Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous. Bright and punchy, with terrific aromatic presence, the 2021 is a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best. It's the sort of wine that needs years or maybe even decades to truly blossom, and yet all the requisites are there for that to happen. There is something about Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is absolutely striking in 2021. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous. Bright and punchy, with terrific aromatic presence, the 2021 is a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best. It's the sort of wine that needs years or maybe even decades to truly blossom, and yet all the requisites are there for that to happen. There is something about Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is absolutely striking in 2021. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. Tasted two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous. Bright and punchy, with terrific aromatic presence, the 2021 is a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best. It's the sort of wine that needs years or maybe even decades to truly blossom, and yet all the requisites are there for that to happen. There is something about Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is absolutely striking in 2021. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. Tasted two times.

James Suckling (97)

Licorice with tapenade, cassis, roasted spices and a touch of bergamot and pencil shavings. Full-bodied and structured, this has filigreed tannins in a very dusty, almost powdery form. Really youthful and long. Juicy and compact with spot-on balance. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot. Give it at least three years to unwind and develop complexity.

James Suckling (95-96)

I am thinking about the purity of fruit here, with blackcurrants, cassis and lead pencil. There's an underlying character of mineral and flint. The palate is dense, focused and precise, with very fine tannins that are ultra-fine and layered and go vertically down the palate. Everything is in the right place. So much polish and a svelte nature. Then hints of hazelnut and walnut to the refined texture. Sophisticated. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

James Suckling (95-96)

I am thinking about the purity of fruit here, with blackcurrants, cassis and lead pencil. There's an underlying character of mineral and flint. The palate is dense, focused and precise, with very fine tannins that are ultra-fine and layered and go vertically down the palate. Everything is in the right place. So much polish and a svelte nature. Then hints of hazelnut and walnut to the refined texture. Sophisticated. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

James Suckling (95-96)

I am thinking about the purity of fruit here, with blackcurrants, cassis and lead pencil. There's an underlying character of mineral and flint. The palate is dense, focused and precise, with very fine tannins that are ultra-fine and layered and go vertically down the palate. Everything is in the right place. So much polish and a svelte nature. Then hints of hazelnut and walnut to the refined texture. Sophisticated. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

Experience the refined elegance of the Grand-Puy-Lacoste Assortment Case 2021. This sophisticated collection of fine wines originates from the esteemed Grand-Puy-Lacoste estate, nestled in the heart of Bordeaux’s illustrious Pauillac appellation. Acclaimed for its steady tradition of viticultural brilliance, Grand-Puy-Lacoste produces wines of exquisite depth and complexity, a testament to their scrupulous vinification process.

The Grand-Puy-Lacoste Assortment Case 2021 showcases a meticulously curated selection of their premier crus. Each wine in the case embodies the superb terroir and skilled artistry characteristic of the Château, presenting harmonious balance, compelling intensity, and graceful longevity. The diligent maturation in French oak barrels allows for an unmissable layered spectrum of aromas and flavours from blackberry and exotic spices to cigar box hints.

Fellow wine enthusiasts, the Grand-Puy-Lacoste Assortment Case 2021 is an unmatched offering of fine Bordeaux, epitomising the profound sophistication of the Grand-Puy-Lacoste legacy.

Andrew Caillard MW (98)

Deep crimson. Beautiful classic Barossa Shiraz with intense dark plum, praline, paneforte aromas and roasted chestnut, wax polish, chinotto notes. Richly concentrated and vigorous with abundant dark plum, blackberry, mulberry fruits, fine plentiful chocolaty/ grainy textures and mocha, espresso oak complexity. Finishes chocolatey firm with persistent tannins and integrated mineral acidity. Superb barrel work.

Created in the fertile vineyards of Serralunga d’Alba in Italy's Piedmont region, Grasso Tiziano Barolo Briccolina 2012 exemplifies meticulous winemaking. Produced by notable winemaker Tiziano Grasso, the Barolo Briccolina boasts high-quality Nebbiolo grapes grown on the south-east facing Briccolina hill. The distinct climate of the region nurtures the grapes to ripen slowly, thus building a depth of flavour. The year 2012 saw an idyllic blend of sun, rain and temperature, contributing to a well-balanced palate.

Following fermentation, the wine was meticulously matured in traditional large French oak barrels. The maturation process of Grasso Tiziano Barolo Briccolina 2012 enriches the wine's perfumed aromas and accentuates its structure and complexity. This vintage is distinguished by its deep ruby colour and rich, layered taste. It offers sumptuous notes of dark cherry, licorice and hints of earthiness with a long, superbly tannic finish, promising a perfect bottle to those patient enough to cellar it.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2015 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco is big, bold and absolutely stunning. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese is dark and luscious, with overlapping melodies of tobacco, spice, dark fruit and grilled herb. There is so much depth and power. This vintage is a gem for your cellar, and the wine should award a long aging trajectory for those who have the patience to wait. Some 50,000 bottles were made.

Decanter (97)

Grattamacco is one of the highest estates in Bolgheri, located just beneath the village of Castagneto Carducci. It has a distinctive contribution of 15% Sangiovese to the blend, along with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This indigenous grape gives the wine a particular freshness and drinkability, rejuvenating the tension of the classic Bordeaux varieties. In 2016, Grattamacco has exceeded itself, with aromas of elegant, youthful red currant fruits integrated with citrus notes and cedar wood. On the palate the wine is perfectly balanced, and more immediately drinkable than some of the other top samples. It has delicious tension and ripeness, with a mediterranean character and a hint of kiwi on the finish.

Decanter (96)

The contribution of Sangiovese (15%) in the blend of Grattamacco makes it a distinctive Bolgheri Superiore. If on the nose Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are prevailing with cassis fruit, cedar and kiwi, full of balsamic depth, the indigenous grape pushes the fragrance of the wine with chewy wild fruit flavours. An exceptional expression in the hot vintage. Complex and layered, without any foursquare character, this organic wine is waiting for extra complexity over its liquorice finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

Moving to the 2018 Grattamacco, this vintage is more classic in its expression and marked with finesse. While the summer was quite hot, it cooled at the end of August, with 60 mm of rain and an abrupt cold snap that slowed maturity, so they had to be quite patient waiting for the grapes to get ripe. The Sangiovese is very important in this vintage for its acidity. In the glass, it pours an almost identical, perhaps slightly more youthful red brick color, and it’s fresh and pretty on the nose, with a detailed perfume of fresh herbs, flowers, cherries, and redcurrants. The palate is refreshing and more vertical but not lacking ripeness, with fine tannins and a spine of refreshing acidity. Its characteristic saltiness frames the wine as it floats off the palate, with a mintiness on the backplate. I personally would be thrilled to drink this wine over the coming 15 or more years.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050.

Vinous (97)

A stellar wine, the 2020 Grattamacco is dark, vibrant and nuanced to the core. Black fruit, lavender, spice, leather, menthol and dried herbs infuse the 2020 with tons of character and complexity. Deep yet also wonderfully translucent, the 2020 is one of the most finessed Grattamaccos I can remember tasting. There’s incredible depth and resonance here, not to mention tons of personality.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The 2021 L'Alberello is a bright red/magenta-colored and is inviting with its fruity profile of candied strawberries, cocoa, sweet herbs, and pressed flowers. The palate is both charming and structured, at first revealing its attractive fruitiness, then showing its noble structure, with angular, defined tannins, a sanguine mineral backbone, and mouthwatering acidity. It demands time but should be an incredible offering from the Grattamacco team. Drink 2026-2050.

Jeb Dunnuck (93)

The 2019 Vermentino has a deeper golden color and a more developed profile, with orange peel, wet stone, delicate spice, apricot, and a touch of smoky earth. Medium-bodied, it has a graceful, floating texture and is in a beautiful place today, offering elegance and refinement over power. It may not have the longevity of the 2021, but it’s drinking at its peak now. Drink 2026-2030.

Vinous (95)

The aromas of the 2008 Vino Rosso Breg can be sensed before the glass even leaves the table, with steeped plums and clove nuances effortlessly rising up. With swirling, this becomes darker and spicy while gaining in volume and depth, unleashing a complex array of ginger and curries before giving way to dusty rose, menthol, red currant and balsam herbs. It washes across the palate like fine silk, seaming to caress all it touches with textural tart cherry and raspberry embellished by lavender and sage. All the while, a staining of fine tannins slowly saturates the senses, yet they are sweet and chalky, creating a well-managed tug of tension that lingers on and on. The Gravner family are genuine masters of Pignolo, from the complexity of fruit to its energy and, finally, its perfectly refined structure. Enjoy the 2008 now with decanting or lose it in the cellar for many years to come. It's a beauty.

Vinous (95)

The 2009 Rosso Breg is dark as night, yet it offers a lifting bouquet of crushed black cherries, sage, spiced orange peels and nuances of menthol. It's vividly pure and fruit-forward but balanced throughout, with depths of tart raspberry complemented by violet inner florals and a hint of clove. The tannins are rounded and sweet, offset by a pleasantly bitter twang and a touch of blood orange. Gravner is undoubtedly the master of Pignolo, and this is an utterly harmonious example.