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 | 2 | 97 (WA) | $728.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)From a warm and sunny vintage that produced darkly concentrated fruit, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a teaser and a super pleaser. This is one flashy wine. This carefully calculated blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot pours from the bottle with a beautifully saturated and rich color. I double-decanted my sample before writing this review, and the wine's aromas showed immediate harmony and intensity. The wine seduces and flirts with all your senses. This vintage caps many years of study regarding blending: The Merlot is slightly decreased here, and the Cabernet Franc is slowly taking on a more important supporting role. The Petit Verdot that was used as a peppery accent two years ago has now been removed altogether. The results are pliant, seamless and fluid, and that's the big takeaway here. The wine is bountiful, round, supple and full-bodied. Unless you are decidedly not a fan of this style, there's nothing not to love. I had anticipated more tightness in terms of possible hot-vintage tannins, but I am very pleased by the general integration of the mouthfeel. The Guado al Tasso vineyards are located not too far from the sea, at a low elevation of about 60 meters above sea level. The soils are alluvial with a unique mix of limestone clay and sand, with pockets of rocks and are generally known as the Bolgheri Agglomerate. Some 120,000 bottles of this vintage hit the market in February 2020. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 96 (WA) | $710.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Renzo Cotarella, managing director of Marchesi Antinori tells me that the 2018 vintage showed very different results in the inland and hilly Chianti Classico appellation compared to the flat, sea-facing Bolgheri appellation. This season saw some rain right before harvest. That extra humidity rolled right off the Chianti Classico hills and disappeared without effect, but it stuck around longer in the thicker, flatter soils of Guado al Tasso. For this reason, one of the estate's top wines, the Cabernet Franc-based Matarocchio, was not produced in 2018 for fear that the fruit would not offer the concentration required of a wine of that important stature. The best of that fruit was used in this wine instead. For that reason, the 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees a little more Cabernet Franc (clocking in at about 22% of the blend) and less Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, (at about 60%). To be honest, the percentage of Cabernet Franc has been deliberately creeping up over the years to render a more focused and sharper bouquet. Aromas of dark fruit and freshly milled white pepper replace the more banal cherry-based flavors delivered by the Merlot, and the wine appears more lifted and precise as a result. The Cabernet Sauvignon delivers spice and licorice, and these pretty aromas are likewise given more breathing room, thanks to the counterparts found in the Cabernet Franc. Linearity, sharpness, pencil shavings and dark currant or blackberry—this is the direction Guado al Tasso is taking, and this 2018 vintage opens the door to a new chapter for the wine. Some 115,000 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JD) | $604.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JD) | $625.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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Tuscany | 20 | 97 (JD) | $762.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (JD) | $670.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2020 Guado Al Tasso pours an inky opaque red hue and reveals luxurious, layered aromas of sandalwood, cassis, boysenberry, lavender, and black olive. Fleshy and full-bodied, it fills the palate with ripe, sweet tannins and wonderful accents of salted dark chocolate on the finish. This is a wine that will certainly reward proper cellaring, but it already has a lot of the open-knit charm that’s characteristic of this vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) | $641.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a very beautiful wine, but also quite a departure from the style that made it famous years ago. Readers will find an especially polished Guado al Tasso, a wine that emphasizes finesse more than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of black cherry fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Bright, saline undertones extend the exquisite finish. There's more Cabernet Franc in the blend these days, and that very much comes through in the wine's crazy aromatic presence and feel. The 2021 spent 16 months in wood, three months in used French oak barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months in barrel (80% new) for the rest of its aging. Gorgeous. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (WS) | $254.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (93)An opulent, dense red, featuring ripe black cherry and blackberry notes, with persistent hints of earth and tobacco. The flavors linger on the spicy aftertaste as the vibrant structure lends support. Decant now or age another year. Merlot. Drink now through 2025. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) | $699.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2020 Cont'Ugo, 100% Merlot, is rich, pliant and super-expressive. A blast of dark fruit, chocolate, new leather and licorice are front and center. There's a bit less of the bombastic intensity of the early years, but that's not a bad thing at all. Quite the contrary. |
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Tuscany | 16 | 92 (JD) | $242.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (92)Taking on a deep red/magenta hue, the 2022 Cont'Ugo features dusty cedar, fruit leather, baking spice, and fresh earth aromas. Full-bodied, it displays a gamey richness, with chewy tannins and a fleshy quality throughout. A plush texture and a graceful tapering finish complement its weightless feel. Enjoy over the next 10 years. 184,000 bottles were produced. |
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Tuscany | 40 | - | $170.00 | |||||
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Tuscany | 3 | 93 (JD) | $185.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (93)The 2023 Il Bruciato boasts a dark purple hue and exudes baked aromas of plum, pie spice, balsamic, and rich earth. Full-bodied, the palate is generous and rounded, with supple ripe tannins providing a fleshy sensation through the finish. I would prefer to enjoy this while it retains some freshness over the near term. This vintage is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, and the remainder Syrah and Petit Verdot. 860,000 bottles produced. |
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Tuscany | 6 | 97 (WA) | $788.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)I was blown away by the 2011 Matarocchio (100% Cabernet Franc). From 15-year-old vines planted some 60 meters above sea level on the Tuscan coast, this wine is absolutely stunning, delicious and simply unforgettable. Only produced in 2007, 2009 and 2011, this third edition shows towering aromas of sensuous dark fruit, leather and tobacco. If Cabernet Franc is the darling grape of this appellation, Matarocchio is a reason why. The mouthfeel is penetrating and powerful, but seamless and silky smooth at the same time. The tannin management is excellent. This is one to keep in the cellar. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) | $385.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Matarocchio, the estate's pure Cabernet Franc, is stunning. Dark, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2016 is a seamless, exotic beauty. Even with all of its richness, the 2016 remains finessed and nuanced to the core, with exceptional balance and tons of energy. This vibrant Bolgheri Cabernet Franc will drink well for many years. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) | $1,000.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Matarocchio, the estate's pure Cabernet Franc, is stunning. Dark, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2016 is a seamless, exotic beauty. Even with all of its richness, the 2016 remains finessed and nuanced to the core, with exceptional balance and tons of energy. This vibrant Bolgheri Cabernet Franc will drink well for many years. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 94 (VN) | $1,060.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)A gorgeous, young wine, the 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Matarocchio is rich and sumptuous, with generous dark fruit, chocolate, spice and torrefaction notes. Silky tannins give the 2017 a decidedly nuanced feel to match its mid-weight personality. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) | $1,050.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2019 Matarocchio is the most elegant and refined edition of pure Cabernet Franc yet. There is plenty of aromatic Franc intensity and tons of depth, but less of the more heavily extracted style that marked the early years. Don’t get me wrong, that approach can work with Franc, as those wines showed, but I find greater delineation, focus and cut here. In 2018 and 2020, this juice was used to improve Guado al Tasso. The 2019 spent 18 months in 100% new oak, all Taransaud barrels. |
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Tuscany | 10 | 98 (VN) | $1,120.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2019 Matarocchio is the most elegant and refined edition of pure Cabernet Franc yet. There is plenty of aromatic Franc intensity and tons of depth, but less of the more heavily extracted style that marked the early years. Don’t get me wrong, that approach can work with Franc, as those wines showed, but I find greater delineation, focus and cut here. In 2018 and 2020, this juice was used to improve Guado al Tasso. The 2019 spent 18 months in 100% new oak, all Taransaud barrels. |
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Tuscany | 6 | 98 (JD) | $306.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Coming from vineyards in the northern part of the appellation that were planted in 2000 exclusively with Merlot, the first vintage of the San Walfredo was in 2016, but they didn’t produce it in 2017 or 2018, so this is the second vintage of this wine to be released. In the glass, it has a dark red/inky color, and the nose is lush with inviting aromas of red apples, cassis, polished leather, toasted cedar, incense, and lavender. Full-bodied, it fills the palate with the velvety and silky plushness of the coating texture, and it offers balanced, ripe, liqueur-like fruit and a long finish, with gentle accents of stony earth hiding underneath. It’s exceptional all around. Drink 2027-2050. 7272 bottles were produced. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) | $1,080.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Coming from vineyards in the northern part of the appellation that were planted in 2000 exclusively with Merlot, the first vintage of the San Walfredo was in 2016, but they didn’t produce it in 2017 or 2018, so this is the second vintage of this wine to be released. In the glass, it has a dark red/inky color, and the nose is lush with inviting aromas of red apples, cassis, polished leather, toasted cedar, incense, and lavender. Full-bodied, it fills the palate with the velvety and silky plushness of the coating texture, and it offers balanced, ripe, liqueur-like fruit and a long finish, with gentle accents of stony earth hiding underneath. It’s exceptional all around. Drink 2027-2050. 7272 bottles were produced. |
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Tuscany | 10 | - | $169.00 | |||||
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Bask in the moment of pure bliss brought forth by the Antinori Le Mortelle Vivia Maremma Bianco 2020. Exclusively produced by the Antinori family, this Italian wine is a masterful blend of Vermentino, Ansonica, and Viognier grapes grown on the esteemed Le Mortelle vineyard in the Maremma region of Tuscany. Winemaking expertise passed through 26 generations combined with a passionate commitment to land and tradition have crafted this illustrious expression of the Tuscan terroir. The 2020 vintage boasts bright, balanced acidity and rich layers of exotic fruits and white flowers. The delicate notes of fresh herbs add a delightful finesse. Its careful maturation in both stainless steel and barrel ensure an elegant complexity, making the Antinori Le Mortelle Vivia Maremma Bianco 2020 a distinguished addition to any fine wine collection. |
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Tuscany | 30 | - | $169.00 | |||||
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Get acquainted with a delightful paragon of Italian sophistication—the Antinori Le Mortelle Vivia Maremma Bianco 2021. Embodying the excellence of Antinori's 26-generation long winemaking legacy, this white wine is cultivated in Maremma, Tuscany, a region renowned for its perfect harmony of soil, climate, and vine, manifesting in unrivalled viticultural potential. A magnificent blend of Vermentino, Ansonica, and Viognier, this exquisite potion is harvested by hand at dawn to preserve freshness and fragrance. Following meticulous sorting and soft pressing, the primary fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks, allowing the expression of the varietal characteristics and the terroir. The result? A wine that delights the palate with a striking balance of acidity and minerality, accentuated by invigorating citrus hues and subtle floral intricacies. For the discerning palate, Antinori Le Mortelle Vivia Maremma Bianco 2021 promises a wine-tasting journey, steeped in tradition, finesse, and refinement. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 92 (VN) | $759.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vignaferrovia, a new bottling, is sweet, rich and layered in its fruit. This is a decidedly firm Brunello in need of a few years in the cellar to soften the firm yet refined tannins. Red raspberries, flowers and sweet spices are some of the nuances that emerge on the round, creamy finish. There is quite a bit of volume and richness, due in part to the greater use of French barrels, but the oak has also left the Riserva with some slightly oxidative qualities and less overall freshness than is typically the case here. |
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Tuscany | 6 | 91 (VN) | $430.00 | |||||
Vinous (91)The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Ferrovia is warm, open and supple, with considerable French oak influence lending shape to the fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, tobacco, iron, grilled herbs, raisin and soy are laced into an expressive finish laced with distinctly wild, ferrous notes. The 2009 is quite brooding in style, but it also shows good freshness for the year and outstanding overall balance. |
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