The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is entirely Sangiovese from Radda and was raised for two years in oak casks. It opens to a polished yet pure profile with aromas of lavender, grenadine, sweet sage, and fresh leather. It...

Full of savory, umami flavors, this red evokes earth, leather, sweet spice, cherry, plum and Szechuan peppercorn notes. Firm and dry, with broad tannins and a lingering kernel of cherry. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and...

Rich and supple, evoking cherry, blackberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors. The dense, dusty tannins emerge as this builds to the long, lively finish, where a light astringency lingers. A bit rustic. Best from...

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the Tenuta degli Dei 2022 Cavalli is a rich and pleasurable expression with velvety intensity and plenty of black fruit. This richly textured...

The rich texture wraps around plum, cherry, graphite, tobacco and earth flavors, with a line of dusty tannins underneath. Fresh, elegant and long, ending with a pleasant astringency. Give this a year or two to integrate...

The 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso Il Bugiardo displays an inviting mix of blackberries, sage, roses, chalk dust and hints of camphor. This is full-bodied with depths of silky textures and a dense core of...

Shows good varietal character, with saturated blackberry, violet, ink and smoked bacon aromas and flavors. Well-structured yet harmonious and really sings on the lingering aftertaste. Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc...

The nose has primarily umami notes of leather, graphite and dark chocolate, but macerated black cherries and blackberries create a plush, succulent undertone. That undertone grows on the palate before the dark chocolate...

Cherry, raspberry, leather, earth and tobacco flavors converge in this broad, savory red. Tightens up, with the sinewy tannins leaving their mark on the finish. The fruit returns, so give this a little time. Sangiovese...

Four distinct voices from Baudana (Serralunga d'Alba), Villero (Castiglione Falletto), Vignane (Barolo), and Merli (Novello) create something extraordinary together. This is Barolo's warm handshake, an invitation to...

Mint, orange and medicinal herb aromas and flavors define this succulent red, with accents of red berry fruit and earth lurking in the background. Starts out fluid but tightens up, with a broad swath of tannins gripping...

Also from Rio Sordo, the 2020 Barbaresco Rio Sordo displays a sllightly deeper ruby color and has a sunnier feel, although it remains red-fruited and bright, with notes of ripe raspberries, candied roses, tea leaf...

A block of grippy tannins is enmeshed with this red's savory profile of tobacco, dried black cherry and raspberry fruit, cacao nib, loamy earth and wild scrub notes. Firm and chalky in texture, this powerful, full-bodied...

The 2018 Tenuta Degli Dei is dense, juicy and wonderfully inviting. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. In the glass, the 2018 is intensely aromatic and...

Aged in oak for 18 months, the 2014 Cavalli is a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This is a darkly extracted and contemporary wine that delivers ample muscle and power...

A beam of pure cherry marks this incisive, elegant red. Linear and well-delineated, with strawberry, rose, mineral and spice flavors in the wings. This harmonious, graceful version extends on the finish, with an...

Raspberry, cherry, rose and mint aromas and flavors highlight this elegant red. Harmonious and bright, with a silky feel and a light dusting of powdery tannins on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2040...

A rich ruby color, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva is a selection from the best vineyards, aged for two years. The nose opens to ripe and polished aromas of toasted cedar, cherry lozenge, menthol, and spiced orange...

A rich red color, the 2022 Sangiovese La Quinta is named for the fifth parcel of the estate and comes from 80-year-old vines that are not authorized for Brunello production. Jeweled in appearance, the wine is perfumed...

The Masi Serego Alighieri 2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore MontePiazzo (packaged in a heavy glass bottle) is aged in Slavonian oak and cherrywood. The blend of grapes is 70% Covina, 20% Rondinella and 10% Molinara (a...

Packed with ripe, juicy cherry, blackberry, pomegranate and floral aromas and flavors, this red is supple and beautifully integrated. Earth, iron and tobacco accents add detail as this winds down on the lazy, resonant...

Romano Marengo's Ca’ Rome’ 2018 Barbaresco Chiaramanti reveals a textured and soft approach with some ripe fruit and blackberry backed by spice and tarry smoke. The thick fiber of this mid-weight wine cedes to integrated...

Sleek and finely meshed, layering sculpted tannins and lively, citrus-laced acidity to create a well-honed frame for aromas and flavors of dried black cherry and raspberry fruit, rooibos tea, minerally iron and stone...

This shows intensity and richness on the nose with aromas of cassis, crushed blackberries and hints of cedar, tobacco, violets and graphite. It’s structured and focused on the palate, with a medium to full body. It shows...

Lush and powerful, yet with lively underlying acidity, this red evokes black cherry, blackberry, mineral and wild herb flavors, all wrapped in an embrace of vanilla and toasty oak. Shuts down on the finish, where the...

The medium red 2022 Magari has a more generous feel but offers pure aromas of cherry liqueur, pine, balsamic herbs, and forest earth. The palate is full but remains elegant without excess weight, with supple tannins, good...

A spiced and savory red with chalky tannins and vibrant fruit character. Smooth and dusty on the dry, medium-bodied palate, with red berry, citrus peel and dried herb nuances. I like the zesty and minerally complexity...

The Tenuta San Guido 2023 Guidalberto comes from a challenging vintage, shaped by heat and rain that brought pressure from downy mildew, particularly affecting early-ripening Merlot. Big efforts were made during...

The 2018 Barolo Vite Talin was tasted alongside the 2019 at the estate and takes a slight edge over the 2019 at this stage. It’s a gorgeous and elegant vintage of this wine, crafted around a clone of Nebbiolo that Luciano...