. Although it is very young, the 2016 is off the charts gorgeous. It is everything first rate Barolo can and should be. The 2016 is to die for. Don’t miss it.In Bond£1,320.00 -
Vinous (95+)
The 2016 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno bristles with energy, as all these wines do. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 needs time to shed some of its youthful austerity. Sweet tobacco, spice, cedar, earthiness and dried cherry are some of the many notes that open up with some coaxing. Time in the glass bring out a whole range of tar and incense nuances that work so well with the wine’s personality.Over the years, I have been fortunate to taste the Alessandria Barolos with quite a bit of bottle age. I don’t want to scare readers off, but the 2016 is likely to be at its best in another decade or so, once the muscular tannins start to soften a bit. My impression is that the wait will be worth it.In Bond£558.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
A great year for Brunello and this is like a breath of fresh air, transporting you to Tuscany. Emphasis on dried herbs, leather, campfire smoke with traces of sweet cherry, butterscotch and coffee bean. Love the soft and gentle waves of flavour that gather power through the palate; tannins are grippy and mouthwatering, and this is pretty irresistible. One of the original producers of Brunello in the 1800s, with vineyards planted between 250-400 metres above sea level, still setting the pace.In Bond£168.00 -
Decanter (100)
Mocha notes on the nose, coffee, cola, vanilla, cinnamon and pink flowers. Fresh with a tannic hold, ample, massy and fleshy but with such clear definition - tannins are mouthfilling but detailed and nuanced so you feel the precision going on as well as the flavours themselves. Feels extremely well worked, all in its place. I love the chewiness, the concentrated ripeness and overall 'in your face' expression because you feel the detail behind it as well as the nuance ranging from primary blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant fruit to more tertiary elements of tobacco, coffee beans, leather, sweet exotic spices and peppery tones. It's lifted and sophisticated, powerful but poised. What a wine! Amazing potential here. It gives you the chills tasting a wine like this. From vines at 450m on schist-based Galestro soils.In Bond£375.00 -
James Suckling (99)
The complexity and beauty of this wine is something else on the nose, offering perfume, cedar, dried flower, black cherry, blueberry and crushed stone. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied with incredible layers of ultra-fine tannins that give this wine horizontal depth that almost seems endless. Extremely long and lightly chewy at the end. This is one for the cellar. Try after 2026.In Bond£750.00 -
Vinous (96)
Gaja's 2016 Barbaresco is positively stellar. A wine of poise and grace, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive spice and floral notes open up first, but what really stands out is the wine's nuance and delineation. There is a sense of translucency to the 2016 that is impossible to miss. Sweet red cherry, mint, cinnamon and rose petal develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance. Quite simply, the 2016 is one of the very finest Gaja Barbarescos in recent memory. This is such a gorgeous wine. Don't miss it.In Bond£1,005.00 -
This assortment case includes:
2 bts x Gaja Barbaresco Sori Tildin 2016 | 100 VN
2 bts x Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2016 | 98+ VN
2 bts x Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2016 | 98 VNIn Bond£2,245.00 -
In Bond£621.00
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Wine Advocate (97)
This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.In Bond£404.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.In Bond£574.00 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.In Bond£1,313.00 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.In Bond£2,040.00 -
Vinous (92)
Gaja's 2016 Alteni di Brassica is terrific. White pear, slate, crushed rocks, mint and white flowers are beautifully delineated in the glass, with bright saline notes that extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the finer recent vintages of Alteni I can remember tasting.In Bond£682.00 -
Wine Advocate (90+)
Crisp and luminous, the 2016 Langhe Rossj-Bass is Chardonnay enhanced with a tiny part Sauvignon Blanc. This second grape only constitutes 5% of the blend, yet its presence is felt in a big way. The wine presents pristine and sharply delineated tones of exotic fruit, peach and white rose. Fruit is sourced in Barbaresco and in Serralunga d'Alba. This wine delivers a bright spot of acidity that was shaped by the steep diurnal temperature shifts that characterized the tail end of the growing season. Much work has been achieved in the vineyards to optimize farming and to ensure that ripening does not advance too quickly or with too much alcohol. This wine will be released at the end of July 2017 and I tasted it just before bottling.In Bond£462.00 -
Greg Sherwood MW (96)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino normale is a fabulously plush, concentrated and intense expression of Brunello and represents probably the estate’s best vintage to date. The aromatics are perfumed and detailed showing cherry blossom, violets, vanilla oak spice and ripe dark layers of red and black berries, sweet cherry tobacco, cola and subtle red liquorice notes with just the faintest spearmint menthol top note. On the palate, the tannins are ripe but powerful with broad mouth-coating grip supported by pure cherry and cranberry fruit concentration, hints of balsamic, crystalline fresh acids and a wonderfully long harmonious finish. Distinguished and refined, but showing tremendous breadth, depth and structural power making this a perfect wine for medium to long-term cellaring. Drink from 2024 to 2036+In Bond£397.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Some much shaved black truffles to the blackberry, walnut and chocolate undertones. It’s full-bodied and layered with chewy yet soft tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Smoke, mahogany and wet-earth undertones. Needs three or four years to soften and come together. Best after 2024In Bond£610.00 -
James Suckling (98)
Plenty of black cherries, cedar, dried flowers and red cherries on the nose, following through to the palate, which is dense and compressed with gorgeous, intense fruit and chewy yet integrated tannins. Very, very impressive red here. Try after 2024In Bond£792.00 -
Vinous (98+)
The 2016 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is an eternal wine that will need 10-15 years in bottle to truly come around. Sorì San Lorenzo is often a big, virile wine. There is plenty of heft to the 2016, but at the same time, I also find an element of refinement and nuance that Sorì San Lorenzo has rarely, if ever, shown. Black cherry, cloves, menthol, licorice, gravel and incense are some of the many aromas and flavor that meld together in this dramatic and dramatically beautiful Barbaresco from the Gaja family. The Sorì San Lorenzo just explodes on the finish, with an array of aromas, flavors and textures that will leave readers weak at the knees. The 2016 is an outrageously beautiful, vivid wine of real gravitas and power.In Bond£2,488.00 -
Vinous (100)
The 2016 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is a fabulous, incredibly complete wine that soars out of the glass with explosive structure and vertical lift. The tannins are very much present, but also matched beautifully by the wine's aromatic intensity and overall drive. Dark macerated cherry, spice, leather, licorice, plum and mocha add darker shades of nuance. In 2016, Sorì Tildìn is a bit more brooding and bigger than it often is, and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. It is quite simply a majestic wine of real grandeur and total class, but it is not obvious. Sorì Tildìn will appeal most to readers who understand what the truest essence of Nebbiolo is all about. In a word: magnificent!In Bond£2,512.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The golden touch, that proverbial Gaja magic, is taken to a whole new level in the 2016 Barolo Sperss. Angelo Gaja has taught his children to follow their own path, and now that the generational switch is well underway at the family estate, we can see that Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni have done him proud. Very proud. This stunning expression from the 2016 vintage (with 16,000 bottles released) represents quite a few celebratory milestones. We are now in the fifth generation to protect the Gaja legacy in an unbroken family chain that has endured since 1859. This wine is 100% Nebbiolo, and since the 2013 vintage, it is part of the Barolo DOCG appellation. Winemaking has been tweaked to embrace a more elegant, ethereal and streamlined personality, instead of the bigger extraction we saw in the past. This upgraded identity is distinctly evident in this newest release of Sperss. Starting with appearance, the wine is luminous and bright with shiny ruby and garnet gemstone. Its aromatic reach is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Delicate berry tones cede to pressed lilac, anise, sandalwood and cardamom spice. I double decanted and left the bottle open for a few hours before my tasting. The results are tight and gentle, and the wine shows beautiful vertical lift and intensity. To achieve this much power without the excess fruit weight is really quite an accomplishment. This is the magic of Nebbiolo, and the magic of Gaja.In Bond£2,479.00
