Wine Advocate (97)

I wasn't sure how to order my tasting flight of Ceretto's four single-vineyard Baroli (from Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba), so I decided to start with this wine from Brunate in La Morra, at the heart of the appellation. The 2016 Barolo Brunate shows a dark core of fruit, and you are immediately aware of the depth and profound nature of this wine. The bouquet is lifted by cassis, wild cherry and plum. The ferrous quality that we saw in some of the other wines is softer here, and I would describe Brunate as the most fruit-forward (at this young stage) with elegant tannins and impactful fruit weight on the finish. All of these wines are aged in new oak (just 10% of the total) and used oak barrel (90%) for the first 12 months. After that, the wine is racked into Austrian oak casks for an additional two years before going into bottle for one more year.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

One of the single-vineyard wines from this producer, this wine delivers structure and intensity. Just now mature, its smoky fruits and ripe tannins are beautifully integrated. The wine could age further, but is totally ready now.

James Suckling (99)

Super refined and beautiful with flowers, spices, dried fruit and hints of stones. Medium to full body with very fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Shows great finesse and depth. Savory character, as always, but in check. Drink in 2022.

Vinous (100)

In my opinion, the 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is the single greatest Barolo Chiara Boschis has made in her storied career. A monumental, thrilling wine, the Via Nuova captures all the best the vintage had to give. Explosive in the glass, with stunning aromatic depth, the 2016 is drop-dead gorgeous from the very first taste. Dark macerated cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and rose petal are kicked up a few notches from underlying veins of acidity and tannin that give the wine its energy and drive. The 2016 is a wine of extraordinary harmony, purity and finesse with an eternal finish. The 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of seven plots: Terlo, Liste, Paiagallo, Ravera di Monforte, Mosconi, Gabutti and Baudana.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Red-berry, wild-rose, crushed mint and dark-spice aromas are front and center on this fragrant red. The full-bodied palate is concentrated but also boasts finesse, offering layers of raspberry jam, smooth licorice and tobacco alongside a backbone of enveloping, velvety tannins. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol but the succulent fruit stands up to it. Drink 2024–2036.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Aromas of red berry, camphor and tobacco meld with rose in this fragrant, full-bodied red. The smooth palate is concentrated yet elegant, featuring raspberry jam, cherry marinated in spirits, licorice and coffee bean alongside a backbone of firm, velvety tannins.

James Suckling (99)

Glorious aromas of flowers, nutmeg, dark berries, earth and black cherries follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that are long and extremely polished. They go on for minutes. Reserved and shy still, due to its excellence. Give this four or five years to come around. Try after 2024.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2016 Anjou Violette is deep, intense, very pure and elegant on the harmonious nose, with perfectly ripe dark and red berry aromas (blackcurrant) intertwined with floral aromas. Silky, finessed and fresh on the palate, this is a very delicate and charming blend of Cab Franc (two-thirds 45-year-old vines) and Cab Sauvignon (one-third 65-year-old vines) with perfectly ripe, concentrated but juicy fruit, a velvety and concentrated texture, very fine and crunchy tannins and enormous intensity, thanks to the low-yielding Cabernets. This is a beautifully finessed and silky-textured Anjou that reveals its concentration and depth only on the finish. The wine was aged in barrels for 18 months and then spent another six months in vat. Bottled in April 2017.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Enticing inky depths to the colour, slate tannins that are fully in control, adding precision and power to the cassis fruits. As it opens, the austerity recedes and sweet blackberry and loganberry fruit appear, along with a seamless delivery of cocoa bean, sage, cedar, cigar box, eucalyptus leaf. Once again you are aware that it has retained the character of Clerc Milon's early days, coming friom the natural concentration of the soils, but everything has been magnified and heightened. A profound wine that shows the possibilities contained within this site. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy technical director, 50% new oak.

Wine Advocate (92+)

The 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens is also quite reserved, offering up aromas of sweet red berries, dark soil tones and spicy new oak. On the palate, the wine is quite medium to full-bodied, chalky and firm, with broad shoulders and good concentration at the core. It's a promising Rugiens in the making but it will demand some patience.

Wine Advocate (95)

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Clos de Sarpe (composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal provocative Black Forest cake, Chinese five spice and cigar box notes with nuances of sandalwood, kirsch, rose hip tea and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, the palate is oh-so-seductive with a beautiful velvety texture and tons of freshness lifting the decadent fruit to a long spicy finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Another perfect wine from this brilliant estate is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which matches the otherworldly 2007. A classic blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah brought up all in old foudre, this beauty's deep purple color is followed by a mammoth bouquet of kirsch liqueur, black currants, blueberries, Asian spices, and garrigue. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless is as graceful as a ballerina on the palate and has ultra-fine tannins, a silky, seamless texture, and a finish that just won't quit. Hats off to vigneron Paul-Vincent Avril!

Vinous - Neal Martin (93+)

The 2016 Clos du Clocher has a rich, opulent bouquet with layers of macerated small black cherries, crème de cassis and violet aromas. There is brightness and vivacity here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, finely judged acidity, a slightly lactic texture and flecks of dark chocolate toward the finish, which fans out nicely. This will need time, but it is very promising. A composed and refined Pomerol from Jean-Baptiste Bourotte.

Vinous (93)

The 2016 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru has a very pretty and pure bouquet, the oak here deftly integrated and allowing the dark cherries, cranberry and raspberry scents to flourish. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins framing the pure confit-like red fruit, just a splash of balsamic towards the finish lending another welcome dimension. I suspect that this will mature with style and panache. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Fragrant and smoky on the nose and palate. Chewy texture, compressed fruit. Very much in its infancy. Tight, restrained and compact. Unquestionable purity of fruit, which has a charming bitter stemminess to finish.

Burghound (92-94)

A relatively deeply pitched nose offers plenty of both floral and spice elements along with notes of plum, dark cherry and a touch of Asian-style tea. As is usually the case there is excellent volume and a taut muscularity to the sappy broad-shouldered flavors that flash superb depth and persistence. Note well though that this classic example is definitely built-to-age and is going to need at least most of a decade to be approachable. Recommended.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)

A cult Médoc wine from Stéphane Dief, in a vintage that rarely disappoints. The thing I like best about Clos Manou is that it has concentration and polish but never loses its sense of heart, and this is a great example, limbering up at 5 years old, full of liqourice, espresso, blackcurrant and bilberry fruits, plenty of campfire smoke and spice from 70% new oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

More cured meats, spice, loamy soil notes, and an incredible core of kirsch and currant fruits emerge from the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina. Deep, incredibly concentrated, multi-dimensional and long, it reminds me of the 2007 at this same point in time. This cuvée is always a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre, brought up in tank and new demi-muids, and in top vintages, needs 2-5 years of bottle age to really shine, yet I always also fine a certain accessibility given its balance and purity. It’s capable of lasting for two decades.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Deep ruby-colored and offering a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, toasted spiced, cured meats, licorice, and cured meats, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combes des Fous is awesome on the palate, with a silky, seamless profile that just keeps on going. Possessing ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges, and a huge finish, it’s a phenomenal bottle of wine. The fact that it was bottled just one month ago makes this showing even more impressive.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2016 Clos Saint-Julien is gorgeous and also quite a bit more reserved than it was from barrel. Voluptuous and racy, with remarkable freshness, the 2016 has so much to offer. A rush of black cherry, violet, lavender and spice builds as this sensual, caressing Saint-Émilion shows off its personality. The purity of the fruit and the wine's sheer harmony both make for a fabulous drinking experience.

Vinous (94)

Saturated ruby. Highly perfumed dark berry, violet, smoky mineral, black cardamom and olive scents show excellent clarity and a touch of smokiness. Sweet, palate-staining blackberry and floral pastille flavors deepen slowly and take on a deeper licorice note on the back half. Rich but lively as well, finishing with firm back-end cut, fine-grained tannins and suave, impressively persistent floral and exotic spice notes.

Vinous (95)

Dusty earth gives way to dried roses, incense, hints of cedar, sage, currants and black cherries in a display that makes the 2016 Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino a very special experience. It’s nuanced and perfumed from start to finish, boasting silky textures contrasted by tart berries and minerals, but with sweet tannins that frame the expression perfectly. Its inner sweetness is balanced by bright acids, creating an almost-juicy sensation, right up until the moment you realize that your palate is aching with youthful tension. There’s so much going on and much more to come, making me wonder what the Poggio al Vento might offer in the 2016 vintage. For now, that doesn’t even matter, because the 2015 Col d'Orcia impresses on nearly every level.

Decanter (95)

ColleMassari’s flagship 100% Sangiovese bottling is from Mt Amiata, overlooking Montalcino. Poggio Lombrone has not dissimilar weight to Montalcino’s Brunellos, but with a more tangy, playful juiciness. Its underlying depth has an airy quality as if the fruit were constructed with honeycomb-like layers. Smooth, memorable and enjoyable.

Vinous (94)

The 2016 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux 1er Cru has a classic, undergrowth infused bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, hints of stewed black tea emerging with time, tobacco and rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, succulent and juicy with a fleshy, almost Volnay-like finish that is very appealing. This is a well crafted and comparatively approachable Pommard. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

From the famed vineyards of Monforte d'Alba, the exquisite Conterno Fantino Barolo Castelletto Pressenda 2016 is the very essence of finely crafted Barolo. An ode to elegant winemaking, it's a product of Conterno Fantino, revered for their adherence to low-yield viticulture and meticulous, eco-friendly cultivation methods. This impeccable 2016 vintage boasts a rich, full-bodied profile, characterised by intense garnet hues, complex, encompassing fragrances and fruity notes underlined by a refined mineral quality.

In utter harmony, velvety tannins compliment its lingering, densely flavoured finish, a tribute to the careful 24-month ageing in French oak barrels. The expressive terroir of Castelletto, the south-east facing vineyard from which it hails, lends it added sophistication and structure. Undoubtedly, Conterno Fantino Barolo Castelletto Pressenda 2016 stands as an exemplary ambassador of the Piedmont region's celebrated Nebbiolo grapes. For lovers of sublime Italian wines, this Barolo signals an invitation to transcendence.

deeply expressive, the Conterno Fantino Barolo Ginestra Vigna Gris 2016 is a fine red hailing from the renowned Barolo wine region in Italy. Crafted by the esteemed Conterno Fantino, this wine is a testament to meticulous viniculture. The grapes cultivated in the late harvest of 2016, were handpicked from the acclaimed 'Ginestra Vigna Gris' vineyard located in Monforte d'Alba. Potioned using traditional methods, the wine matured for 24 months in French oak barrels, encapsulating the rich essence of Nebbiolo grapes.

The result is a spectacular garnet red with a hint of orange, presenting an opulent bouquet of wild red berries, liquorice, truffle and savoury balsamic note. On the palate, it's powerful with complex tannins, well-balanced acidity and a lingering finish. Whether it's your first or fiftieth Conterno Fantino Barolo, the Ginestra Vigna Gris 2016 remains a distinguished choice for all discerning wine enthusiasts.

Wine Enthusiast (99)

This savory stunner has enticing scents of violet, rose and wild berry that gain complexity alongside notes of leather, camphor and sandalwood. The elegantly structured palate is all about precision, featuring juicy cherry, blood orange, star anise and tobacco framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized.

Vinous (100)

The 2016 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard may very well be the single greatest vintage made here thus far. It is quite simply a stunning wine and a towering achievement from the Mondavi family. Powerful, ample and sweeping in stature, the 2016 boasts breathtaking intensity in all of its dimensions. I see the pure, vibrant fruit of the 2013, but with more finessed tannins that add to the wine's feeling of real sensuality. Bright, precise and finely sculpted with remarkable persistence and perfectly integrated tannins, the 2016 is positively stellar - not to mention one of the wines of the vintage.

Wine Advocate (94)

The Cortonesi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Mannella shows dark fruit with dried cherry, blackcurrant and plum. On a second wave of aromas, you encounter softer spice with toasted almond, tilled earth and grilled herb. This is a classic expression of the crisp but sunny 2016 vintage with an open and food-friendly personality. There is a playful touch of sweet cherry on the close. Fruit is sourced from the La Mannella zone, one of the coolest growing areas in the appellation at moderate 350 meters above sea level. Winemaking is traditional, using 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak for three years of slow aging, and this reinforces all those fun berry notes on display in the 25,000-bottle release.