Vinous (90)

One of the many very successful 100% merlot wines made in Italy today, this wine created an unbelievable stink a few years ago when it won a major award, and then someone pointed out that it couldn't legally have been made in that part of Campania as merlot wasn't an allowed grape variety there. All the controversy has since cleared up, leaving us with a monumental merlot that is held in high esteem everywhere. Almost black in color. Redolent of licorice, coffee liqueur, dark chocolate, overripe plum and red and bing cherry jam. Supple and silky enough to be enjoyable already; shows dark chocolate and roasted coffee bean notes as well as an attractive smokiness. Finishes extremely long, with massive tannins. A bit more finesse would only add to the pleasure of the experience.

Vinous (88)

Yellow-gold color. Tangy aromas of apricot, oran ge and nutty, vanillin oak, with a honeyed note adding complexity. The exotic orange and apricot character continues in the mouth, where lovely ripe acidity perks up the wine's fruit. Concentrated and bright but not especially fleshy or structured for this bottling.

Vinous (95)

The 2002 Masseto is such a gorgeous wine. Red cherry, sweet red plum, spice and floral overtones all convey freshness. Medium in body, yet with lovely depth, the 2002 is an example of how well Masseto can do in cool, rainy years. As always, the magnum format helps. The 2002 spent 20 months in oak, a bit less than normal.

Emanating from the celebrated Piedmont region in Italy, Petterino Gattinara 2002 boasts a pristine ochre hue, symbolising its majestic age. This iconic Neive-based gem is the embodiment of the shared passion and expertise of its producer, Luigi Petterino. His unwavering commitment to impeccable craftsmanship shines through the wine's complex profile.

Resting on volcanic soil, the vineyard's Nebbiolo grapes revel in the nourishing mineral composition that transfers into the wine. Through meticulous oak ageing, it reverberates with a rich tasting profile. The Petterino Gattinara 2002 is recognised for its vibrant red fruit flavours and harmonious spice undertones, balanced seamlessly with measured acidity and firm tannins to create a velvety, long-lasting finish.

This vintage of Petterino Gattinara 2002 has certainly matured with grace. It retains the benchmark standards customarily associated with Italy's world-famous wine production. A quintessential addition for those appreciative of an elegant, aged, and refined wine experience.

Immerse yourself in the captivating elegance of Petterino Gattinara 2002, a prestigious emblem of not only Italy's wine heritage but also the passionate viticulture of the renowned Petterino family. Born from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, this vintage is a shining representation of the Piedmont region's gravelly, volcanic soils enriched by decades of commitment to sustainable farming.

Reflecting a rich hue of garnet, Petterino Gattinara 2002 invites your palate to ravish in striking notes of dried cherries, rose petals, ground clove and tobacco. Its vibrant acidity and resolved tannins, aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 4 years, craft an unrivalled balance and velvety texture, evoking a lingering finish that truly amplifies this wine's complexity. An evaluated score of 92 by Wine Spectator reiterates the vintage's brilliance, ascribing it an undeniable place among the world's finest wines.

For a redolent journey of discreet opulence and harmonised flavour, procure a taste of the Petterino Gattinara 2002.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90+)

(80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% cabernet franc): Medium saturated ruby-red. Fresh aromas of blackcurrant, graphite, herbs and mocha. Intense flavors of minty blackberry and cedar, complicated by leather and minerals and a hint of tomato paste. This has filled out considerably with time in bottle and now shows less of the green edges that were apparent a few years ago. Another very good example of how lesser vintages of Sassicaia improve markedly with time; I probably underrated this wine in my initial evaluation. Though 2002 was a horrific, rain-plagued vintage, insiders know that it rained less in Bolgheri than in other parts of Tuscany, and to Incisa della Rocchetta?s credit, a whopping 40% of the final wine was declassified, so there?s less Sassicaia to go around from this vintage.