Vinous (94)

Dark magenta. Intense dark fruit and floral scents, along with hints of olive paste, smoked meat and exotic spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Rich and broad but energetic as well, showing bright clarity and a lingering floral nuance on the long, youthfully tannic finish.

The Aurelien Verdet Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 2017 presents a luscious fusion of refined freshness and delicious maturity. As an esteemed product from the Beaux Villages, this exquisite bottle encapsulates the grandeur of Burgundy's Le Chambolle-Musigny. The steward behind this masterpiece, Aurelien Verdet, is an audacious vigneron from an acclaimed family of winemakers. Honouring the traditional biodynamic winemaking practices, Verdet diligently hand-harvests the ripest grapes whilst respecting the unique terroir.

Unveiling sophisticated layers of sultry berries, vibrant red cherries, and subtle hints of spice, this 2017 vintage reveals the spectacular plot of Les Feusselottes. The wine's mesmerising depth and intensity of flavour bear testimony to the 18-month ageing process in French oak barrels, giving it a chic yet enduring finish. Experience the jubilant symphony of Aurelien Verdet Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes 2017, a true Burgundy classic in every sip.

Presenting the exquisite Aurelien Verdet Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2018. Crafted elegantly in the treasured terroirs of Vosne-Romanee in Burgundy, France, this bijou vino reflects Aurelien Verdet's commitment to organic and biodynamic farming principles. Fruit for this sublime Pinot Noir is meticulously hand-picked from vineyards that yield rich, perfectly ripened berries, reflecting the quintessence of the renowned Les Beaux Monts cru.

In the winery, Verdet conducts a painstaking vinification process, resulting in a harmonious balance between power and elegance. The wine spends 18 months maturing in French oak, infusing it with a delightful smoky, vanilla charm that enhances the vibrant, red fruit flavours. Impeccably balanced with finely grained tannins, the Aurelien Verdet Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2018 provides an opulent Burgundian experience, an exquisite treat for any discerning oenophile.

Wine Advocate (95)

The perfumed and elegant 2019 Interpretación is powerful and ripe at 15% alcohol, reflecting the warm and dry vintage. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured for 15 months in barrels, half of them 500-liter ones and 30% of them new. It's a serious and structured red with a classical profile and terrific balance, very fine tannins and a silky mouthfeel through very fine chalky tannins. It's tasty, balanced and long, with stuffing and balance between the components to develop nicely in bottle. This shows the warm year and the hand of a very god winemaker; it is creamy and has good integrated of the oak. 34,563 bottles, 495 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2021.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2016 Ausone is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot and it has a deep garnet-purple color. It is incredibly closed to begin, offering glimpses of juicy blackberries, plum preserves, and cedar chest, before unfurling to offer a whole array of exotic spices, sandalwood, violets, and notes of crushed rocks, plus a touch of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is so closed and tightly knit to start off, delivering peeks at mineral, floral, and opulent spice accents, with a rock-solid structure of grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length. It needs a good 8 years+, but should cellar for at least 40 more!

Wine Advocate (98)

The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Ausone is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot. It sashays out of the glass with gregarious scents of baked red and black plums, wild blueberries and boysenberries plus touches of violets, espresso, licorice and melted chocolate with wafts of iron ore and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, featuring beautifully ripe, silken tannins and bold freshness to support the fragrant multi-layers, finishing very long and very minerally.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2018 Ausone is deep garnet purple in color. There is oak to begin, giving way to a great core of baked black plums, chocolate-covered cherries, licorice, and incense, plus Indian spices and violets. Full-bodied, it is rich, concentrated, and decadent in the mouth, with a fantastic backbone of freshness and velvety tannins, finishing very long and layered.

The Wine Independent (99)

The 2019 Ausone is a blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts with uber-fragrant notes of liquid violets, licorice, exotic spices, and roses with a core of black cherries, plum preserves, black soil, and sassafras. Full-bodied, it is super concentrated with a razor backbone of refreshing acidity and very pixilated tannins, finishing with incredible depth and minerality. This wine dances!

Experience the allure of Italian winemaking mastery with Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2018. Created by the esteemed Bricco Ernesto vineyard, nestled in Piedmont, a region synonymous with producing high-quality, complex Italian red wines. In the hands of these expert vintners, the indigenous Nebbiolo grapes undergo meticulous vinification. Using traditional techniques, the wine is aged for an extended period in French oak barrels, blending hints of toast and vanilla into the rich, fruity profile.

The resulting wine is a symphony of flavour, offering a full-bodied palate with robust, yet smooth tannins and a long finish. Its expressive bouquet features captivating notes of red cherries, plum, leather, and a subtle whiff of white pepper. An exquisite embodiment of Italian pedigree, the Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2018 is truly a statement wine for discerning collectors and gourmets alike. A fine testament to the time-honoured crafts of viticulture and oenology.

Boasting extraordinary craftsmanship, Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2020 is a masterful representation of Italian winemaking tradition. Hailing from the prestigious regions of Barbera and Dolcetto, this exceptional red wine embodies a meticulous blend of elegance and character. The reputable producer, Bricco Ernesto, employs traditional methods, maintaining low yields, and manual harvests to ensure optimal fruit quality.

Using carefully selected grapes grown on steep marly-calcareous soils, the Vino Rosso 2020 breathes life into the glass, capturing the essence of its striking Piedmontese terroir. This splendid wine is aged for a year in French oak barrels to acquire its full-bodied complexity and smooth, velvety finish.

Each sip offers a harmonious motley of dark berry fruits, hints of spice, and subtle undertones of earthy chocolate, creating a prolonged aromatic persistence that invites slow savouring of the Azienda Agricola Bricco Ernesto Vino Rosso 2020. A significant contender in the world of fine wine, leaving an indelible impression on the palate.

Showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of winemaker Luigi Scavino, the Azienda Agricola LaLu Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 is a true testament to Piedmontese viticulture. Famed for producing world-class Italian wines, Scavino meticulously crafts this Nebbiolo from vines grown on the steep hills of Langhe region. The 2019 vintage boldly radiates the vineyard's unique terroir through its ruby tint and elegant tannins.

Grapes are harvested by hand, ensuring ripe, flawless berries. Fermentation and maturation occur in stainless steel vats to preserve Nebbiolo's natural aromas and flavours. Dancing on the palate are luscious notes of red cherries, plums, and floral hints, beautifully balanced by a mineral undertone. With its moderate alcohol content, it pairs brilliantly with robust, savoury dishes.

The Azienda Agricola LaLu Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 is an embodiment of Scavino's dedication and passion, offering an unforgettably opulent drinking experience that lingers in both memory and palate.

James Suckling (95)

Lots of plum and dark-berry character with citrus, cedar and sandalwood. Very pure sangiovese. Full-bodied with firm, racy tannins and cool, vivid fruit at the finish. Some mineral, tar and steel undertones. Needs time to open and soften. Better than the 2015. Try after 2023.

James Suckling (97)

Lots of dried bark, cinnamon stick, forest floor and earth add to an impression of dried cherries and sandalwood. But there are also hints of caramelized oranges and preserved lemons. The attack on the palate takes immediate effect; the powerful tannins pucker the edges of the mouth with imposing depth, but equally fascinating detail. This is a robust, take-no-hostages style of Brunello with a modern twist of finesse and tension. Drink from 2025.

James Suckling (97)

Extremely complex aromas of cedar, mushroom and walnut highlighting the cherry and flowers. The palate is full and complete with ultra-fine and caressing tannins that are truly silky. It’s still very young, but shows beauty and seduction. Try after 2020.

Jancis Robinson (17+)

Chiavennasca and 5–6% Rossola. (The DOC regulations stipulate at least 90% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo).) Vineyard planted in the 1930s. Concentrated mid ruby. Perfumed, deep and concentrated nose, with a hint of savoury spice. Well-stitched, more rounded and a little less edgy than the Sol, but with impressive juicy, fluid red fruit and long, finely chiselled tannins. Very long, elegant and supple. (WS)

Jancis Robinson (17+)

Field blend of Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo), Rossola, Pignola, Brugnola and Negrera, all rare local varieties. Fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast without added SO2 (which is added only at bottling). Total of 20 days on the skins. Part of the wine was aged on the fine lees in stainless steel and part in concrete. ‘We macerate for a shorter time in warm years, but longer in cooler years to get softer tannins. In warmer years there is just no need and with longer maceration in warm years you lose freshness.’ Cask sample 1: Youthful mid ruby. Pure and focused red-fruit nose with a little lift and a hint of raw meat. Succulent and a little vibrant on the attack. Savoury, sappy, red-fruit finish with soft, coating tannins. Refreshing and original. Cask sample 2: Just mid ruby. A little deeper with minerally, earthy notes and hints of iron. Vibrant, lifted raspberry fruit and sandpapery tannins. Truly complementary to cask sample 1. (WS)

Jancis Robinson (17+)

Same winemaking as the regular Valtellina. Cask sample. Lustrous mid ruby. Really pretty perfumed nose with great focus. Concentrated but fine. Succulent, minerally fruit with a saline note on the finish. Fine, long-lasting, clinging tannins. (WS)

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

An awesome Saint Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish. I love it even today, yet it has a full two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.

Vinous (95)

Bright dark red. Floral nuances complicate the aromas of red cherry, licorice, sage and minerals on the captivating nose. Rich, dense and juicy; harmonious ripe acidity provides noteworthy clarity and cut to the steely red cherry and licorice flavors. Finishes long with rising smooth tannins and hints of licorice. Very serious, very pure Brunello in the classic, high-acid, no-frills style of the vintage.

Vinous (96)

Good full ruby-red. Captivating nose combines, ripe red cherry, black plum, minerals, herbs, mocha and sexy brown spices. Juicy and sweet, with refined, suave blackberry, raspberry, minerals and tobacco flavors dominating. Finishes extremely long, with a steely quality, fine-grained tannins and a multifaceted personality. Another great Brunello from Baricci.

Wine Spectator (97)

Fresh and vivid, this red features cherry, raspberry, plum, floral, black tea and mineral aromas and flavors. The well-defined fruit character is nicely balanced by earthy, savory elements, lively acidity and refined tannins. This is complete, with terrific finesse and complexity.

Vinous (93)

Bright red. Highly perfumed nose offers red cherry, rose petal, violet, tobacco and earth tones, with blood orange nuances providing added lift. Juicy, spicy and sweet, with very concentrated, multifaceted flavours of sour cherry, liquid stones, and candied violet. Harmonious, vibrant acidity lifts and extends the flavors on the supple yet firm finish. Approachable now but structured to age, this exceptionally well-balanced, pure, concentrated wine may well be the best Rosso di Montalcino of the vintage.