Wine Advocate (94+)

The 2015 Barolo Bricco Delle Viole is a delicate and pure expression of Nebbiolo. The wine shows its naked beauty with pride, provocatively semi-dressed in lacy, floral aromas of wild rose and pressed violets. At this young age, the wine exhibits a gentle mix of fruity and floral characteristics that merge into the bouquet with intrepidness. The fruit from this vineyard within the Barolo township has maintained its freshness and crispness despite the heat of the 2015 growing season. I think it would be a lovely match for a veal piccata and cream sauce, with parsley and capers.

Wine Advocate (98)

From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or "evergreen" wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant'Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Aromas of underbrush, pine forest, woodland berries and cedar form the enticing nose. Full-bodied and savory, the structured palate delivers ripe Morello cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and cinnamon before closing on pipe tobacco notes. Tightly knit but refined tannins provide the backbone, while surprisingly fresh acidity for the hot vintage keeps it balanced.

Boasting eminent Italian origins, the Giulia Negri Barolo Marassio 2017 is delicacy hailing from Piedmont region's Serradenari, the highest vineyard in Barolo. This 100% Nebbiolo varietal is a testament to Giulia Negri's innovative, youthful approach coupled with dedication towards traditional winemaking techniques. The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in large oak casks. Aged for 30 months, these old-style vessels allow the wine to develop robust, complex characteristics without overpowering the inherent nuances of the Nebbiolo grape.

True to its lineage, the Giulia Negri Barolo Marassio 2017 showcases Starbright garnet hues, expressing notes of cherry, raspberry and rose, intertwined with licorice and spice undertones. The taste reveals an elegant harmony of acidity, minerality and polished, integrated tannins. Given the impeccable reputation of Negri, known as 'Barolo Girl', her Marassio 2017 Barolo is guaranteed to increase in depth and complexity with careful cellaring, epitomising the exquisite richness of fine Barolo wines.

Vinous (95+)

Good medium red. Ineffable soil-driven aromas of strawberry, dried flowers, rust, mocha and pungent minerality. Juicy and highly complex, offering saline, savory flavors of strawberry, minerals and underbrush. This is about white soil perfume and subtlety, not weight but there's terrific intensity nevertheless. Finishes suave and vibrant, with uncanny subtle length. Built for a long and graceful life in bottle. Mascarello owns 6.5 hectares of this prime south-facing cru in Castiglione Falletto. He has mostly lampia clone planted here but also has 18% old-vines michet and 6% rose.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2015 Barolo Brunate benefits from a thicker soil profile in this vineyard that consequently bumps the wine's aromatic intensity and staying power up a notch or two. This wine is almost crunchy in texture, with a subtle snap or crackle as it hits the palate. It shows enormous beauty and richness with a dark fruit profile followed by elements of spice, tar, tobacco and moist potting soil. There are floral notes as well with rose and lavender. This wine will reward those with the patience to wait.

Wine Advocate (91)

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino offers bright intensity and an elegant approach. The bouquet is redolent of cassis, dried blackberry, toasted almond and pipe tobacco. There are sweet notes from the fruit and savory notes developed over the wine's long aging period. Both aspects are nicely contrasted against each other. This wine should continue to evolve and will put on more weight with age.

Vinous (94)

The 2018 Barolo Marenca is a powerful, deep Serralunga Barolo. Wild dark cherry, spice, menthol, licorice, plum, dried herbs and mocha infuse the 2018 with tons of character. There is plenty of richness and intensity, but thankfully the bruising tannins of the past appear to have been tamed. There is a lot of wine here. This is a fine, fine showing.

James Suckling (97)

Really attractive blue fruit and flowers with hints of minerals. Full-bodied, very tight and sexy with super fine tannins, at the same time. A structured and racy young wine. Better after 2021.

Vinous (95+)

The 2014 Il Carbonaione is one of the truly exceptional wines of this challenging season. Lithe and aromatic on the palate, with fabulous energy and overall brightness, it stands out for its superb balance. In many vintages, Il Carbonaione can be a bit bombastic. The 2014, on the other hand, is all finesse. Violet, lavender and cloves add shades of nuance to this bright, beautifully persistent Carbonaione. The 2014 won't be at its best for at least a few years, but its potential is evident.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.

Wine Advocate (94)

This is the last wine I tasted in this group of nine from Produttori del Barbaresco. The reason I placed the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano last is because it is usually considered to be the most powerful and determined in the flight. However, when you really get down to it, this vintage is more tight, streamlined and ethereal than expected. It is saving the best for later, and indeed, the wine is poised to evolve and open fully many years from now. There is a note of shyness here or restraint. Exactly 16,036 bottles were made, and this Riserva demands patience.

Wine Advocate (96)

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 those ephemeral Nebbiolo aromas with an emphasis on licorice, tar, blue flower and campfire ash. If you consider this timeline of Riservas, this wine brings us through that magic threshold in which Nebbiolo starts to show its unique aromatic appeal and mystique. This is always one of my favorites in this series of nine. Production is 18,741 bottles.

Vinous (97+)

The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is the most severe and angular of these wines. It will appeal most to die-hard classicists. Chalk, white pepper, mint and sweet red cherry fruit all grace this chiseled, beautifully translucent Barbaresco. As always, the Ovello needs a number of years in bottle to reveal its charms, which in 2016 are many. It is a positively stellar wine in every way.

Decanter (95)

Guidalberto 2020 is a blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured for 15 months in oak (20% new), including a small percentage of American oak. The aromas are a little heavier, with ripe dark fruit and a fragrant, floral note. It's a little less finely detailed aromatically than the 2021, with some smoke, spice and green herb qualities. The palate is round, medium-full bodied with juicy, bright acidity. It's a very friendly wine with very fine tannins and there's a little more grip and silty texture to the tannins.

Greg Sherwood MW (95)

There doesn’t seem to be complete agreement amongst growers as to whether 2021 in Bolgheri was an easy or difficult vintage. What certainly is in agreement is that this cooler Tuscan vintage yielded some incredibly taut, intense, vibrant wines. Aged in 85% French and 15% American oak 225 litre barrels, 40% new, for 15 months, this beautiful Guidalberto 2021 boasts fabulously piercing aromatics of violets, black cherries, blackberry compote and seductive dark plum over sweet exotic Christmas spices and stony graphite notes. The oak and vanilla wood spice is still busy integrating with the super taut, tight palate fruit intensity, perhaps at a slightly slower pace than in a riper, warmer vintage. But it’s the palate’s chiselled focus and linearity that marks this vintage as a true stand out expression amongst more recent dryer, warmer years. The texture is laser focused but also wonderfully transparent showing the true mineral terroir characteristics of Bolgheri together with a wonderfully fresh, tart, glassy acidity supported by sleek, polished marble tannins on a pithy cherry cola packed finish. A vintage to be truly celebrated but also one best to bury in the cellar for an another 8 to 10+ years.

Vinous (96)

The 2006 San Leonardo is a masterpiece in the making. This is a dark, alluring and seductive vintage, richly displaying crushed black cherry and plum, offset by exotic sweet spices, tobacco and dried florals. It's textural depths tempt the imagination, giving way to ripe blackberries with a subtle citrus twang, complemented by stimulating minerality and juicy acids. An air of savory herbs develops over a coating of fine tannin. The long, and I mean long finale, balances youthful structure with persistent inner perfumes and primary fruit. The 2006 is like a well-muscled stallion. While still very early in its evolution, there’s no harm in checking on it now, but the best is yet to come.

Immerse yourself in the rich, lustrous experience of the Scopone Brunello Montalcino Olivare 2010, a sensational embodiment of Tuscany's acclaimed Brunello di Montalcino. Scopone, a prestigious producer from Montalcino, meticulously cultivates their Sangiovese grapes in the vineyards of Pian delle Vigne, ensuring optimal quality. This laudable 2010 vintage, renowned for its remarkable balance and longevity, has undergone traditional vinification followed by maturation in large oak barrels.

Upon uncorking, you're greeted with enticing aromas of ripe cherry, earthy truffles, and luxurious leather, harmoniously layered with a spicy background. Relish the palate's well-structured tannins, balanced acidity, and captivating flavours from dark fruits to floral notes. This full-bodied wine, with its long, elegant finish, effortlessly symbolises the undeniable sophistication of Scopone's winemaking brilliance as it pays tribute to the spectacular 2010 Brunello di Montalcino vintage. Scopone Brunello Montalcino Olivare 2010 is surely an irresistible choice for the discerning wine aficionado.