Vinous (93)

The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Quarz is youthfully coy, opening with an airy bouquet that mixes crushed rocks with dried flowers, hints of petrol and nectarines. This is pure pleasure on the palate, soft and round, with juicy acidity and ripe citrus-tinged orchard fruits that swirl as salty mineral tones penetrate deeply. The 2022 finishes with outstanding length and tension, leaving hints of sour melon and a tart lemon rind tinge. The 2022 is intense and built for the cellar.

James Suckling (96)

One of the best Tignanellos ever made. Aromas of currants and blueberries with hints of flowers. Full body with fine tannins and a refined finish. A red that delivers balance and beauty. Rich and gorgeous. Blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon. Better in 2015.

Vinous (95)

Kirsch, rose petal, pomegranate, exotic spices and mint are woven together in a fabric of notable class in the 2011 Tignanello. An exotic wine that captures the essence of the year, the 2011 is endowed with magnificent complexity, nuance and class. The silky, polished finish makes the 2011 incredibly appealing today, but the wines from this site have always aged very well. The 2011 is going to need time to shed some of its baby fat, but it will always remain extroverted and racy to the core. I can't wait to see how the 2011 ages.

Vinous (98)

Once again, the 2015 Tignanello is stunning. Sweet, floral notes give the 2015 striking aromatic intensity to play off a core of red Sangiovese fruit. In 2015, the Sangiovese is a bit higher than the norm, which comes through in the wine's flavor profile. The tannins are also a bit biting at this stage, but that won't be an issue in time. Bright red cherry, plum, blood orange mint and sweet floral notes build into a finish laced with energy and tension. The 2015 is utterly captivating. That's all there is to it.

Wine Enthusiast (99)

This fragrant, savory red carries aromas of underbrush, plum, blue flower, cocoa and camphor on the nose. The polished palate boasts juicy Marasca cherry, ripe blackberry, licorice, tobacco and an appealing hint of game. Silky tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced and elegant. Drink 2021–2036.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Aromas of cassis, menthol, blue flower and pipe tobacco shape the nose on this gorgeous red. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the delicious, elegantly structured palate delivers dried black cherry, ripe blackberry, licorice and vanilla framed in taut, fine-grained tannins.

Wine Advocate (98)

This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi Antinori 2018 Tignanello is quite the dapper and jovial wine that hits the market just as much of the world is emerging from a dark chapter of lockdowns and coronavirus curfews. I love the optimism that springs bright with such clarity and detail from within this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark for sure, but I prefer the 2018, thanks to that tinge of nostalgia or emotion that is so deftly rendered in this cool, long growing season.

Wine Advocate (98)

This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi Antinori 2018 Tignanello is quite the dapper and jovial wine that hits the market just as much of the world is emerging from a dark chapter of lockdowns and coronavirus curfews. I love the optimism that springs bright with such clarity and detail from within this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark for sure, but I prefer the 2018, thanks to that tinge of nostalgia or emotion that is so deftly rendered in this cool, long growing season.

Wine Advocate (98)

This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi Antinori 2018 Tignanello is quite the dapper and jovial wine that hits the market just as much of the world is emerging from a dark chapter of lockdowns and coronavirus curfews. I love the optimism that springs bright with such clarity and detail from within this blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark for sure, but I prefer the 2018, thanks to that tinge of nostalgia or emotion that is so deftly rendered in this cool, long growing season.

The Wine Independent (98)

The 2019 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello is brimming with youthful ebullience and demands to be noticed. The nose is immediate, direct, and very charming, with sweet, ripe, cherry fruit. On the palate it is supremely harmonious and balanced with delicious flavors of cream, spice and vivid, just-ripe, crunchy blackberry. The tannins are beautifully refined as with the superb 2016 but, if anything, there is even more refinement. Although it has not had time to develop any of its complexity or depth yet, it shows incredible potential and is already very much at ease with itself. It seems a return to a more normal vintage in 2019 has meant the vines were comfortable and not overly stressed. This 2019 Tignanello seems to reflect this wonderful sense of ease. Renzo Cotarella, CEO of Antinori and head of winemaking described this wine as ‘sbarazzino’ – vivacious. I can see what he means.

James Suckling (97)

Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable but better in three or four years.

James Suckling (97)

Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable but better in three or four years.

Vinous (98)

The 2021 Tignanello is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel and then just after bottling. Silky and polished, with exceptional finesse, the 2021 has all the pedigree to become a modern benchmark for Tignanello and Italian wine more broadly. Bright dark red fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco all soar out of the glass, framed by a discreet touch of French oak that adds raciness. In some vintages, the elements are discernible. In 2021, it is the total harmony of the wine that makes the strongest and deepest impression. The 2021 spent 17 months in wood, three months in neutral oak during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months (50% new) for the rest of its aging. Superb.

Wine Advocate (97)

Rich and fruit-forward, the Marchesi Antinori 2022 Tignanello very much respects the vintage that tends to deliver more concentration and volume overall. It delivers extra fruit weight with a velvety, satiny feel over a generous mouthfeel. Tignanello offers blackcurrant and cherry, but there is a mineral note that keeps things focused. This is a beautiful expression of the vintage, with excellent work done to execute soft tannins, texture and length.

Decanter (95)

Still in its infancy, this opaque red-coloured wine is very rich, juicy, and plummy on the nose, vibrant, poised and quite oaky. The attack is assertive and tannic, with richness and density, and it clearly needs time to shed its tightness. It's no heavyweight thanks to its fresh acidity, which keeps it polished and stylish, and there's ample energy and bite on the long finish.

Experience the refined elegance of the Torre Brunello Montalcino 2019, a spectacular embodiment of Italian viticulture from Torre's distinguished vineyards situated in the heart of Tuscany. Produced from 100% hand-selected Sangiovese grapes, this vintage underwent a traditional maturation process in Slovenian oak casks for over 48 months, cultivating its characteristic, deep garnet hue and robust, well-structured palette.

Heralded for its enticingly complex aroma, unwind delightful hints of black cherries, variations of wild berries, and a subtle note of spice with every sip. Torre’s Brunello Montalcino 2019 continues to entice your palette, delivering a beautifully balanced flavour profile—earthy undertones of cocoa blend with a resonating minerality, graced with a soft, yet persistent finish.

Historic wine producer, Torre, renowned for their adherence to strict DOCG regulations, have once again showcased unmatched skill and meticulous craftsmanship with the Torre Brunello Montalcino 2019, making it a sublime selection for even the most discerning of sommeliers.

Luca Maroni (99)

When it comes to subtlety and elegant expression, this is the absolute, considered champion. This wine does not present itself as black, but as a purplish bordeaux, which immediately and visibly conveys the balance, smoothness and the silkiness of its fleshy expression. A velvet silk glove that feels like a petal or lace to the touch. A sheath, a veil of sumptuous glycerin - the essence of the peak maturity of the fruit it is made from. A perfect rotundity of palate, somewhere between acidity, softness and tannin, an oenological sheen from the technique of its formation, shedding spiced light on its native splendour.

Wine Advocate (96+)

As the saying goes, good things come in small packages. The Cantina Tramin 2017 Alto Adige Gewürztraminer Vendemmia Tardiva Terminum is made with late-harvest fruit. The wine is packaged in a 375-milliliter bottle and only 4,200 bottles exist. The barrique-aged wine opens to a dark golden color with amber and copper highlights. It would be impossible to exaggerate the intensity of the honey, dried apricot and candied fruit aromas that rise from the bouquet. The one-hectare vineyard is located at a high 450 meters above sea level. The fruit is left to dry on the vines, and only when Botrytis cinerea (or the so-called "noble rot") appears are the grapes ready for harvest. The botrytis serves to safeguard the grape's natural acidity, and it shapes the high-toned and lifted aromas of the bouquet. This wine is simply gorgeous.

James Suckling (94)

Wonderful nose of yellow roses, fresh pineapple and jasmine, with delicately spicy overtones. Stunning ripeness and concentration, but even more importantly, almost impeccable balance for a grape variety that’s a winemaker’s nightmare. Very long, silky finish, where the 15% alcohol is barely perceptible. Drink or hold.

Vinous (91)

The 2017 Barolo is a pretty dense wine from proprietor Nicola Oberto. I am used to seeing a bit more finesse and transparency here, but the 2017 is quite a powerhouse. Large-grained tannins add to that impression. Time in the glass brings out hints of spice and tobacco, and yet the 2017 remains a bit rough around the edges.

Vinous (96)

The 2020 Barolo Berri is the bomb. Rich, racy and explosive, the 2020 Berri remains one of the very best wines in this young estate's history. It has started to close down a bit, especially in its aromatics, but its purity of fruit—the quality I have always admired most—is still very much present. What a wine!

Vinous (95)

The 2019 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is the best wine I have tasted yet from Nicola and Stefania Oberto. The biggest change here in recent years is the elimination of small oak in favor of casks, a move that really allows the full character of Rocche dell'Annunziata to come through. Dark cherry, kirsch, hard candy, rose petal and mint are all amplified in this gorgeous, translucent Barolo. A range of perfumed, floral accents lifts the intensely aromatic finish.

Wine Advocate (93)

This is a terrific value proposition. The 2019 Le Cupole is a blend of 47% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. The first vintage was made in 1995, and although these four varieties have been used in the blend since the beginning, the various percentages change according to vintage conditions. This long 2019 growing season was a little more challenging for the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The wine delivers plenty of rich concentration and ripeness, but there is also a pureness to the fruit that happily underscores its cheerful and informal personality.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2021 Le Cupole (a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot) is the well-priced entry-level red from one of the most prolific and creative wine estates in Tuscany. Le Cupole is velvety and full-bodied with dark fruit, dried cherry and sweet earth or terracotta. This is an incredible value. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, and the wine is matured in neutral barrique and cement. Some 100,000 bottles were released.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2016 Giusto di Notri is a profound and dark blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It exudes gravitas and importance with every sip, showing consecutive, deep layers of minerality, dark stone, spice and rich fleshy fruit, all bound by tight structure and fiber. This wine is remarkable both in terms of texture and dimension. There is a touch of sourness on the close. This is sure to be an interesting wine to follow as it opens up over the years. Indeed, the best is still to come, as Giusto di Notri is built for long cellar aging. With the next vintage, this wine celebrates its 25th birthday.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2017 Giusto di Notri is a special 25th anniversary bottling that is chiseled, sharp and focused. The small part of Merlot gives it some added sweetness (the percentage of Merlot was slightly reduced in this vintage), the touch of Cabernet Franc contributes the power, freshness and dark fruit, and along with a starring role of Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has lots of beautiful plushness restrained by a tight, disciplined linearity. This vintage saw less time in barrique (about 16 months) but the barrels had more toasting. There is a lasting mineral note of chalk or limestone that frames the dark and opulence quality of fruit at its core. The bouquet is stunning. The wine treads lightly in the palate, with a very elegant and nuanced approach. It really is another gorgeous wine from Tua Rita that shows the profound skill of this winemaking team even when faced with a hot vintage such as this.

Wine Advocate (96)

I had previously reviewed this blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot in a preview capacity. Now on the market, the 2018 Giusto di Notri comes together with seamless beauty. This is a rich and generous expression that delivers dark fruit intensity with blackberry and black currant, wrapped tightly together with ample oak notes of spice, tar and cured tobacco. The wine offers smooth transition and rich textural fiber, with soft angles and contours that frame the wine's full-bodied approach. Production is 33,000 bottles.

Wine Advocate (96)

I had previously reviewed this blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot in a preview capacity. Now on the market, the 2018 Giusto di Notri comes together with seamless beauty. This is a rich and generous expression that delivers dark fruit intensity with blackberry and black currant, wrapped tightly together with ample oak notes of spice, tar and cured tobacco. The wine offers smooth transition and rich textural fiber, with soft angles and contours that frame the wine's full-bodied approach. Production is 33,000 bottles.

Wine Advocate (97)

In a sense, this wine is like the Bosco dei Sugheri but with the addition of one more grape variety in the blend. The Tua Rita 2019 Giusto di Notri is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot. I tasted the wine shortly after it had been bottled. With 40,000 bottles made, it should start hitting the market now. The Giusto di Notri offers lots of dark primary fruit with important structure and texture in this classic vintage. Blackberry and black plum cede to spice, tar and campfire ash. There's nothing not to like in this vintage that far exceeded initial expectations. I look forward to tasting more Tuscan reds from the excellent 2019 growing season.