Finely textured, with a nuanced perfume that fills the glass and takes you to the intense underbrush of Tuscany. Succulent and yet savoury, this has a lilting freshness that is overlaid with ripe berry fruits,... Read More
Of the many great contributions made by the winemaking team at Elvio Cogno, perhaps the greatest is the importance they brought to the Ravera cru of Novello. Little-known before their efforts, this vineyard has risen in high regard... Read More
The Giacomo Conterno 2016 Barolo Arione is a wine that opens gradually to show increased definition and richness. The word "spessore" is "thickness" in English; however, the Italian word denotes a little more grace, making "ampleness"... Read More
Of the three Barolo samples I tasted from barrel (including Arione and Cerretta, which are also from Serralunga d'Alba), the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia was the furthest behind and the hardest to pin down at this... Read More
Score Range (98-100) - Tasted from barrel, with about one year to go before it will be bottled, the 2014 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is shaping up to be a true icon. From an analytical point of view, this vintage records slightly... Read More
The 2018 Gattinara Molsino emerges from a relatively warm, sunny spot on the estate at 400 meters in elevation. It presents myriad shades of dark cherry/plum fruit, sage, menthol, new leather and dark spices. Potent and virile... Read More
Ripe and jammy aromas emerge from the bouquet of the 2012 Galatrona. This pure expression of Merlot remains sharp and delineated overall, but the extra time in the bottle has given prominence to the wine's inherently fruity... Read More
The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello has a very distinct character that is expressed in terms of its fine but present tannic structure and its somewhat fragile primary fruit. The Ovello dives straight into... Read More
The stunning 2004 Masseto (100% Merlot) presents layers of sweet jammy dark fruit and mineral notes that burst forth from the glass with notable length, purity and delineation. It is a decidedly elegant and super-refined Masseto... Read More
The epic 2012 Redigaffi (100% Merlot) shows amazing depth and a great sense of inner energy and seductive charm. The wine is soft and yielding with ripe layers of cherry, blackberry and cassis that slowly morph into savory spice,... Read More
Tasted from magnum (one of just 1,500 made), this is a new wine from Valdicava that is presented in quite the statement bottle with stunning artwork that depicts an allegory to a saint. With fruit from one of the most celebrated... Read More
Vietti's 2017 Barolo Lazzarito is absolutely gorgeous. Whatever the challenges of the growing season, they appear to have been no problem here. More than anything else, the Lazzarito impresses with its magnificent depth and... Read More
The 2017 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione shows all the signatures of this site, all turned up to the maximum. I am not sure I have ever tasted a Vietti Castiglione with this much heft. Super-ripe dark red fruit, rose petal, mocha,... Read More