Italy

Made from equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Campanaio is the result of meticulous attention starting with the selection of the plants themselves. Alessandro Cellai (chief winemaker at Castellare di Castellina and Rocca di Frassinello) began by searching for superior rootstocks and clones and quickly found a passion. His painstaking efforts have resulted in a wine of considerable personality, one that fully shows the characteristics of the international favorites without disguising the unique aspects of the local terroir. This wine is intense ruby red with enticing aromas of black currants, plums, and tobacco. This richly textured...

Made from equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Campanaio is the result of meticulous attention starting with the selection of the plants themselves. Alessandro Cellai (chief winemaker at Castellare di Castellina and Rocca di Frassinello) began by searching for superior rootstocks and clones and quickly found a passion. His painstaking efforts have resulted in a wine of considerable personality, one that fully shows the characteristics of the international favorites without disguising the unique aspects of the local terroir. This wine is intense ruby red with enticing aromas of black currants, plums, and tobacco. This richly textured...

While Pinot Nero is capable of producing wines of extraordinary elegance and harmony, it sometimes has difficulty adapting to conditions in Italy. To succeed with this grape in a land known for indigenous varietals, Alessandro Cellai had to approach every operation in the vineyard and the cellar meticulously. For example, he found that allowing the skins to macerate with dry ice prior to fermentation brought out more finessed perfumed aromas. The wine’s name takes inspiration from the surrounding pine forests, as ”La Pineta” translates to ”pine tree”. Always a modern, bold and robust style. Pure expression of...

Wine Spectator 94 points. Grapes: 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Sangioveto. The first label, le grand vin according to the Bordeaux classification, the highest expression of this Italian-French project. A wine that succeeds in combining strength, intensity and elegance, with soft tannins to give it a roundness in the mouth. It achieved the highest critical acclaim right from the first harvest, the 2004 vintage. A great competition wine according to Christian Le Sommer, winemaker at Les Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, who created it together with Alessandro Cellai. An intense ruby red colour with hints of garnet. A wine that...

The iconic merlot flagship of the estate. The house challenger to Masseto. 98 points and Best Italian Red wine, I Migliori Vini Italiani. 3 Glasses Gambero Rosso.   Baffonero takes its name from a vineyard, 100% Merlot, that was one of the first to be planted at Rocca di Frassinello. The company was born of a joint venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, the most famous chateau in the world. The Baffonero vineyard lies below the winery designed by Renzo Piano, on terrain with perfect exposure. Intense ruby red. The nose is fruity with aromas reminiscent of various black fruits, in particular...

Top 100 Wines of the World, Wine Spectator (93 points and # 69). James Suckling 92 points. A wine of great substance, in which Sangioveto and the international grape varieties of Cabernet and Merlot fuse for an ideal Italian-French creation. It has already been chosen as one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.   #FRASS

Vinous Media 93 points. Created in honour of the ‘butteri’, who remain the symbol of the Maremma region, strong and elegant at the same time. The Ornello (from the name of the wood – manna ash), is a long, pointed stick that is still used today for driving cattle. It stands out for its substantial percentage of Syrah grapes that make it very full and rich, nonetheless retaining the typical elegance and freshness of Rocca di Frassinello wines. Intense ruby red. On the nose it has balsamic and roasted coffee notes. On the palate there are notes of woody undergrowth and soft, velvety tannins.   #FRASS

James Suckling 92 points. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangioveto. The benchmark wine, the third label, from the great project of Rocca di Frassinello. But a wine with a very marked personality, spicy but very easy to drink. An introduction to the company’s other labels of great aged wines. It is such a pleasure to drink that the quantities consumed are always high. Plums, chocolate, spices and herbs emerge spontaneously. Clean mineral notes outline the finish and confer an attractive element of freshness.   #FRASS  

James Suckling 93 points. Score: 93 Points 1 Sep, 2022 – Savory, intense and deep nose with sweet cranberries, dark strawberries, red dates and some roasted spices, sesame and chestnut. Full-bodied and dense on the palate with chewy tannins. Rich, juicy and long. Better after 2023. Winery Note: Deep ruby ​​red with brown reflections. It has a complex perfume, with intense notes of Mediterranean scrub, accompanied by hints of berries and juniper. The taste is broad, with smooth tannins accompanied by finely spicy and balsamic notes, the finish is long and persistent.

Cannonau is the local Sardinian name for Grenache, where it has been grown for a thousand years. Colour: ruby red. Nose: elegant olfactory profile with aromas of red fruit, wild strawberries, aromatic herbs with a spicy note. Palate: rich, warm and intense, with soft tannins and moderate freshness. The finish is persistent. Foras means foreigner, in Sardinian language. On Sant’Antioco there are no Cannonau grapes, so this wine is produced with “foreigner” grapes coming from Sardinia.

This is an historic and unusual wine, made with 100% monica, a vine most likely introduced to Sardinia in the 11th century. Initially grown in the Alghero area, it then spread to the rest of the island thanks to the Camaldolese monks, who began to cultivate it near the convents (hmmmm). The vineyards are cultivated in the lower Sulcis, at sea level, on sandy soils. The vines are about 35 years old and are grown with a density of 4,000 plants per hectare. After the harvest, fermentation takes place in steel tanks at a controlled temperature for about 15 days. The wine matures for 12 months in French barriques and then a further 12 months in...

James Suckling 92 points. 1 Sep, 2022 – Focused and savory with fine, roasted Mediterranean herbs to the sweet strawberries, dried flowers, black raspberries and red dates. Pretty full-bodied with a dense palate, showing juicy yet elegant red berries. Drink or hold. WINERY NOTE: Sulcis 100% Carignano DOC Reserve. An extraordinarily complex wine made entirely from original rootstock 80 year old bush vines. 12 months refinement in French barriques then a further 12 months in bottle before release. This word in Sardinian language literally means”the sands” that is the soil where Carignano is cultivated in ungrafted vineyards...

James Suckling 91 points. 1 Sep, 2022 – Pretty intense strawberries, herbs and spices to the nose followed by a medium to full body on the palate with tightly wound tannins. Chewy and spicy. Drink or hold. WINERY NOTE: 100% Carignan from 35 year old vines on original rootstock. Matured for 12 months in French barriques then a further 12 months in bottle before release. Deep ruby ​​red, it expresses an intense and fine bouquet with fruity and balsamic notes of Mediterranean scrub. In the mouth it is fresh, with a fragrant fruit and a nice ripe tannic texture. Suitable for grilled or roasted red meats. Is Solus is a fountain of Roman...

100% Carignan from 80 year old bush vines. These old treasures are on original rootstock. The wine is matured in French barriques for 10 months then aged for a further 6 months in bottle before release. Rich ruby, garnet reflections. Red currants, raspberries and flower honey notes in beautiful interplay with elegant precious wood notes, cedar wood, supplemented by some peppery notes. Gentle start that gradually intensifies, redberry, reminiscent of cranberries and cherries; of good structure and juicy, velvet tannins; powerful and extremely aromatic to the characterful finale, which is accompanied by tobacco notes and smoke notes. Kanai is...

James Suckling 92 points. 1 Sep, 2022 – Racy and fruity with intense aromas of dried strawberries, plums, licorice and spices that follow through to a medium to full body with a mouthful of crushed strawberries, blackberries and a splash of white pepper. Tangy and vivacious with some firm tannins. Enjoy now. 100% Carignan from 35 year old viines on original rootstock. Matured in historic concrete vats, restoring the ancient technique of hundreds of years of wine production on the island. Colour: ruby red Nose: the wine has a fine bouquet, with aromas of red berries and warm mediterranean scrub scents. Palate: Remarkable structure,...

Grape varieties : 30% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 10% Rossignola, Oseleta, Negrara, Dindarella, Croatina and Forselina. Production technique Harvest : end of September, beginning of October. Drying of the grapes in the drying room : humidity control of the environment for about 4 months. Soft pressing Alcoholic fermentation and maceration : 30 days / temperature 15-18 ° C. Natural stop of fermentation Aging in Slavonian oak barrels : 2 years. Bottling and bottle aging : 6 months. Description of the wine Color : intense ruby ​​with garnet reflections. Clear and transparent. Nose : notes of sweet fruit: raspberry, wild...

James Suckling 92 points. "Very pleasant notes of lightly spiced aronia berries and a hint of sous bois, following through to a medium body with lightly firm, well-integrated tannins and a long, bright finish, leaving an aftertaste of cherry dark chocolate. Serious Valpo and delicious. Drink now. (June 2021)." WINERY NOTE: Wine obtained from red grape varieties grown on the morainic hills of Valpolicella. The production method of this Valpolicella uses a traditional Veronese technique: the drying of the grapes. In reality it is a slight dehydration: the grapes, placed in crates for about a month, lose about 8-10% of their weight,...

Veronelli 91 points. WINERY NOTE: The wine is produced with typical grapes selected in the Venetian area: Corvina comes from the morainic hills of Valpolicella, Raboso comes from Oderzo (Treviso), and Refosco is selected in the Aquileia area. This wine is produced with a traditional Veronese technique: the drying of the grapes. In reality it is a partial drying: the grapes placed in the loft for about a month lose about 8-10% of their initial weight. In this way they are enriched in sugars, increase the dry extract, the ashes and the color of the wine. Wine with good tannic structure, in balance with alcohol, which gives it roundness: the...

James Suckling 97 points. A red with a layered, velvety texture, showing blackberry and black-olive character, together with some iodine and graphite. Full-bodied and rich with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. Savory. 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to soften. Wine Spectator 95 points. This is lush, yet dense and lively, offering black cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit, shaded by mineral, cedar and spice elements. Firms up by the finish, echoing fruit, mineral and spice accents, with fine length. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. #NEWITALY

98 points James Suckling  Blackcurrants and black cherries with lovely flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with ultra fine tannins that give focus and tension to the wine. Pretty and poised. A little shy now. From organically grown grapes.  (7/2023)

James Suckling 97 points. 50% merlot, 30% Cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc. This is a tight and powerful Orma with solid tannins that beautifully frame the fruit in the wine. Full-bodied and focused with intense structure and fruit character. Perhaps the best Orma ever. Give this four or five years to open. Try after 2025. #NEWITALY

Tobacco, sage and rosemary come through nicely, together with redcurrants and cassis. Full-bodied, yet polished, with a solid and dense center-palate. Tight at the end now, but will open nicely. Needs two or three years to develop. 50% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20% cabernet franc. Try after 2025 - James Suckling 97 points. Fragrant and expressive on the nose, the floral / dried herbal scents mingle on the nose putting you squarely in Tuscany. Lifted and beautiful, a sensational vibrant, lively, pure and pristine wine. So carefully delivered in terms of texture with a joyous quality to the fruit flavours and mineral aspects - a...

Wine Advocate 94 points. The Uccelliera 2017 Brunello di Montalcino does a great job showcasing that extra power and brawn of the vintage and the richer textural structure of the southern side of the appellation. The bouquet is up front and beautifully measured with lots of red and purple fruit definition followed by spice, tar and earthiness. What sets this wine apart in this hot and dry vintage is the mouthfeel. It delivers fiber, flesh and soft tannins. ML Feb 2022.   #ANDREA

"The nose showcases a spectrum of umami aromas, from soil to astringent fruit to balsamic, stone and wild herbs. The palate leans into the fruity notes, with pepper providing heat and a continued metallic quality providing structure. Tightly coiled tannins and buoyant acid accentuate haughty citrus overtones." -  95/100 ,  Wine Enthusiast.

JEB DUNNUCK RATING: 97 JEB DUNNUCK REVIEW: A ripe red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is expressive of its place, with warming notes of licorice, black cherries, anise, cedar, and dark soil lifting from the glass. As it opens, it becomes purer in its fruit profile, shining through beautifully. Full-bodied, with ripe tannins and a savory slanting profile, notes of espresso and mocha float across the palate, filling it with purity of fruit and lovely concentration through its long finish. It’s a fantastic Brunello with a warming richness that can stand up to hearty winter foods and will be best enjoyed over the next 15 years....

JEB DUNNUCK RATING: 97 JEB DUNNUCK REVIEW: A ripe red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is expressive of its place, with warming notes of licorice, black cherries, anise, cedar, and dark soil lifting from the glass. As it opens, it becomes purer in its fruit profile, shining through beautifully. Full-bodied, with ripe tannins and a savory slanting profile, notes of espresso and mocha float across the palate, filling it with purity of fruit and lovely concentration through its long finish. It’s a fantastic Brunello with a warming richness that can stand up to hearty winter foods and will be best enjoyed over the next 15 year ROBERT...

Wine Advocate 95 points. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and brooding Sangiovese that flaunts its depth, sophistication and balanced weight. The fruit is thick and powerful, and the wine's textural richness is polished and beautiful. The wine goes through alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel and then ages in both small and large oak vessels for three years. Only 7,000 bottles were made.  

Wine Advocate 97+. The Uccelliera 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,600 bottles made) is a great achievement and is among my top favorite wines from Andrea Cortonesi tasted in the 20 or so years I have followed this estate. There is a lot of power here, thanks to that golden Castelnuovo dell'Abate sunshine, so I cannot liken this wine to some of the more ethereal and delicate expressions that I also love. Instead, this Riserva delivers brawn, dark fruit and muscle, but it does so with sincerity and honesty. You can't help but appreciate the complexity on offer. The wine offers plenty of dark fruit, but you also get...

Wine Advocate 96 points. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a terrific wine: bold, well-defined, powerful and balanced. There are many good things to relate, but the high alcohol content (measured at 15.5%) is the only distraction. This is a trend in the Riserva category in the 2016 vintage. The bouquet shows black cherry, cassis, earth, leather and dried roses. The palate offers soft fruit flavors supported by firm oak tannins. Coming back to the bottle 24 hours later, I found impressive integration and smoothness that took away from that alcohol heat. Production is 9,600 bottles. ML Feb 2022.   #ANDREA

Winemaker Notes Uccelliera is not only famous for its outstanding Brunello every year, but the Rapace, which has become an icon in the meantime, also shows the high quality with which the winery has been delighting wine connoisseurs all over the world for decades. A strong dark ruby red, the aroma spectrum is skilfully balanced by a mix of dark red cherries, plums, liquorice, smoke, spices and menthol. The beautifully cherry-like primary fruit is embedded in a warm texture, the silky tannin skillfully takes over on the sidelines and the wine storms into a long, nuanced and delicately mineral finish. Which is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20%...

94 Points, Andrew McMurray, Italian Wine Buyer: "A delicious Super Tuscan blend from Andrea Cortonesi made up of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Amazing density of color and purity in the glass. Great freshness and bright acidity as it enters your mouth, and finishes with a very savory style that has minerality and supple length. Super solid wine that has great balance. Jump on this quickly as it is an amazing buy not to be missed." January 2024 (Tasted at Uccelliera Estate)

Winemaker Notes 100% Sangiovese from clay and sand soils rich in minerals. Notes of fresh cherries and raspberries with spices, dried herbs and crushed stones. Medium-bodied, crunchy and fresh with dusty tannins and pure, vivid fruit.  

Wine Advocate 94 points. Here's a confident and genuine expression of Sangiovese that manages to be both accessible and complicated at the same time. Brunello is one of the few Italian wines to bridge the gap between those two extremes. The Voliero 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers a steady stream of small berry fruit and cherry aromas. But there is width to this bouquet and deeper layers of spice, tar and licorice also play important roles. This Brunello ages in oak for 36 months in order to find harmony and balance. Some 7,866 bottles were made. ML Feb 2020. Volièro is made by the masterful hands of Andrea Cortonesi. #WIN

Wine Advocate 92 points. The Voliero 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is a robust expression with dark fruit, earth and oak spice. The wine shows thick concentration with black cherry and plum. It has the proverbial shoulders (the tannins and the acidity) to support it all. Leather and tobacco play supporting roles, and the wine is also characterized by dry clay and crushed stone. Some 7,600 bottles (and 133 magnums) were filled, and you can drink this bottle straight out of the gate.ML Feb 2022.   #ANDREA

"The nose is a rainy day in the garden, as notes of soil, leather and tobacco mingle with undertones of cherry, bitter orange and herbs, with pepper streaking through it all. The cherries and earth both continue on the energetic, slightly medicinal palate, before a dramatic finish of acid circling the endless battle between fruit and earthiness." -  96/100 ,  Wine Enthusiast.

96 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous: "A mentholated freshness introduces the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino, as a vibrant wave of crushed cherries, mint leaf, clove and dusty roses make up its absolutely gorgeous bouquet. This is silky and enveloping yet lifted and full of energy, with crunchy red berry fruits that leave a crackle of primary concentration toward the close. It finishes pretty saline and spicy in character, leaving edgy tannins to mingle with a residual bump of acidity that maintains a wonderfully fresh sensation as tart cranberry notes fade. This is one of the most exciting young renditions of Voliero I have ever tasted. It...

100% Sangiovese Organic 15-25-year-old vines Clay soil Fermentation in steel with temperature control for 18/20 days Aged in large Slavonian and French oak casks (20/50 hectolitres) for 10 months   #ANDREA