Vinous (96)

Giacomo Conterno's 1997 Barolo Cascina Francia was also fabulous. The 1997 vintage seems to have yielded great wines in some of Piedmont's poorer soils, as this heroic Barolo amply demonstrated. The 1997 was pure Serralunga Barolo, which is to say roses, tar and licorice galore on a frame of substantial depth and pure breed.

Vinous (96)

The 2009 Il Caberlot has developed beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark red cherries, dark raspberries, rose petals, mint and licorice all explode from the glass. Rich, vibrant and beautifully alive, the 2009 impresses for its superb balance and class. This is a stunning wine that brings together the intensely savory personality of the Cabernet Franc/Merlot hybrid allied to the voluptuousness of the warm vintage. Today, the 2009 comes across as fresher and more vibrant than the 2011s. Any way you look at it, the 2009 is a stunning Caberlot.

Vinous (96)

The 2015 Il Caberlot opens with a blast of blackberry jam, chocolate, licorice and spice. Exotic and deep, with tremendous character, the 2015 delivers serious flavor intensity while remaining light on its feet for such a powerful wine. The combination of textural resonance and finesse is striking in the 2015. Bottled only in magnum.

Vinous (100)

The 2018 Il Caberlot is a stunning wine. It's not the most immediate nor explosive Caberlot, but it is such a tremendous example of this wine. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. Crushed herbs, rose petal, mint, blood orange, incense and sweet pipe tobacco all build in the glass. Imagine Cheval Blanc, but with a good dose of Tuscan sun. Readers who can find the 2018 should not hesitate, as it is magical. I imagine it will be even better in the commercial magnums than this 750ml tasting sample.

From the vine-swept hills of Tuscany's Chianti region comes the magnificent Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot 2019. Harvested and crafted by the prestigious Bettina and Moritz Rogosky, this luxurious wine convoys a touch of exclusivity, as the Caberlot grape is solely grown at the Rogosky’s vineyard. Revel in the lavish blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that gives Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot 2019 its unique flavour profile.

Hand-picked at the height of ripeness, each batch is aged for 22 months in French oak barrels and further matured in bottles. This fine Italian wine is a rich symphony of elegant, sophisticated flavours. Expect a ravishing bouquet of black cherry, mocha and tobacco followed by an intricate, persistent finish. It undoubtedly represents the Rogosky's passionate commitment to viticulture perfection.

When savouring the Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot 2019, you're indulging in not just a bottle of wine but also a rare, encapsulated essence of Tuscan winemaking-

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.

Experience the distinctive qualities of the Luigi Pira Barolo Rionda 2019, a truly exceptional Italian red wine crafted in the celebrated Barolo region of Piedmont. Produced by the prestigious Luigi Pira estate, known for low-yielding, old vines that result in intense, deeply flavoured wines, this bottle is no exception. Harvested in the small Rionda vineyard, revered for its prime South-East exposure and mineral-rich soil, the Nebbiolo grapes are meticulously matured in large Slavonian oak casks to convey this vintage's remarkable balance between power and elegance.

The Luigi Pira Barolo Rionda 2019 flaunts a ruby red colour, releasing intense scents of dark fruit, truffle and lavender. On the palate, it carries layered notes of black cherry, dried herbs, and an earthy undertone that culminates in a lingering finish. Its structured tannins and focused acidity make it a compelling wine that's destined to evolve beautifully over time.

James Suckling (97)

So much ash and dried-strawberry character. Burnt orange-peel undertones. Tar, too. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Lots of rose petals. This needs four or five years to open, but nicely integrated now. Try after 2024.

Vinous (96)

The 2018 Le Pergole Torte is dense, creamy and nuanced from the very first taste. Red/purplish berry fruit, spice, rose petal and a touch of new French oak all build as the Pergole Torte opens with aeration. As always, Pergole shows that extra touch of richness from the selection of fruit used here, with that added texture from French oak. As appealing as the 2018 is today, it is of course a very young wine that will need years to be at its very finest.

Savour the exquisite Nervi-Conterno Gattinara 2019, a true embodiment of artistry from the finest vineyards of Piedmont, Italy. Produced from Nebbiolo grapes, this wine exudes a rich garnet hue, revealing a fascinating spectrum of flavours with each sip.

Crafted under the masterful hands of esteemed producer Roberto Conterno, this wine showcases his dedication to traditional techniques, turning hand-picked grapes into fine wine using ancient vinification in oak casks for a period of 40 months. This process imparts a unique complexity, offering hints of dried rose, wild berry, and a satisfying truffle finish that lingers.

It is the first release since the partnership between Roberto Conterno and the historic Nervi estate, bringing together an anticipated fusion of contemporary skill and timeless tradition. An outstanding representation of its terroir, Nervi-Conterno Gattinara 2019 confirms the region's status as a premium wine-producing area.

Vinous (96+)

(the 30th anniversary for this cru, which was bottled on its own beginning in 1978; Scavino will offer just over 200 cases, plus a few magnums; bottled with the estate's old gold label): Good deep, youthful red. Deep, pure, almost shockingly primary aromas of black cherry and espresso. At once silky and vinous, saturating the entire palate under a wave of red fruits and smoky minerality. Wonderfully plush and sweet but powerful too, finishing with noble tannins and sexy building length. Impeccable balance gives this wine an almost magical light touch. This slowly evolving wine should gain in complexity for two decades or more. A small quantity of grapes were fermented in a special vertical tank; the fermentation lasted a week and Scavino used a submerged cap for another four or five days of maceration.

Vinous (98+)

Fully saturated, impenetrable inky-ruby color. Smells very concentrated but offers pristine herbal and mineral nuances to the ripe red and black fruit aromas and flavors. Much more refined in the mouth than the powerful nose indicates, with lively acidity nicely extending flavors similar to the aromas on the long rich and very dense finish. A marvelous wine that is both rich and concentrated and yet light on its feet. Finishes with an enticing, spicy juicy note. This blend of 60% Petit Verdot and 40% Cesanese d’Affile is an absolutely superb wine; well done. I’m curious to see how this develops over the next few years and if it will one day merit a perfect score or not.

Vinous (90)

Poggio Antico's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a dark, sensual beauty. Black cherries, mocha, smoke, licorice, leather and cloves meld together in a racy, powerful Brunello built on pure texture. The style is rich, racy and super-intense, with silky tannins that support the structured finish. The 2010 spent three years in cask.

Greg Sherwood MW (94)

We all know when Produttori del Barbaresco decide not to bottle all their great nine grower crus, the resulting wines are all blended into the Barbaresco DOCG normale cuvee. 2018 is just such a vintage and sure enough, eager collectors have been waiting for this super charged Nebbiolo release. On initial examination, the wine shows the most pretty, lifted, inviting aromatics of dried rose petals, crushed coriander, tart red cherries, salty blueberries and a seductive red liquorice complexity. On the palate, there is an attractive translucent purity and silky filigree tannins that combine with a suave, lithe, harmonious concentration of red cherry candied fruits, touches of tar, saline cassis, sloe berries and a finish that typifies true, pure classical Nebbiolo fruit. While the seductive allure of the perfumed aromatics currently outpace the slightly backwardness of the palate fruit density and structure, all the signs in the glass point to another extremely fine and supremely attractive Barbaresco release. Drink from 2022 to 2034+.

Kerin O'Keefe (96)

Camphor, rose, cedar and ripe red berry aromas come to the forefront on this beautiful Barbaresco. Smooth and elegantly structured, the focused palate features ripe Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and white pepper alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.

Vinous (93+)

The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is a potent, savory wine. Today, the fruit is very much in the background. A brooding, backward Barbaresco, the Montestefano clearly needs time, it is a somber, imposing Barbaresco. Dark plum, earthiness, cloves, menthol and licorice infuse the finish with notable gravitas. There's plenty of Montestefano breadth and resonance.

Vinous (95)

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is perhaps the most complete of the 2019 Riservas at this stage. It offers fine depth, plenty of tannin and nascent emerging inner sweetness to tie it all together. A wine of stature and textural depth, the Montestefano is my early favorite in this lineup.

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.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a heady, explosive wine. I don't think I have ever tasted an Ovello from the Produttori with this much heft. The strong mineral and saline accents typical of this site are present, but they are matched pound for pound by notable mid-palate richness and intensity in its fruit. The 2017 is a brooding powerhouse that needs time to unwind.

Vinous (94)

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is powerful, savory and intensely linear, in classico Ovello style, and yet it appears to have enough fruit behind its imposing tannins to develop well over the coming years. In this tasting, the Ovello feels pretty closed post bottling, but its inherent balance and qualities are there. Clean saline notes extend the finish in promising fashion.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabajà, the 2017 is painfully young today. It will be interesting to see what time brings. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse. Black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar, game and menthol develop in the glass, but only with great reluctance.

Vinous (94)

The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is redolent of dark fruit, crushed rocks, graphite, sage, menthol and lavender all race across the palate, supported by bracing, young Rabajà tannins that make themselves felt. This mid-weight, powerhouse Barbaresco packs quite a punch.

Vinous (92)

The 2017 Barbaresco Albesani is delicate and ethereal. Crushed flowers, sweet dried cherry, cinnamon and orange zest give this deceptively light-bodied Barbaresco a good deal of both nuance and complexity. All the elements are so nicely balanced. All things considered, the 2017 is an understated wine from this Neive site.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Blue flower, tobacco, camphor and ripe berry are just some of the aromas you'll find on the stunning red. Firmly structured and still youthfully austere, the compelling palate features ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside noble tannins. Bright acidity keeps it well-balanced and lends a seriously ageworthy structure.

Vinous (96)

A magnum of Roberto Voerzio’s 2000 Barbera d’Alba Pozzo, from David Stout’s cellar, was magnificent. Gloriously ripe and seamless, the wine showed extraordinary purity and enough freshness to drink well for at least another decade. It was magnificent, and on its own the most impressive of these three wines.

James Suckling (96)

This is a spectacular magnum with plums, blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate. A hint of toasted oak. Graphite undertones. Full-bodied, rich and layered with great density and intensity. Orange peel and spice. Old-vine magic. Greatness. Drink or hold.

Vinous (97)

Always released a year later than the majority of the wines, the 2008 Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate is just as fabulous today as it was last year and every other time I have tasted it. Cool-mineral inflected notes grace the palate in this vibrant, beautifully delineated Barolo. A wine of pure structure and pedigree, the 2008 captivates the senses with layers of dark fruit, pine, menthol, new leather, tobacco, exotic spices and tar. Readers need to give the 2008 at least several more years in bottle, but, wow, what a wine!