Sweet berries and cherries with some vanilla and cedar character. Medium body and creamy, juicy tannins. Tangy acidity. Plum, citrus and vanilla undertones. Drink or hold.

Aromas of minerals, crushed stones and cherries. Pine needles, too. Floral. Full-to medium-bodied with a tight, linear palate and super fine tannins. Extremely deep. Fresh. Light saltiness. Give this three or four years...

Blackcurrant, pine cone, walnut, crushed gravel and dried flowers on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Sleek and refined. Try from 2023.

The 2018 Darmagi is elegant, delicate and refined. It shows the mid-weight structure of the year in Barbaresco, with lovely varietal character and exceptional textural finesse. Bright red/purplish fruit and lifted floral...

This is the most high-toned of Gaja’s three 2018 Brunellos, a portion of the fruit coming from the Torrenieri vineyard in Montalcino’s cooler northeastern corner. Hints of oregano and citrus peel accent the tangy red...

Aromas of blackberry, plum, cocoa, iodine, clove and graphite. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Tightly wound and mineral at the moment, with dusty gravel and graphite notes, yet with focus and...

This is sourced from a range of sites across the valley and blended with 18% Merlot and 2% Petite Sirah, designed to be enjoyed in its youth. Sweet oak supports a soft, integrated and full-bodied core of cassis, dark...

Unwinding in the glass with aromas of rose petals, sweet red cherries, dried flowers and ripe strawberries, the 2018 Fleurie Poncié is medium to full-bodied, lively and enveloping, with a charming, fruit-driven profile...

A great success in any vintage, but a marvel in a difficult year, this superb wine offers a deep, dark, red hue. The perfume, with its blend of flowers, licorice, garrigue, spices, cherries and plums is gorgeous. Richly...

Starting off an incredible lineup of 2018s, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard has a purple/blue hue as well as a powerful bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, smoked tobacco, and new leather, with a...

The ripest, most sexy, and opulent in the lineup, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement is pure magic in a glass and tops out on my scale. Reminding me of some of the older Harlan Estate releases with its massive yet...

This has mellowed nicely, featuring fading aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, spice, leather and tobacco. Complex and supple, this red delivers fine balance and a long, detailed, saline aftertaste. Drink now through...

A modern slanting wine, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino is lush with wooded spices, smoky cigar box, preserved cherry, sweet tobacco, and dried roses. It is full-bodied on the palate but has a compact structure, with ripe...

Instantly appealing pinot. Complex and powerfully fragrant with violets, blackcurrants and purple cherries, as well as fresh wild herbs and swirling spices. Then, a smooth, succulent feel to the palate follows with such...

The serious 2018 Mengoba Mencía Alicante Bouschet shows the potential of 2018 to produce very fresh reds that are both approachable and deep, complex but easy to understand. I think he has come to a blend that shows the...

(92-96 points) Immense dense purple, almost prune juice. Picked by the vigneron who picks late! 30% whole bunch, maybe saves the day. It is an immensely powerful wine in a very distinct late picked style. Not unbalanced...

I always look forward to tasting the wines of Bruno Rocca and his family because they are always so expressive of vintage and territory. The 2018 Barbaresco gives us quite a few blanket descriptors that can be applied to...

Ripe black fruits shine through this balanced wine, showing strongly against a backdrop of rich, generous tannins. This estate is one to watch as it achieves the form the vineyard deserves. Expect this wine to be ready to...

The 2018 Balifico, Volpaia's Sangiovese/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is fabulous. Rich and inky, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark berry fruit, dark spice, licorice and espresso. I especially admire the wine's...

Lush and polished, with waves of cassis and blackberry compote pouring through, underscored by chocolate, espresso crema and roasted vanilla bean. Maintains a lush, velvety feel through the lengthy finish, where flashes...

(96-99) I’ll taste the 2018 Le Pin from barrel again in April for en primeur, but I was thrilled with this early look, and it appears to be a step up over the 2017. Boasting a vivid purple color and magical notes of...

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Clos L'Eglise comes bounding out of the glass with bold notes of plum preserves, wild blueberries, and boysenberries, giving way to compelling sandalwood, licorice, and potpourri...