Vinous (91)

The 2019 Chianti Classico Filetta di Lamole is fruity, open-knit and delicious, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. The mix of forward fruit and freshness from this high altitude site works so well. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint and spice linger. This is such a classy wine.

Decanter (96)

Fontodi’s brand spanking new Terrazze San Leolino Gran Selezione is a stunner. San Leolino was recognised locally as a cru site 200 years ago. The recently renewed terraces sit at 450 metres in Panzano but - unlike Fontodi’s Vigna del Sorbo, which is characterised by Galestro - the soil here is calcareous Alberese. Though recently bottled, this is forthright in its earthy, stony, mineral-like aromas. Elegant yet profound, the palate demonstrates decisive rose, red cherry and long-chained, enveloping tannins, finishing with a tangy salinity. It is still very buttoned up but has so much promise.

Decanter (97)

At an elevation of 400 metres, Vigna del Sorbo boasts Chianti Classico’s classic Galestro soil. The warm southwest-facing vineyard typically yields a powerful, intense wine in need of ageing. The 2019 demonstrates all the wild, penetrating characteristics of this site but it comes into harmony quickly, revealing its balance and precision. Wood-driven top notes of smoke and vanilla meld into pressed violets, rosemary and liquorice. Luscious red cherry and dark plum flesh are wrapped in long, layered chalky tannins. Across the palate there's an energetic beam of unwavering acidity, giving the wine a linear feel. The finish reverberates with fennel and crushed stone.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2019 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.

Indulge in eternal elegance with the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2019 — an exquisite showcase of Italian winemaking craftsmanship. Crafted in the historic family-owned vineyards located in the heartland of Barolo, this exquisite wine is a testament to Francesco Rinaldi's unparalleled emphasis on quality and tradition. A carefully selected blend of Nebbiolo grapes define its unique character that's brimful with layers of red cherries, exotic spices, and delicate rose petals. These rich nuances eloquently project Barolo's typical aromas, making the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2019 truly unforgettable.

This extraordinary vintage has spent two years in oak barrels, lending it an unmatched finesse and longevity, allowing it to evolve and improve in the bottle for years to come. A consummate companion for hearty meals, it truly embodies the timeless charm and sophistication of Barolo wines. Rejoice in - the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2019, a poetic symphony of flavours.

Experience the enveloping purr of the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi 2019, a sophisticated emanation from the renowned vineyards of Cannubi. This vintage gem, painstakingly produced in the heart of Italy's esteemed Piedmont region, is a testament to Francesco Rinaldi's unparalleled dedication to depth and distinction. Born under the watchful care of winemaker Luciano Rinaldi, each bottle is curated from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, culminating in a sublime fusion of black cherry, rose petal, and crushed mint.

Matured for three years in large Slavonian oak barrels, this wine showcases a superior harmony of power and purity, enhancing the palate with an engagingly robust character and impeccably balanced tannins. Its enchanting nuances and elegant finish evolves admirably with age, providing an exquisite encounter with every pour. A sip of the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi 2019 lingers as a splendid echo of the timeless excellence that defines the Rinaldi legacy.

The Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 2019 is an extraordinary showcase of Italian viticulture hailing from the acclaimed Barolo region of Piedmont. Ennobled by the skilled hands of the Rinaldi family, this majestic red embodies traditions dating back to 1870. The Nebbiolo grapes are selectively handpicked from the historic, south-facing 'Annunziata' vineyard, honouring its unique terroir.

Complex, powerful, yet elegant, the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 2019 offers a rich palate featuring distinct truffle, tobacco, and dried fruit notes enveloped by silky tannins. Meticulously vinified in oak casks followed by ageing in Slovenia oak barrels, it presents balanced harmonious flavours, ensuring its stature as a collector's gem.

This extraordinary Barolo showcases the mastery of Francesco Rinaldi, an esteemed producer with a splendid reputation for creating wines that endure time. A fantastic representation of quintessential Italian winemaking, the Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 2019 is an elegant testament to its magnificent heritage.

Vinous (95)

The entrancing 2019 Munjebel Rosso FM (Feudo di Mezzo Sottana) blossoms in the glass, with a dusty mix of sweet minty herbs and bright cherry complemented by a hint of cinnamon sugar. Its textures are like pure silk slowly draped across the palate, creamy, smooth, yet lifted and refined, delivering ripe red and hints of blue fruit under an air of lavender and violets. A pleasant inner sweet lingers on, along with a coating of fine tannins, as residual acids and hints of sour citrus maintain a lovely balance. The word “radiant” comes to mind and stays with me throughout the entire experience. Bravo. The Munjebel FM is a 100% Nerello Mascalese produced from the lower elevations of the Feudo di Mezzo cru. This is pure class.

Vinous (89)

The 2019 Barbera d'Alba is a fabulous every-day wine. Floral aromatics and red berry fruit grace this airy yet flavorful Barbera from Fratelli Alessandria. The 2019 is not a powerhouse, but it is supremely delicious and very easy to like.

Vinous (90-92)

The 2019 Barolo del Comune di Verduno is a dark, brooding wine. Dark-toned fruit, spice, menthol and licorice lend tons of intensity to this decidedly potent Verduno Barolo. There's real density and mid-palate richness. This is far from an entry-level bottling, that is for sure. Patience is essential.

Kerin O'Keefe (95)

Fragrant and refined, Fratelli Alessandria’s 2019 Barolo del Comune di Verduno opens with enticing scents recalling dog rose, perfumed forest berry, cedar and eucalyptus. Lithe and elegantly structured, the savory palate reveals juicy red cherry, spiced cranberry and star anise accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins. It’s well balanced, with fresh acidity.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Barolo Gramolere, tasted from barrel, is the most elegant wine Vittore Alessandria has made yet from his family's holdings in Monforte. Medium in body and transparent, the 2019 offers up black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice, dried herbs and menthol are all laced together in a layered, mysterious wine that captures the essence of Nebbiolo in Barolo. The classically austere finish is a thing of beauty.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Barolo Gramolere, tasted from barrel, is the most elegant wine Vittore Alessandria has made yet from his family's holdings in Monforte. Medium in body and transparent, the 2019 offers up black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice, dried herbs and menthol are all laced together in a layered, mysterious wine that captures the essence of Nebbiolo in Barolo. The classically austere finish is a thing of beauty.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero, tasted from barrel, is fabulous. Silky and elegant, with tons of energy, the Monvigliero is showing beautifully today, even as a sample from tank with low SO2 typical of this stage pre-bottling. Even so, all the translucent finesse of Monvigliero comes through loud and clear. Crushed red berry fruit, chalk, blood orange, mint and white pepper lend brightness. The 2019 is shaping up to be a real beauty. It's one of those young wines that is very hard to spit.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero, tasted from barrel, is fabulous. Silky and elegant, with tons of energy, the Monvigliero is showing beautifully today, even as a sample from tank with low SO2 typical of this stage pre-bottling. Even so, all the translucent finesse of Monvigliero comes through loud and clear. Crushed red berry fruit, chalk, blood orange, mint and white pepper lend brightness. The 2019 is shaping up to be a real beauty. It's one of those young wines that is very hard to spit.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno, tasted from barrel, is another potent wine from Alessandria. Heady and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous energy and drive from start to finish. Dark red fruit, gravel, incense, scorched earth, rose petal, licorice and iron are some of the many notes that race out of the glass. The 2019 is wild and racy, sort of like a misbehaved child, but in the best sense! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2019 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno, tasted from barrel, is another potent wine from Alessandria. Heady and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous energy and drive from start to finish. Dark red fruit, gravel, incense, scorched earth, rose petal, licorice and iron are some of the many notes that race out of the glass. The 2019 is wild and racy, sort of like a misbehaved child, but in the best sense! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Lovingly crafted in Tuscany, the Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2019 is a testament to the mastery of Fuligni, a revered winemaker revered for over a century. This red wine expresses deep complexity, woven with a rich tapestry of earthy leather, ripe cherry, and balsamic notes. The unique blend of Sangiovese grapes, handpicked from hillside vineyards and aged in Slovenian oak barrels, lends to its profound structure and polished tannins. With such meticulous production methods, Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2019 is a sensual delight for connoisseurs seeking the finest Italian pedigree.

Its crimson allure offers a full-bodied, robust yet harmonious dance on your palate with immaculate, lengthy finish. This wine's elegance and vigour merrily echo the sunshine-soaked terroirs of Montalcino, expressing the tranquillity and essence of the Tuscan landscape in each sip. Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2019 is beyond wine; it's a picturesque journey through Italy's wine-making mastery.

Vinous (93)

The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino Ginestreto takes things to a more classic place with dried strawberries, dusty florals, cloves and nuances of worn leather. It washes across the palate with a textural wave of ripe red and black fruits, supported by brisk acidity, as a salty core of minerals and fine tannins slowly saturates. The 2019 finishes structured and long, reminding me more of Brunello than Rosso, while leaving hints of licorice and minty herbs to linger on. The Ginestreto impresses once again with its amazing combination of fruit, acid and structure that promises many years of positive evolution.

The Wine Independent (97)

Gaja's 2019 Barbaresco was bottled only a few days before this tasting but it already has sweet roses and red fruits on the nose with very subtle, gentle spice notes. It has a great texture and flows gracefully across the palate. It feels very harmonious with plenty of refreshing acidity and finely integrated tannins. Sublimely elegant with a fine, silt-like texture to the tannins, it is poised, beautifully understated and charming. Keep for 2 years and drink for up to 20 plus.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is a gorgeous vintage that continues to flesh out beautifully. I added an extra point to my score since the last time I tasted the 2019 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda in order to underline the great potential of this vintage. This wine could legally be a Bolgheri Superiore, but Angelo Gaja prefers not to use qualifying wine terms such as Superiore, Classico or Riserva in his various wine projects spanning from Piedmont to Tuscany to Etna. Semantics aside, this is a gorgeous wine—one of the best made at Ca' Marcanda for sure—with impressive intensity and balance. Dark fruit and blackberry are contrasted against spice, tobacco, grilled rosemary and Mediterranean bramble. The 2019 vintage saw favorable weather conditions and "just the right amount of rain," Gaja says.

Wine Advocate (97)

Impeccably balanced with that proverbial Gaja Madias Touch that always denotes an extra level of creaminess or fruit concentration that fits lock and key with the wine's acidity and velvety tannic structure, this is a truly gorgeous wine. The Pieve Santa Restituta 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina represents a blend of fruit from sites of various soil compositions and exposures. In this classic vintage, you can count on a wine that is firmly structured and important in terms of mouthfeel, but it also yields to delicate and softer nuances of wild rose, toasted cumin seed, campfire ash and grilled rosemary. The wine sticks to the palate and offers long-lasting black fruit flavors.

Vinous (91)

The 2019 Barolo Albe is a nuanced, understated wine, but it is also a rare Albe that needs time in bottle. Sweet floral and spice notes open first, leading to an attractive core of Nebbiolo fruit. Gentle and understated, with lovely precision, the 2019 Albe is a hushed wine that is more about energy than size. I have seen the Albe really blossom with a few years in bottle. I expect that will be the case here as well given its super-classic feel.

Wine Advocate (97+)

The last wine poured at my tasting at the winery is the G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Bricco delle Viole. With its high vantage point in the hills west of Barolo, Bricco delle Viole is a world apart in terms of soils (with Sant'Agata marl and fossils) and even harvest times. Slow and careful ripening like the kind that characterizes fruit in 2019 renders a very delicate and ethereal expression with floral tones, wild mint and licorice. This organic wine is solid in build and structure. Indeed, Isidoro Vaira remarks that Nebbiolo tannins have changed since the 1970s and 1980s. Because of climate change and stylistic preference, they are more polished and accessible today.