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.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

A gorgeous offering, this opens with enticing scents of ripe woodland berries, blue flowers, new leather and baking spice. On the elegantly structured, savory palate, taut, polished tannins accompany raspberry compote, ripe Marasca cherry, star anise and crushed rosemary. It's already showing beautifully but will also offer years of fine sipping. Drink 2023–2029

Wine Enthusiast (97)

A gorgeous offering, this opens with enticing scents of ripe woodland berries, blue flowers, new leather and baking spice. On the elegantly structured, savory palate, taut, polished tannins accompany raspberry compote, ripe Marasca cherry, star anise and crushed rosemary. It's already showing beautifully but will also offer years of fine sipping. Drink 2023–2029

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

Pressed rose, forest berries, crushed mint and dark spice are front and center on this fragrant, stunning red, which also has whiffs of new leather. Showing the estate's hallmark of finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, baking spice and licorice framed in tightly wound, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the few 2017s that show some serious aging potential. Drink 2025–2037.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

Underbrush, camphor and new leather aromas get together with grilled herbs. Full-bodied and structured, it also shows restraint, featuring dried black cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside firm, fine-grained tannins.

Vinous (97)

The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.

Vinous (96)

Isole e Olena 2017 Syrah is powerful, dense and savory. Readers should not plan on opening a bottle anytime soon. Black cherry, plum, licorice, espresso, chocolate and leather build as this brooding Tuscan Syrah shows off its considerable character. The 2017 is a real powerhouse. Give it a few years in bottle.

Drenched in Tuscan tradition, Jurij Fiore & Figlia Porcacciamiseria Lamole 2017 is a compelling masterpiece of sun-kissed elegance. This exquisite red wine hails from the hilltops of Lamole, a historic region known for its remarkable terroir and viticultural expertise. The wine is meticulously crafted by the father-daughter tandem of Jurij Fiore and his progeny, a testament to the enduring legacy of Tuscan winemaking. Infused with the refined balance of Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo grapes, the Porcacciamiseria Lamole 2017 layers sumptuous notes of ripe red fruits with subtle undertones of spice and earth.

Basking in the sunlit slopes, the grapes attain unrivalled concentration and complexity, shaped by the region's unique microclimate and diverse soil composition. The wine is then aged meticulously in large oak barrels, further enhancing its profound character. A sterling exponent of its lineage, the Jurij Fiore & Figlia Porcacciamiseria Lamole 2017's allure lies not just in its robust flavour profile, but in its ability to capture the soulful essence of its Tuscan provenance.

Handcrafted in the picturesque Lamole region in the heart of Italy's premium Chianti Classico region, the Jurij Fiore & Figlia Puntodivista Lamole 2017 exemplifies the art of meticulous winemaking. This ethereal vintage is the proud creation of respected vintner Jurij Fiore and his gifted daughter, an embodiment of the family's enduring commitment to their craft.

Grown in vineyards perched 550 metres above sea level, the grapes absorb a superb blend of sunlight, fresh air, and distinctive terrain, which results in a wine of incomparable character. The 2017 vintage is a testament to the Fiore philosophy of minimal intervention in the winery. Ripe Sangiovese grapes are hand-picked and fermented naturally, expressing the quintessential Lamole terroir.

This splendid vintage presents nuanced flavours of wild red cherries and earthy undertones, a delicate balance between intensity and elegance, proving the Jurij Fiore & Figlia Puntodivista Lamole 2017 to be a true connoisseur's choice.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

One of the best wines of the vintage, this stunner opens with compelling aromas of new leather, forest floor, perfumed berry and menthol. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the delicious palate delivers crushed raspberry, ripe Marasca cherry, baking spice and licorice set against firm, refined tannins. It boasts remarkable freshness and balance for the hot vintage.

Vinous (98)

The 2017 Petresco is a stunning, utterly captivating wine. In a vintage that produced so many rich, opulent reds, Petresco is vertical in build and endowed with tremendous energy. Black cherry, spice, leather, tobacco, licorice and dried flowers open with a bit of coaxing. All the elements are so well balanced. The purity of the fruit is breathtaking. What a wine!

Vinous (98)

The 2017 Petresco is a stunning, utterly captivating wine. In a vintage that produced so many rich, opulent reds, Petresco is vertical in build and endowed with tremendous energy. Black cherry, spice, leather, tobacco, licorice and dried flowers open with a bit of coaxing. All the elements are so well balanced. The purity of the fruit is breathtaking. What a wine!

Vinous (91)

The 2017 Bolgheri Rosso is a rich, explosive wine that embodies all of the natural richness and opulence of the year. Black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, plum, mocha, licorice, spice, leather and menthol burst from the glass in this exuberant, flamboyant red. Not a shy wine by any means, the 2017 possesses tons of intensity and volume in all of its dimensions. This is an especially heady wine, even by Bolgheri standards, and that is saying a lot! And yet all the elements are so well balanced.

James Suckling (97)

This wine shows beautiful clarity and class on the nose with roses, tar, currants, green and black olives and plums. It’s exceptionally fine-tannined with such polish and finesse. So sophisticated and intense for this vintage. Long, chewy finish, yet this is mouth-filling and caressing. Pure merlot. Try after 2024.

James Suckling (97)

This wine shows beautiful clarity and class on the nose with roses, tar, currants, green and black olives and plums. It’s exceptionally fine-tannined with such polish and finesse. So sophisticated and intense for this vintage. Long, chewy finish, yet this is mouth-filling and caressing. Pure merlot. Try after 2024.

Wine Advocate (97+)

The Three Graces of Le Macchiole are Messorio, Scrio and Paleo (Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, respectively). Of these three top-tier releases, my favorite is the 2017 Paleo. This is an upright and direct expression of the grape that carefully sheds some dusty or mineral aromas before opening the way for determined black fruit, charred meat, spice and cured tobacco or cigar. There is quite a bit of oak, but it works beautifully against the natural intensity and rich concentration of the hot vintage. More unexpected are those pretty tones of lilac, blue flower and aniseed that add to the detailed rendering and complexity of the bouquet. This wine won my heart.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

Entirely produced from Syrah, the 2017 Scrio is sunny with sweet black plum compote, black olive, leather, and candied violets. Polished with fine tannins and elegant yet full-bodied, with a long-lasting perfume, this is an outstanding wine to drink over the next 15-20 years.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Aromas of crushed mint, pressed rose and perfumed berry mingle with warm spice in this dazzling red. Thanks to some of the highest vineyard altitudes in the denomination, it boasts vibrancy and finesse in its flavors of ripe black cherry, juicy blood orange, licorice and crushed mint. Taut, elegant tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced and focused.

Wine Advocate (94)

The Le Ragnaie 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is a delicate and graceful expression that unfolds carefully to reveal wild berry, dried lilac and pretty earthy tones. This 26,000-bottle release fits into that enviable school of Brunello that prioritizes tradition, elegance and purity. These are the basic traits of a great Sangiovese, but they are not easily achieved by all. Le Ragnaie's identity is deeply linked with these efforts. Lifted notes of dried mint or Mediterranean herb appear on the close.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The Le Ragnaie 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Passo del Lume Spento (with 3,020 bottles made) sees its fruit sourced from one of the highest places in the appellation, or the "pass of the extinguished lantern," as the wine's name translates into English. It is part of a broader trend that Montalcino vintners seem to be looking for cooler, high-altitude growing sites for Sangiovese. This wine demonstrates without a doubt that elevation is key in obtaining elegance in the warm years. This Brunello is particularly bright, punchy and energetic. It is one of the stars of this report.

Vinous (93)

Dried roses and cherries are lifted by hints of cinnamon and clove as the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia grumbles up from the glass. This is nearly velvety in feel, with a dense wave of tart wild berries complicated by hints of sour citrus and balsamic spice. Plum and licorice nuances linger on, as the 2017 finishes structured, yet not severely so, leaving hints of mocha and red currants. The Ugolaia is another example of the success that Lisini had in this difficult vintage. That said, it will require a number of years to come fully into focus.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known with a burst of dusty black raspberries, mentholated herbs, crushed ashen stone and dark flowery undergrowth. Silky-smooth and round in feel, it impresses with a cooling wave of mint-infused wild berry fruits mixed with balsamic spices and wood-smoked salts. While the 2017 doesn’t have the weight and density you’d expect from such a young Pertimali, yet it makes up for it with grace and purity, leaving a light coating of tannins and minerals to mingle throughout the finale. In order to uphold their standards of quality, production was down by a whopping 50%.

James Suckling (97)

Dark-berry, walnut, cedar and violet aromas with just a hint of chocolate. Full-bodied, layered and rich with ripe tannins and a vivid finish. Shows energy and a velvety texture. Deep and long. Give it two or three years to soften. Try after 2022.

James Suckling (97)

Dark-berry, walnut, cedar and violet aromas with just a hint of chocolate. Full-bodied, layered and rich with ripe tannins and a vivid finish. Shows energy and a velvety texture. Deep and long. Give it two or three years to soften. Try after 2022.

Indulge in the robust allure of Macioche Brunello di Montalcino 2017, a veritable connoisseur's choice hailing from the prestigious Italian wine region of Montalcino. This sumptuous wine, made by esteemed producer 'Macioche', embodies the very essence of traditional Tuscan winemaking. Matured for 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels, it exudes a robust structure and full-bodied character that reflects the terroir's primal intensity.

Distinguished for its expressive bouquet of ripe berries and hints of chocolate and tobacco, Macioche Brunello di Montalcino 2017 is a testament to world-class winemaking. Each vintage is made using the delicate Sangiovese grape, meticulously hand-selected at the Macioche estate's vineyards, highlighting the brand's dedication to quality. The bold wine offers heady undertones of red fruit and spice on the palate, flawlessly balanced by its velvety tannins and an elongated, elegant finish.

A sophisticated addition to any fine wine collection, the Macioche Brunello di Montalcino 2017 is best savoured with robust dishes, transforming moments into exceptional experiences.