Susan Hulme MW (96)

2019 is shaping up to be a great vintage in Barolo and this Pio Cesare Barolo is a delightful example. The 2019 Pio Cesare Barolo has a very immediate and appealing nose..it has a beautiful, melting texture and super refined, perfectly ripe tannins. It is a classic Barolo in the old tradition of blending grapes from several different vineyard sites, in this case, three vineyards in Serralunga (Ornato, La Serra and Briccolina) as well as sites in La Morra, Grinzane Cavour, Novello and Monforte. Among the sweet red fruit and spice is a little twist of iron and a distinctive mineral note which evokes the Ornato vineyard and adds an extra dimension. This 2019 Barolo has such an appealing, outgoing and charming personality but also the power to last. I particularly like the transformation that has taken place with the tannins – they now glide gracefully across the palate.

James Suckling (95)

This is very spicy and fruity one with perfumed and bright aromas. Leather, too. Medium-bodied, refined and layered with beautiful ripe tannins. Fine, polished texture with berry and walnut undertones. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98)

The aromas are so complex yet subtle wtih wet earth, mushrooms and dark fruits. Dried flowers as well. Full body, chewy tannins that are ultra-fine and powerful, yet there is a finesse and beauty to them as I said from barrel. Classic, great nebbiolo. Try in 2023.

Podere di Valloni Colline Novaresi Sass Russ 2017 is a mastercrafted Italian red wine, hailing from Novara hills in Piedmont. An exemplar of artisanal winemaking, this biodynamically-grown gem is the labour of love by the esteemed Podere dei Valloni estate. The winery employed traditional vinification techniques with fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by maturation in oak barrels to procure the rich, elegant structure of the wine.

The 2017 Sass Russ is a harmonious blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina grapes that imparts a vibrant ruby red hue. As an expert connoisseur, you'll relish the bouquet of wild berries, mixed spices, and light notes of vanilla. On the palate, this wine surprises with a striking balance of tannin, acidity, and fruit-forward lushness.

Podere di Valloni Colline Novaresi Sass Russ 2017 is a testament to the Piedmontese terroir; a fine wine that deserves a place in every sophisticated cellar.

Vinous (96)

An enticing mix of exotic spice, crushed violets, medicinal black cherries and sweet mint wafts up from the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Lupi e Sirene. Its textures are silky and rich, nicely matched by depths of ripe red and blue berries, plus an enriching hint of almond paste. This stops just short of decadence, as salty minerals and bright acidity add a more savory twang, and fine-grained tannins slowly take hold. While structured, the long, dramatic finale is packed full of dark primary fruits, savory herbs and hints of mocha. I expect the 2016 Riserva Lupi e Sirene to be firing on all cylinders after only a short stay in the cellar. There will be no 2017 due to the drastic loss of fruit in that extremely dry and warm vintage.

From the sun-soaked hills of Montalcino in Tuscany comes the luxurious Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2016. This titillating wine, produced under the watchful eye of internationally renowned winemaker Sebastian Nasello, boasts a signature style unique to Podere Ripi estate. Splendidly matured for 24 months in oak casks and 36 months in bottle; this gumption and patience impart a bold, yet balanced depth of flavour.

Amore & Magia is an ethereal embodiment of ripe red and black fruits, accentuated by captivating notes of spices, grounded by echoes of earthy undertones. The delightful dance between its harmonious tannins and vibrant acidity promises a bountiful taste, leading to an enduring and elegantly structured finish. A distinct member of the prestigious Brunello di Montalcino denominazione, Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2016, is a stellar choice for avid collectors and distinguished palates.

Vinous (95)

A stellar wine, the 2016 Barbaresco Roncaglie is pretty, delicate and understated to the core. Rose petal, sweet spice, tobacco, mint, anise and sweet red cherry all grace this translucent, super-expressive Barbaresco from Poderi Colla. A Barbaresco of understatement and class, the 2016 is light on its feet, persistent and finely sculpted. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner sweetness and perfume, but the 2016 also needs time in bottle to be at its best. This is such a gorgeous wine.

The Real Review (96)

(Top Rank) Pale ruby tending to garnet. A heady bouquet redolent of rose petals, red cherry and sour plum, cinnamon and warm earth, all underscored by the toastiness of high-quality oak. To taste, the wine is rounded and finely textural, sweet fruit flavours discreet and wrapped in threads of firm tannins, supple of body with an impressively lingering finish. A lovely wine of poise and balance, it is perfectly approachable now but also has very fine ageing potential.

Vinous (95)

The 2012 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is another fabulous wine from Poderi Colla. Deep, layered and quite giving at the moment, the 2012 has more than enough depth to drink well for many years to come. It is perhaps not as pedigreed as the 2013 tasted alongside it, but it is very, very close. In fact, this is one of the highlights of the vintage.

Vinous (96)

Colla's 2013 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is a knock-out. Intensely sweet and perfumed, the 2013 reminds me of some of the most profound Barolos and Barbarescos I have tasted. Ripe red cherry, pipe tobacco, mint, dried rose petal, orange peel and anise are some of the endless nuances that seem to develop in the glass. The 2013 is a wine of depth, pedigree and class. It should provide thrilling drinking for a number of years. This is a regal wine in every way. Don't miss it.

Vinous (94)

The 2015 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is one of the most intriguing wines of the vintage. Sweet tobacco, cedar, dried cherry, mint and licorice give the wine an attractive openness at first, but that turns out to be deceptive, as the 2015 is much tighter on the palate. More than anything else, I am impressed by the wine's phenomenal length. I imagine the 2015 will always retain a slightly mature character in its aromas and flavors, but it also has the structure to develop beautifully in bottle for many years to come. This is an especially powerful edition of the Dardi Le Rose. I loved it.

Vinous (95)

The 2016 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is just as gorgeous as it always has been. Dark and translucent, the 2016 possesses striking layers of complexity. Spice, menthol, leather, sage and tobacco lend compelling nuance throughout. Although the 2016 is fabulous, it has also started to close down in bottle to a greater degree than I original envisaged. I wouldn't be in any rush to open it.

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.

Wine Advocate (95+)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a pure and classic expression of the vintage with bright fruit tones, wild cherry, toasted nut, blue flower and forest floor. Whereas the other wines in the Poggio Antico portfolio undergo aging in smaller tonneaux, this wine is aged in large Slavonian casks instead. You taste the lift and brightness of the fruit, and it's all quite lovely. Grapes are sourced across a 13-hectare site at a very high 500 meters in elevation. The name of this area is I Poggi, and the soils here are a bit lighter and rockier with both schistous galestro and limestone alberese. I love the delicate approach here, the intensity of those floral aromas, and the silky nature of the mouthfeel. Some 34,000 bottles will be released in January 2021. This classic Brunello really stands out.

Wine Advocate (97)

The Poggio Antico 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,000 bottles going to market in January 2021) is a thickly textured and rich wine with fruit-driven flavors and extra fiber. The wine sings with the characteristics of this vintage that will be remembered for the sunshine, the warmth and the picture-perfect fruit. Each cluster hung from the vine with glorious perfection. There is more warmth and dark plum intensity here for sure, and you also get greater latitude in terms of those savory tones of leather, tobacco and tilled earth. The Riserva is sourced from the Il Vignone site at a high 500 meters above sea level where summer breezes keep the grapes healthy and ripe.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.

Vinous (95)

A taster would never know that the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino hailed from a warm vintage, with its bright and airy bouquet that blends mentholated herbs with exotic spice, worn leather and dusty dried strawberries. This coasts across the palate with ease, zesty and fresh, with tart red berries and sour citrus tones that add tension, yet also maintains a marvelous vibrancy. While long and gently structured still, there’s a finesse here that keeps me looking back to the glass for more, as the 2012 leaves the mouth watering with a tart cherry pit twang. Production was down around 30% in 2012, with a strict selection in the vineyards and a much earlier harvest that ended around September 15th. While drinking this today is certainly an option, there are still many years of evolution in store.

Wine Advocate (96+)

From a cool growing season with above average rain, the Poggio di Sotto 2013 Brunello di Montalcino appears a bit timid and closed at this time. It shows delicate aromas, chalky tannins and a nice evolution; however, it remains on the shy side throughout. You feel the tension and the acidity of the fruit, and indeed, the promise of long cellar-aging potential is apparent. This vintage is very fine and vertical, and in many respects, 2013 is very close to the house style desired at Poggio di Sotto. Only one cask of the 2014 vintage was produced (botte number 14) because that season saw excessive humidity and soggy conditions.

Vinous (96)

Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine.

Falstaff (99)

Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.

Wine Advocate (97)

Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.

Falstaff (98)

Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a jeweled ruby color and has more concentration than the 2018, but it's going to need time to reach its full potential of complexity. Rich notes of kirsch, licorice, sapid herbs, and dark stones are followed by a medium to full-bodied red that's deep and rich through the palate, with ripe and noble tannins, a seamless feel, and a long-lasting finish. A profound wine and one of the best of the vintage, give it some time while drinking the 2018s and 2020s.

Jeb Dunnuck (99+)

The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a jeweled ruby color and has more concentration than the 2018, but it's going to need time to reach its full potential of complexity. Rich notes of kirsch, licorice, sapid herbs, and dark stones are followed by a medium to full-bodied red that's deep and rich through the palate, with ripe and noble tannins, a seamless feel, and a long-lasting finish. A profound wine and one of the best of the vintage, give it some time while drinking the 2018s and 2020s.

Wine Advocate (98)

The Poggio di Sotto 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows extra muscle definition, power and heady layers of rich fruit. This is all in line with the personality of the vintage, which was sunny and warm with golden sunlight throughout the summer season. This wine stands out for its fine-gained texture, which is smooth and polished. This Riserva offers aromas of cherry and blackberry and shows the depth that you should expect of a classic Riserva bottling.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine and an archetype of classic Sangiovese from Montalcino. I could drink this wine all day if it weren't so expensive. This Riserva is extremely fine and nuanced with the thinnest of fibers that wash over the palate like fine silk. Certified-organic fruit shapes aromas of cassis, cranberry, peony, tea leaf, orange and rusty nail. The aromas are tight and contained, yet they become increasingly expansive and expressive as the wine opens in the glass. It has contained power and, most importantly, a relatively moderate 14% alcohol, which makes all the difference in terms of balance and elegance. 8,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (99)

This excellent wine is slated to be released in January 2025. The Poggio di Sotto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva shows a point of brilliant fruit over a medium-plus texture. The wine exhibits dusty tannins from the galestro-rich schistic soils that have a huge impact on the elegance and complexity of this exceptional and cellar-worthy Sangiovese. The palate salivates when you taste this wine. The bouquet is refined and bright with floral tones, red fruit and pencil shaving. Everything is in perfect form and balance. The 2019 vintage has the power and muscle for a long bottle evolution.