Italy
Italy, known as the "Land of Wine," is celebrated for its exquisite range of fine wines. With a winemaking history dating back thousands of years and a diverse array of terroirs, Italy offers a remarkable collection of wines that delight the senses and captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido have become synonymous with excellence. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards like Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins. Veneto, renowned for its sparkling Prosecco wines, is also famous for Amarone della Valpolicella. Vineyards like Allegrini and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality.
These are just a few examples of the renowned vineyards and wines Italy has to offer. From the northern regions of Piedmont and Veneto to the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and down to the southern regions of Sicily and Puglia, Italy's wine regions are a treasure trove of exceptional wines. Experience the allure of Italian wines and immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse terroirs, and passionate winemaking that define the Italian wine scene. Whether you're sipping a prestigious Barolo, a refined Brunello di Montalcino, a refreshing Prosecco, or a bold Nero d'Avola, Italian wines promise a journey of flavors and a celebration of Italy's winemaking heritage.
Italy
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Tuscany | 19 | 94 (JD) | $226.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (94)A deep ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Il Pino Di Biserno starts to show more mineral-inflected notes of graphite, preserved strawberries, blackberries, cocoa, and sweet herbs. Full-bodied, the palate expands with ripe tannins, even acidity, and darker mineral undercurrents, as well as a hint of gamey richness and notes of tea leaf through the mid-palate and rather long finish. Hold this one another couple of years and drink 2027-2040. |
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Umbria | 1 | 97 (JS) | $800.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)This is very aromatic and lifted with mineral, nougat, floral, and lightly cooked apples. Some flint and matchstick. Medium- to full-bodied with a fine phenolic and acid backbone that energizes the wine. Complex aftertaste with subtle fruit and pastry at the end. This will age beautifully but hard not to drink now. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - | $294.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 5 | 90 (VN (AG)) | $221.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90)The 2021 Barolo is a very pretty entry-level offering from Prunotto. Dried cherry, cedar, pipe tobacco and orange peel lend lovely aromatic presence to match the Barolo's mid-weight personality. I would not wait too long on the 2021, as it is already quite open. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | $1,365.00 | |||||
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Tuscany | 3 | 98 (JD) | $2,930.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva pours a deeper red color, while the nose reveals aromas of strawberries, anise spice, and roses, along with incense. Medium-bodied, refreshing, and mouthwatering, with a refined feel, it displays a ripe citrus-noted profile on the palate, with a hint of dusty earth and a long, clean finish. It's a beautiful and freshly styled Riserva to enjoy over the coming 20 years. Bottled in June of 2023, 9000 bottles were produced. |
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Tuscany | 6 | 98 (JD) | $1,245.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva pours a deeper red color, while the nose reveals aromas of strawberries, anise spice, and roses, along with incense. Medium-bodied, refreshing, and mouthwatering, with a refined feel, it displays a ripe citrus-noted profile on the palate, with a hint of dusty earth and a long, clean finish. It's a beautiful and freshly styled Riserva to enjoy over the coming 20 years. Bottled in June of 2023, 9000 bottles were produced. |
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Piedmont | 5 | 95 (WA) | $471.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)The 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is born in a vineyard that sits at 330 meters above sea level. Giorgio tells me that the challenge here is crafting a wine with both elegance and power. Thanks to ideal growing conditions in 2010, he has succeeded at his task. Firm structure is supported by fleshy fruit tones and elegantly integrated spice. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - | $295.00 | |||||
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Tuscany | 1 | - | $640.00 | |||||
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The Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1997 exemplifies the pinnacle of Tuscan winemaking. Crafted in the esteemed vineyards of Montalcino, this exquisite Riserva is made exclusively from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes, meticulously selected to ensure unparalleled quality. Under the expert guidance of Cantina Caparzo, a venerable producer with a legacy spanning over a century, the wine undergoes a rigorous fermentation process followed by extensive ageing in French oak barrels for five years. This dedication results in a complex profile of rich cherry and plum notes, intertwined with subtle hints of tobacco and leather, complemented by a velvety tannic structure. The 1997 vintage, celebrated for its optimal growing conditions, imparts a remarkable balance and longevity, making it a distinguished addition to any fine wine collection. The Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1997 stands as a testament to tradition and excellence, embodying the sophisticated elegance that aficionados cherish. |
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Piedmont | 6 | 96 (VN) | $849.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2017 Barolo Conteisa is rich, ample and inviting. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and dried flowers lend captivating aromatic presence to the Gaja family's La Morra Barolo. Even so, the 2017 is quite closed today, which is rather unusual for a wine that is typically far more open in the early going. That's probably a good sign for the future, though. Time in the glass brings out the classic Conteisa red-toned fruit profile. More than anything else, I am so impressed with how the 2017 gets better and better with air. This is a terrific showing. Sadly, production is down by about 50% because of severe selection. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 100 (JS) | $788.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)This is the second 100-point Vigna Le Rocche, following the 2015. What the former had in intensity of fruit and transparency, this has in structure and power. The purity of fruit is sensational in this young Barolo, offering blackberries, black truffle and iron. Rust too. This is so tannic and powerful with incredible structure. This may be the most structured Barolo from Bruno Giacosa I have ever tasted as a young wine. Speechless. Full-bodied and so intense, yet it remains fresh and agile. Traditional in every sense of the word, but this is clear and clean. A classic in the making. It will be in the market January 2022. Leave this for at least six to eight years. Try in 2027. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JS) | $111.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Fabulous aromas of strawberries, orange zest and orange blossom. So pure on the nose. Very perfumed. Medium-bodied with intense linear tannins that are ultra-fine in texture. It's fresh and salty with a brightness and focus. Minerally and crisp. pH is 3.4 highlighting the strength of the acidity. Crunchy. Salty. So delicious now but this will age incredibly well. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 98 (JS) | $179.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)The purity of fruit is so impressive, with al dente fruit character of sliced cherries, cranberries and citrus fruit that’s wonderfully melted together. It’s medium- to full-bodied and grows on the palate, with firm and layered tannins and a long, intense finish. This needs three to four years to refine but is already so enticing. Great beauty. Already irresistible, but best after 2027. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 98 (JD) | $538.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)A similar ruby red, the 2021 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté has a layered perfume with notes of delicate cedar, citrus peel, crushed stones, and fresh red fruit. Compared with the Chiniera, it carries slightly more richness and gravelly texture, while still retaining excellent restraint and precision. Medium-bodied, elegant, and beautifully balanced, with lingering citrus and mineral tones on the finish, around 16,000 bottles were produced. Drink 2026-2050. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 93 (VN) | $234.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Grasso's 2009 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Matè is a bit, richer, deeper and darker than the Gavarini, but the differences between the wines aren't as marked as they usually are. That is the essence 2009. Dark cherries, plums, menthol and spices flesh out on the broad, richly textured finish. As good as this is – and the Ginestra is quite good – in 2009 the expression of site is more muted than is typically the case. |
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Tuscany | 12 | 92 (WA) | $169.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (92)Made with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, the Isole e Olena 2022 Chianti Classico has soft fruit and cherry with light spice and a hint of Tuscany rosemary or laurel leaf. I like the vibrant and lively quality of fruit in a vintage that also delivers ample ripeness. This release of 130,000 bottles ferments in stainless steel and sees a quick 12 months in botte grande. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 93 (WA) | $294.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)The Lisini 2020 Brunello di Montalcino shows a light and charming personality, marked by plump cherry fruit and touches of blackcurrant. While 2020 was a warm vintage, cooler nighttime temperatures created more pronounced diurnal shifts, helping to preserve freshness and aromatic lift. Soft and approachable in texture, this is a more immediately accessible expression of Sangiovese that should perform well in the near to medium term. |
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