Fantastic Italian Selection

lickinger Wines has a tremendous selection of Italian wines in-stock, and it includes many of Italy's best producers. Today's list focuses on Piedmont and Tuscany, but includes a few other choice selections of great producers. Choose from renowned estates like Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, Bartolo Mascarello, Ornellaia and Soldera to name just a few. Browse our fantastic selection and pick up some Italian gems today. Happy hunting!

The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Friday, December 7, 2018. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.

Producer	Vint.	Wine	Price	Qty	Order
		Italy
Aldo Conterno	2005	Barolo Cicala (1.5 L) Scuffed Label	$239	1
	WS 95 (7/2009): Strawberry pie and cream aromas lead to a full-bodied palate. Very thick and powerful, with big, velvety tannins and masses of fruit. A blockbuster style. Best after 2013. 750 cases made.   WA 93 (4/2009): The estate’s 2005 Barolo Cicala is a transparent, mid-weight wine redolent of dark fruit, spices, minerals and licorice, all of which come together in the glass with superb elegance. Here the tannins are decidedly firmer and bigger than in the Colonello, even though the vineyards are just a few hundred meters apart! This powerful yet harmonious wine is simply radiant in its beauty. All that it needs is a little patience. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.   VM 89-92 (12/2007): Full red-ruby. Sexy aromas of strawberry, rose petal, marzipan, truffle and licorice, along with balsamic and woodsy nuances. Suave and fine-grained, with good stuffing and verve. Sweet fruit flavors linger nicely on the finish, which features a light dusting of tannins.
	2012	Barolo Colonnello	$118.99	3
	JS 95 (3/2016): Warmer aromas of cooked meat, ripe strawberry and fresh herbs. Full body, round and chewy tannins. Big and rich. Needs a year or two to soften. Solid.   WS 93 (3/2017): The aromas and flavors are a combination of ripe cherry, leather and vanilla that quickly shuts down in the face of dense, dusty tannins. This red will need some time to sort itself out, yet feels balanced and elegant, with a long, fruit-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2036. 450 cases made.   WA 90 (6/2016): Like the Barolo Bussia Cicala, the 2012 Barolo Bussia Colonnello steps out with heavy footing. You feel the weight of the vintage, yet the bouquet shows fewer of those brilliant aromatic accents that are so magnificently delivered in cooler vintages. The aromas are all there - wild berry, balsam herb, cola and licorice - but the intensity is somewhat muted. The wine also shows tightness and astringency in terms of tannins that will relax as the wine continues its evolution.   VM 87 (11/2016): The 2012 Barolo Colonnello offers only modest depth, structure and complexity. Sweet oak, washed out fruit and grainy tannins are some of the signatures in this underachieving Barolo. The Colonnello is usually defined by its silky tannins and supple fruit. Unfortunately those elements don't come through. There is little pleasure to be found here. With time in the glass, the tannins soften a touch, but not enough to make a difference.
	2008	Barolo Granbussia Riserva (1.5 L)	$899	2
	VM 87 (11/2016): Conterno's 2008 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is short, sweet and pruney, with distinctly overripe black fruit and prominent oak. The 2008 is one of the weakest Granbussias I have ever tasted. Super-ripe dark fruit, mocha, spice and sweet vanillin notes from the oak are front and center in a wine that lacks mid-palate depth, and, most importantly, the nobility that has made Granbussia so famous over the last few decades. Antonio Galloni.
	2008	Barolo Granbussia Riserva (1.5 L) Scuffed Label	$899	1
	VM 87 (11/2016): Conterno's 2008 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is short, sweet and pruney, with distinctly overripe black fruit and prominent oak. The 2008 is one of the weakest Granbussias I have ever tasted. Super-ripe dark fruit, mocha, spice and sweet vanillin notes from the oak are front and center in a wine that lacks mid-palate depth, and, most importantly, the nobility that has made Granbussia so famous over the last few decades. Antonio Galloni.
Altesino	2012	Brunello di Montalcino Riserva	$103.93	23
	WS 98 (6/2018): This delivers intense balsamic notes of juniper, wild rosemary and sage, along with rose, cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Elegant and saturated with flavor, supported by a vibrant structure. Ends with energy and refined tannins. Best from 2022 through 2040. 750 cases made.   VM 94+ (4/2018): Deep red. Captivating floral nuances complement red cherry, mineral and tobacco elements on the nose and on the very suave palate. Surprisingly light-bodied for a Brunello Riserva, but perfumed and very refined. This Outstanding Brunello Riserva boasts a finish that lasts and lasts. Ian d'Agata.   WA 93 (2/2018): Sporting a medium dark color, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the most robust and powerful wine among these new releases from Altesino. More than its Riserva status (that requires an extra year of aging compared to base Brunello), that richness is a result of the dry and hot 2012 growing season. You really feel the tightness, blackness and the alcohol of the fruit here. By the way, the alcohol is 15%, so it is indeed high for Sangiovese. There is a note of cherry sweetness on the close. Thankfully, there is also enough natural acidity to bring the wine back to center and balance. But the overall complexity is diminished in favor of muscle and brawn.
Andrea Oberto	2012	Barolo Brunate ex-Domaine	$74.99	55
	2011	Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata (1.5 L) ex-Domaine	$189.99	8
	JS 94 (9/2015): A red with dried berry, flowers, stone and dried spices on the nose. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Layers of ripe fruit and tannins. Long and flavorful finish. His vineyard did wonderfully in this hot year. Better in 2017.   VM 93 (3/2015): Oberto's 2011 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata captures all the signatures of this site from its floral, perfumed aromatics to red-fleshed fruit and silky, polished tannins, all delivered with the feminine sensuality that is the truest essence of what Rocche is all about. Freshly cut roses, mint and vivid red berries grace the super-expressive finish. In my view, Rocche is Oberto's flagship. The 2011 has come together quite nicely since I last tasted in barrel. Antonio Galloni.
	2011	Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata ex-Domaine	$82.99	29
	JS 94 (9/2015): A red with dried berry, flowers, stone and dried spices on the nose. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Layers of ripe fruit and tannins. Long and flavorful finish. His vineyard did wonderfully in this hot year. Better in 2017.   VM 93 (3/2015): Oberto's 2011 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata captures all the signatures of this site from its floral, perfumed aromatics to red-fleshed fruit and silky, polished tannins, all delivered with the feminine sensuality that is the truest essence of what Rocche is all about. Freshly cut roses, mint and vivid red berries grace the super-expressive finish. In my view, Rocche is Oberto's flagship. The 2011 has come together quite nicely since I last tasted in barrel. Antonio Galloni.
Angelo Gaja	2005	Langhe Costa Russi	$329	2
	WA 96 (10/2008): The 2005 Costa Russi shimmers on the palate with extraordinary grace. The wine boasts wonderful depth and richness in its dark red fruit in a round, generous style that offers lovely balance to the tannins. Notes of tar, smoke and licorice develop in the glass, adding a touch of complexity and nuance that is sometimes missing in this bottling. The French oak is present, but deftly balanced with the wine’s other components. As always, Costa Russi comes across as relatively accessible when young, but it is sure to only improve with age. Recent bottles of the 1985 have been nothing short of glorious. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.   VM 90-93 (12/2007): Full ruby-red. Dark raspberry, minerals, rose petal and a whiff of tar on the nose, along with a chocolatey impression of ripeness. Dense, suave and youthfully closed, with the flavors of violet, minerals and chocolatey oak displaying increasing definition with aeration. Showing its oaky side today and tannic on the back end.
	2006	Langhe Sori Tildin (3.0 L)	$1,699	1
	JS 95 (7/2012): I love the nose to this wine with a floral, blueberry and raspberries. Orange peel. Full-bodied, and chewy with an impressive texture of ripe tannins and a long finish. Very beautiful. Better in 2015.   VM 94+ (11/2009): Good full, deep red. Sexy aromas of minerals, truffle and ineffable rose petal. Suave and lush, showing a surprisingly open-knit texture that partly masks the wine's serious underpinning of fine tannins. Very long and aromatic on the aftertaste.   WA 94 (10/2009): The 2006 Langhe Sori Tildin opens with a gorgeous, nuanced bouquet that leads to an equally expressive core of ripe, red fruits. This medium-bodied Sori Tildin is the most focussed and energetic of these wines. It offers exceptional length and a refined, polished close. As is often the case, the Sori Tildin is also the most delicate and feminine of the single-vineyard wines. This is a very strong effort even if the explosiveness of the finest vintages is missing. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.   WS 92 (9/2009): Displays ripe plum and berry aromas, with hints of fresh flowers, like rose. Full-bodied, with beautiful, clean fruit and a mineral, berry and cherry aftertaste. Balanced and very pretty. Almost drinkable now. Best after 2010. 800 cases made.
	2007	Langhe Sori Tildin	$439	2
	JS 97 (7/2012): Very, very fresh and floral with peaches, ripe strawberries and plums. So aromatic and clear. Full-bodied, with powerful tannins and a cocoa, chocolate aftertaste. Gorgeous and sturdy. Needs time. Better after 2016.   WA 97 (2/2010): The 2007 Langhe Sori Tildin opens with a huge, kaleidoscopic bouquet that immediately draws me in. A remarkably vivid wine, the sensual Sori Tildin caresses the palate with silky, textured fruit, showing incredible power, length and class. There is a transparency to the wine that is beguiling. Once again, the finish is eternal. Sori Tildin is one of Gaja’s more nuanced wines, and in 2007 it is breathtakingly beautiful. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2037.   WS 95 (3/2011): Toast and spice aromas lead off in this warm, expansive red, which quickly evokes black cherry, plum, floral and spice flavors, all allied to the silky texture and precision structure. Rich fruit and spice flavors echo on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2032. 80 cases imported.   VM 94+ (12/2009): Bright, dark red. Reticent but very ripe nose shows a liqueur-like quality along with medicinal and mineral nuances. Very rich and sweet on the palate, with primary crushed berry flavors showing more depth than those of the Costa Russi. Really explodes on the back end, finishing with broad, dusty, building tannins and superb persistence.
Armando Parusso	2013	Barolo	$38.99	35
	VM 92 (2/2017): Far from an easygoing entry-level wine, Marco Parusso's 2013 Barolo packs a serious punch. Dark cherry, plum, spice and sweet floral notes flesh out in an ample, enveloping Barolo endowed with serious density. The inclusion of whole clusters adds a level of exoticism and aromatic intrigue that gives the wine much of its unique personality. Antonio Galloni.   JS 91 (1/2017): A soft and velvety young Barolo with light sweet-tobacco, rose-petal and strawberry character. Full to medium body and a fresh finish. Give it three to four years to soften.
Armilla	2011	Brunello di Montalcino	$44.99	1
	JS 93 (2/2016): A ripe and beautiful wine with plum, chocolate, cedar and raspberry aromas and flavors. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Really delicious now. Why wait?
Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa	1996	Barolo Falletto Riserva	$699	1
	VM 98+ (12/2000): Deep, saturated ruby-red. Explosive nose offers the full range of Barolo perfume: black cherry, black raspberry, rose petal, marzipan, licorice, menthol, leather, minerals. A wine of monumental scale but utterly suave and clear as a bell thanks to bracing balancing acids and superb tannic backbone. Great depth and vinosity; really expands in the glass and on the palate. The fruit explodes on the endless, ripely tannic finish. The full Barolo experience in 3-D and technicolor. To be released in 2002.   WA 97 (5/2006): 1996 Barolo Riserva Falletto—Deep red. Giacosa’s 1996 Riserva Falletto is a stunning Barolo. It is delicate and powerful at the same time, exhibiting a compelling, exotic nose of spices, licorice and tar along with a tightly wound core of fruit that gradually opens in the glass, revealing this wine’s profound personality. Just beginning to show some secondary aromas and flavors, it offers a wonderful juxtaposition of primary fruit and freshness along with more complex notes that have developed in the bottle. I found myself totally immersed in this Barolo and imagine it will offer those lucky enough to own bottles an unforgettable drinking experience for several decades.   WS 95 (12/2007): Terrific aromas of crushed fruit, Indian spices and dried flowers follow though to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Just a baby, but very balanced and pretty. Best after 2009. 200 cases made.
	2011	Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche Riserva Lightly Scuffed Label	$325	1
	WA 97 (6/2017): Here we have the venerated red label. The Bruno Giacosa 2011 Barolo Riserva Falletto Vigne Le Rocche commands attention and respect. The wine successfully, and somewhat magically, turns the tables on the overdone exuberance of the warm vintage and the natural heft that is inherent to Serralunga d'Alba. It does a great job of reining in all that power and transforming it into streamlined elegance instead. The wine opens to a dark and penetrating color and an immediately expressive bouquet. Thick layers of dark fruit, iron-rich earth, balsam herb, Darjeeling tea, dried ginger and cherry cola rise from the bouquet. The wine's Falletto signature is very strong. This is a Grande Vino with the proverbial capital G and capital V.
Bartolo Mascarello	1999	Barolo	$325	1
	VM 95 (8/2014): Bartolo Mascarello's 1999 Barolo is all about finesse. Ripe, silky tannins fold into an expressive core of sweet red cherries, flowers, leather, cinnamon and mint, but it is the wine's textural balance that stands out most. The tannins are already quite soft, yet the flavors retain gorgeous freshness, which means the 1999 is in a great spot right now to deliver maximum pleasure. I imagine the 1999 will drink well for many years to come, but it is also drop-dead gorgeous right now. Readers who own the 1999 are going to be thrilled. This is a fabulous bottle of the 1999, perhaps the best I have ever tasted.   WA 93 (5/2006): 1999 Barolo—Medium red. Mascarello’s 1999 Barolo is a brilliant effort, offering a perfumed, elegant nose and lovely notes of red cherry fruit, menthol and minerals that flow onto the palate in a display of extraordinary purity. As it sits in the glass subtle notes of earthiness and tobacco appear, the fruit becomes more ethereal, and the wine changes from its initial impression of power to more understated, nuanced expression of Nebbiolo. Deceptively medium bodied, it also has the structure to age well, and will still be a compelling Barolo at age 30. As has been the case in recent vintages I find more bottle variation than I would like, but this was the finest of the three bottles I tasted.   WS 93 (2/2005): Aromas of leather, berry and tobacco follow through to a full-bodied palate, with sweet and ripe fruit, silky tannins and a long finish. Beauty. The genuine deal here. Best after 2007. 1,410 cases made.   VM 90+ (11/2004): Medium red with an amber edge. Aromatic nose combines strawberry, plum, tobacco and resiny oak, along with a whiff of dried flowers. Sweet on entry, then offers good cut in the mid-palate thanks to firm acids. Quite floral and aromatic through to the ripe but firmly tannic finish. A distinctly leaner, classic Barolo that appeared to grow drier with aeration.
	2010	Barolo	$499	1
	VM 99 (1/2014): The 2010 Barolo is one of the most striking, hauntingly beautiful wines I have ever tasted here. Mysterious and slow to show its cards, the 2010 impresses for its inner perfume, sweetness and exceptional overall balance. Today the striking fruit and classic, austere elements of the vintage take turns in dominating the wine's balance. The 2010 was always magnificent in barrel. It is equally spectacular from bottle. Readers who can find the 2010 should not hesitate. Ideally I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle until age 15 or so, although I doubt I will personally have the discipline to follow my own advice!   WA 96+ (7/2014): The 2010 Barolo is a singularly elegant expression that benefits from extremely long maceration time (up to 54 days) and a non-interventionists’ winemaking philosophy. The wine is superb in its elegance and finesse that caresses the palate in the most delicate and ethereal manner imaginable. Small fruit tones are enhanced by ash, crushed mineral, licorice and dried mint. Because of changes in how Barolo can be labeled, the wine no longer carries the names of the four single-vineyards that make up the traditional blend for this wine (Canubbi, San Lorenzo, Rue and Rocche di La Morra). Instead, this historic wine is now labeled straightforward “Barolo.” Drink: 2017-2038.   VM 95+ (12/2013): Bright medium cherry-red. Burgundian red fruits, minerals, rose petal and blood orange on the nose, plus a hint of cotton candy. Pure and penetrating but utterly seamless, showing a plush texture and terrific lift to its flavors of red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, rose petal and minerals. Subtle rather than particularly powerful, but the brilliantly vibrant finishing flavors stain the palate on the building, finely tannic back end. Wonderfully elegant wine: surprisingly accessible today but sure to be a cellar treasure.
	2013	Barolo	$400	3
Bergadano	2012	Barolo	$24.95	9
Bruno Giacosa	1997	Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto di Serralunga	$265	1
	WS 97 (12/2007): Dark ruby-red color. Masses of strawberry on the nose, with hints of Indian spices and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and a long and caressing mouthfeel. Strawberry and cream. Very harmonious and refined.Best from 2009 through 2016. 1,200 cases made.   VM 95+ (12/2002): (1997 was the first vintage for this bottling) Full red. Deep, brooding nose combines roasted red fruits, leather, tar and camphor. Sweet, lush and deep; conveys an impression of great delicacy in spite of its sheer size. An extremely harmonious wine with wonderfully palate-caressing fruit and thoroughly ripe acidity. The tidal wave of finishing fruit rolls by the big, sweet tannins.   WA 92 (4/2007): Pretty aromas of dried flowers, and spices with soft evolved flavors that recall dried fruits. This has good overall length and expressiveness. Although the 1997 can’t match the stylishness, elegance and class of the 1998, it does offer very fine drinking right now. The best of the three bottles I’ve had so far.
Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa	1982	Barbaresco Gallina Di Neive Heavily Bin-Soiled Label	$450	1
	VM 93 (11/2009): The 1982 Barbaresco Gallina from Bruno Giacosa was also drinking beautifully, with tons of richness, depth and class. Antonio Galloni.
Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera	2006	Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Slightly Depressed Cork	$525	2
	VM 95+ (1/2015): Once again, my impression is that the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is not fully formed. Surprisingly refined, silky and polished, the 2006 is quite beautiful, but it also does not appear to have the structure of the best vintages. There is plenty of time, though, so it will be interesting to see how the 2006 develops over the coming years and decades. Antonio Galloni.
Cavallotto	2012	Barolo Bricco Boschis	$49.95	4
	WS 94 (4/2017): A firm, dense backbone of acidity and tannins shores up this red's cherry, strawberry, mint, tobacco and iron flavors. A beam of succulent acidity extends the long, spicy aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2036. 1,811 cases made.   WA 92 (6/2017): The Bricco Boschis site in Castiglione Falletto shows stunning results in the classic vintages. But 2012 is characterized by concentrated heat during the hottest weeks of the summer, and you taste that ripeness here. The 2012 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a more immediate and perhaps more accessible edition. The bouquet opens to plump fruit tones with dried cherry and plum. You also get warm tones of autumnal leaf, tobacco, wild mushroom and savory spice. The wine's texture is velvety and a bit softer.   VM 90 (3/2016): Cavallotto's 2012 Barolo Bricco Boschis is soft, sensual and inviting, all of which make it more accessible at an early age than is typically the case. Bold and punchy throughout, the 2012 offers plenty of dark red cherry, plum, licorice and leather, all in a succulent style that can be appreciated with minimal fuss upon release. This silky, supple Barolo is very nicely done. Antonio Galloni.
Dal Forno	1995	Nettare (375 ML)	$159	3
	1995	Nettare (375 ML)	$235	5
Domenico Clerico	2011	Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra	$71.99	21
	WA 95 (6/2016): The 2011 Barolo Ciabot Mentin is impressive on many levels. This wine always seems to excel in the warm vintages, as is the case here. The bouquet is generous, opulent and inviting with plush, rich dark fruit that is enhanced with spice, grilled herb and dark mineral nuances. The quality of fruit is profound and meaningful, and the wine offers a fluid presentation of aromas that changes as it evolves in the glass. Soft tannins add to the full-bodied build and sheer muscle of the wine. What I love most is the tonic energy it also offers.   JS 93 (11/2016): Aromas of blackberry and black truffle follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Slightly hollow center palate now but should fill in with time. Very pretty. Better in 2019.   WS 90 (2/2017): A dense, meaty red, this starts out with black cherry notes, then shuts down with aggressive tannins. Tar, earth and tobacco details complete the flavor profile. Be patient. Best from 2020 through 2032. 416 cases made.
	2004	Barolo Per Cristina	$159	1
	WA 97 (2/2010): The 2004 Barolo Percristina sweeps across the palate with masses of silky, dense fruit framed by firm, yet almost impossibly elegant tannins. This is an utterly captivating Barolo for its sheer power, richness and opulence. Despite the wine’s size, there is plenty of detail and nuance to explore in this utterly sensual, captivating Percristina. Readers lucky enough to find the 2004 Percristina should not hesitate, it is superb! Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
Eduardo Valentini	2002	Montepulciano dAbruzzo	$399	1
	VM 93 (7/2009): Medium-deep saturated ruby. Dark berries, quinine, black olive and juniper aromas are lifted by black pepper and smoked meat. Then pure and complex in the mouth, with uncommonly deep, slightly medicinal flavors of blackcurrant, wet underbrush, chocolate, tobacco and smoky oak. This picks up flesh and volume with air, finishing with firm tannins and Outstanding length. Cellar this complex wine for another 5 years, then enjoy it over the following 10 or 12.   WA 92 (6/2010): The 2002 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has developed far more positively than I envisioned when I first tasted it two years ago. In fact, I wonder if that bottle was representative. Today the 2002 impresses for its considerable power and length. This is a fat, rich Montepulciano with quite a bit of fruit. Some of the more gamy qualities of the grape are also present, adding to a note of rusticity. The sheer freshness and vibrancy of the fruit suggests many years of fine drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
Elvio Cogno	2014	Barbera dAlba Pre Phylloxera	$69.99	8
	WS 90 (11/2016): Bracing acidity carries the cherry, blackberry and spice flavors to a long conclusion in this concentrated red. A mineral element emerges on the aftertaste. Drink now through 2020. 200 cases made.   WA 88 (6/2016): The Elvio Cogno 2014 Barbera d'Alba Prefilossera is a darkly extracted and thick wine that shows some serious muscle. This is a big-boned Barbera that exudes power and concentration with Morello cherry, tobacco and barbecue smoke. The mouthfeel is thick, but slightly shorter in this vintage.
Emidio Pepe	2002	Montepulciano dAbruzzo (3.0 L)	$750	1
Fattoria Galardi	2004	Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina IGT	$89	1
	WA 95 (2/2008): Hard as it may seem to believe, the 2004 Terra di Lavoro is even better. It opens with compelling, beguiling aromas of ash, tar, smoke and spices that lead to waves of dark fruit that coat the palate with superb intensity and depth. Structured and seamless at the same time, the 2004 Terra di Lavoro is a remarkable wine in every way. I am probably being overly optimistic but I hope this wine might be approachable by age ten or so. It is a joyous wine, and those fortunate enough to own it will have to exercise considerable patience. As profound as the 2004 is, I think we still haven’t seen the best this estate is capable of. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
	2006	Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina IGT	$89	2
	VM 97 (8/2010): I am thrilled with the 2006 Terra di Lavoro, which easily lives up to the praise I bestowed upon it last year. This wasn’t an easy vintage for Galardi. The weather was uneven, and a drastic selection was necessary in the cellar. Overall production was even lower in 2006 than in 2005, but the estate’s commitment to quality paid off in a big way. The 2006 Terra di Lavoro presents an intriguing combination of compelling inner sweetness wrapped around a firm, imposing frame. This is a very Barolo-like Terra di Lavoro that gradually opens up to reveal is pedigree, with endless layers of fruit and an eternal finish. Readers who own the 2006 are fortunate, but significant patience is required. This is a majestic Terra di Lavoro. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2036.   JS 95 (8/2013): Fresh aromas of herbs and dark fruits such as blackberries and bramble berries. It's minerally too with a volcanic ash undertone. Full and silky with lots of fruit and a long, intense finish. Superb quality. Beautiful now. Made from organically grown grapes: 80 percent Aglianico and 20 percent Piedirosso.
	2011	Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina IGT (3.0 L)	$329	1
	JS 97 (2/2014): Complex aromas of blackberry, stones, cracked black pepper and tar. Full body with soft, round tannins and a juicy, fruity finish. Soulful and refined from this estate. This is a magical wine from Southern Italy.   WS 92 (4/2014): There's drive to this well-meshed, sanguine red, offering flavors of herbs, dried currant, iron and black olive that are deftly layered with sinewy tannins and balancing acidity. Drink now through 2021. 5,000 cases made.   VM 91 (4/2014): (a blend of aglianico and piedirosso): Good full ruby. Ripe red cherry, dark plum, licorice, coffee and spicy oak on the nose. Sweet, plush and very ripe, with plum, truffle and milk chocolate flavors framed by adequate acidity. Complex wine with youthfully chewy, building tannins and excellent breadth. In a riper style than some past vintages.
Ferdinando Principiano	2004	Barolo Boscareto	$69	1
	VM 90 (10/2008): The 2004 Barolo Boscareto is a more vibrant and larger-scaled wine than the Serralunga. It presents lovely harmony in an expression of dark cherries, plums, spices, toasted oak and menthol, showing terrific overall balance and well-integrated tannins. Antonio Galloni.
Fontodi	2006	Flaccianello Della Pieve	$139	2
	WA 96 (1/2009): The 2006 Flaccianello della Pieve (Sangiovese) is just as extraordinary as it was when I tasted it from barrel. This spectacularly ripe and concentrated wine reveals masses of dark cherries, plums, licorice, smoke, violets, French oak and minerals that coat the palate with extraordinary richness. The wine possesses plenty of structure, but the sheer density of the fruit provides stunning balance. The 2006 Flaccianello is one of the more primary wines of the vintage, and it will require considerable patience. Flaccianello continues to prove that Panzano’s Conca d’Oro is one of the most privileged spots for Sangiovese in Tuscany. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.
	2007	Flaccianello Della Pieve	$139	2
	WS 95 (10/2010): A generous Sangiovese, with loads of blackberry, dark cherry and berry on the nose and palate. Full and long. Chewy. The new wood could stand to have a little less barley flavor, but the fruit is fabulous. Takes off on the finish. Best after 2012. 5,000 cases made. Wine Spectator #8 Wine of the Year for 2010.
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli	2006	Barolo Le Brunate	$279	1
	VM 95 (12/2010): The 2006 Barolo Le Brunate is the alter-ego to the Cannubbio. Here the fruit is dark, mysterious and totally captivating, with balsamic notes of spice and menthol that develop in the glass. There is wonderful depth and clarity in the glass, not to mention considerable heft, but all within the context of traditionally-made Barolo. The finish is long, pure and austere in the best of senses. Once again, the combination of traditional winemaking with a contemporary approach to the vineyard management and cellar cleanliness has yielded a wine of exceptional purity. Readers who enjoy firm, ageworthy wines will want to put this high on their shopping lists. Think of Giuseppe Rinaldi as Piedmont's answer to (Burgundy domaine). Antonio Galloni.
Franco Molino	2011	Barolo	$29.99	6
	2013	Barolo	$24.99	22
Fuligni	2012	Brunello di Montalcino Riserva	$169.89	12
	WS 98 (6/2018): Bright and juicy, this is packed with cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral aromas and flavors. Linear in shape and tightly wound, yet very pure, with a long, detailed aftertaste that pulls all the elements together. Best from 2021 through 2040. 350 cases imported.   JS 98 (4/2018): There's a very complex and fresh nose with elegant red cherries, spices and light herbal nuances. Smells very fresh. The palate has beautiful focus and depth with effortless rich dark and red cherries cast amid perfectly proportioned silk-smooth tannins. Long and so focused, the finish is superb. Try from 2022.   VM 96+ (4/2018): Bright saturated red. Deep, pure aromas of raspberry, licorice and minerals; a whiff of white pepper and aromatic herbs emerges with air. Sweet, dense, chewy and powerful, offering superb depth and nuance to the rich red cherry, licorice and potpourri flavors. Tactile, serious and extremely long on the fine-grained, lifted finish. Yet another great wine from Fuligni, and a knockout Brunello Riserva. Ian d'Agata.   WA 92 (2/2018): From the moment you put your nose into the bouquet, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva gives off heat, ripe fruit and power. Brunello from this warm vintage tends to be bold, muscular and emphatic, and this wine definitely supports that claim. Black cherry, prune and plum at the core are surrounded by soft oak spice and cinnamon. The Fuligni winemaking team has done its best to tame the fruit (and allow for the more delicate aromas to emerge), but this wine moves toward the bigger side of the Brunello spectrum nonetheless.
	2016	Rosso di Montalcino	$28.99	36
	WS 87 (7/2018): Driven by vibrant acidity, this red delivers focused cherry, strawberry and underbrush flavors. Tips to the dry side on the back end. Drink now through 2022. 800 cases made.
Giacomo Conterno	2001	Barolo Cascina Francia (1.5 L) Lightly Scuffed Label	$650	2
	WA 96 (10/2006): Roberto Conterno continues this strong series with a Cascina Francia that is breathtaking for its elegance, poise and sheer beauty. Even better from bottle than it was from cask, the 2001 Barolo Cascina Francia displays a stunning nose of roses, spices and crushed raspberries with delicate layers of sweet dark red fruit, licorice and menthol flavors on a medium-bodied frame, closing with great freshness and fine, noble tannins. Several recent bottles suggest that this Barolo has put on some additional weight over the last few months. Despite its initially restrained impression there is plenty of structure and body underneath. It will be a fascinating wine to follow over the next several decades. One of the best Cascina Francias I have ever tasted, and among the very finest wines of this great vintage, it sets a new benchmark for the level of sublimeness and finesse that Nebbiolo can achieve. Highly recommended. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2026.   VM 91-93 (12/2004): Medium red. Sappy aromas of redcurrant liqueur and dried rose. Round, fat, lush and seamless; not at all a fruit-dominated style, with intriguing notes of herbs, spices, earth and flowers complicating the plum and strawberry flavors. Doesn't quite match the 1999 for sheer thrust but the wine's sweetness is compelling.   WS 91 (12/2007): Has wonderful aromas of fresh porcini mushroom, subtle ripe red fruits and citrus. Full-bodied, with silky, caressing tannins. Shows lots of berry, blackberry and milk chocolate flavors on the aftertaste. This is just starting to open up. Drink now through 2016. 1,500 cases made.
	1979	Barolo Monfortino Riserva Signs of Old Seepage; Bin-Soiled Label	$1,299	1
	VM 96 (10/2017): Giacomo Conterno’s 1979 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is still in great shape. Still energetic and high-toned, the 1979 will drink well for at least another 20 years, perhaps more. This is another fabulous bottle. Antonio Galloni.
	1997	Barolo Monfortino Riserva	$1,250	2
	WS 96 (12/2007): The standard-bearer for Barolo. Medium-dark ruby-garnet. Rose petals, mushroom and slightly cooked red fruit. Some earth. Full-bodied, with big, caressing tannins. This is mouthfilling. Touches all of your taste buds. Complex flavors of plum, orange peel and chocolate. Very long. Why wait?--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Drink now. 750 cases made.   WA 95 (1/2006): Dark red. It appears that the early approachability of this wine was an illusion after all. My most recent bottle showed all the classic Monfortino notes of tar, licorice, roses, cocoa, and leather, with super-sweet dark fruit and notable concentration, but the open, generous quality that was present just a few months ago is diminishing, and this wine seems to be shutting down. Roberto Conterno confirmed that my impression is consistent with his naturally more frequent observations of this wine.   VM 92+ (12/2004): Good medium red. Very ripe, ineffable nose combines raspberry, licorice, dried herbs and minerals, with a hint of reduction. Sweet, sappy and aromatic in the mouth, with flavors of candied raspberry, musky strawberry, licorice and rose petal. Shows a more roasted quality than vintages like 1999 and 2001, but this has lovely fruit, superb richness and unusual early appeal.
Giamello	2006	Barbaresco Vicenziana	$45	3
	WS 89 (12/2010): Bright with cherry, rose, licorice and spice flavors, backed by a vibrant structure. A streak of mineral runs through this, and there's a firm, chalky feel on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2022. 225 cases imported.
Giuseppe Rinaldi & Figli	2004	Barolo Brunate Le Coste	$425	1
	WA 96+ (10/2008): Rinaldi’s 2004 Barolo Brunate/Le Coste has been special every time I have tasted it over the last few years. Profoundly expressive balsamic aromas jump out of the glass, leading to layers of seductive perfumed dark fruit that continue to unfold as the wine sits in the glass. This is a truly majestic Barolo. It possesses superb weight and density in a finely-textured yet powerful style. The tannins are firm yet incredibly refined. Readers will not want to miss this exceptional wine. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029.   VM 92-94 (12/2007): Good deep red. Knockout nose offers roasted plum, mocha, brown spices, chocolate and underbrush. Offers superb concentration for the vintage, with excellent vinosity to its flavors of sappy, candied black raspberry and spices. Very rich and broad wine, with big tannins arriving late to dust the palate. This will take a decade or two of bottle aging to evolve fully.   WS 92 (12/2008): Shows loads of fresh tobacco on the nose, with strawberry jam. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, fruity finish. There's pure fruit now. Stylish, traditional winemaking. Best after 2012. 830 cases made.
	2013	Barolo Tre Tine	$300	5
	VM 96 (2/2017): The 2013 Barolo Tre Tine is a super-classic, vibrant wine that bristles with energy. Lithe and gracious, but with terrific intensity, the 2013 is also surprisingly accessible for a young Rinaldi Barolo. Perhaps the 2013 will shut down in bottle, but today, it is all polish. Although quite classic in feel, the 2013 is a bit lower in acidity than the 2010 and is also not forbiddingly tannic, both of which add to its immense appeal today. Scents of lavender, menthol, licorice and sweet red cherry develop in the glass, adding to the wine's considerable appeal. Today, the 2013 is gorgeous.
Il Marroneto	2013	Brunello di Montalcino	$62.95	8
	WA 94 (2/2018): Il Marroneto's 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine and one that invites you to partake in a long evening of good food and even better company. This is a deeply convivial expression of Sangiovese that offers just a glimmer of much-needed informality and coziness to guarantee comfort. But make no mistake, this Brunello reminds you of its pedigree and precision as well. The bouquet opens to white cherry, fragrant rose blossom and violets. The finish is smooth and pliable, with graceful endnotes of smoke and crushed mineral.   VM 94 (4/2018): Bright red. The intense note of violet on the nose is absolutely captivating and nicely lifts the aromas of sweet red cherry and aromatic oils. Then very rich, dense and juicy, conveying a seamless quality to its multilayered orchard fruit, spicy red berry and mineral flavors. The exhilarating finish echoes with lingering and repeating floral and mineral notes nicely extended by lipsmacking but harmonious acidity. Classic vintages such as the 2013 really showcase Il Marroneto’s magnificent terroir to its fullest capacity; in these vintages, talented Alessandro Mori produces sleek, refined Brunellos that are true benchmarks of Sangiovese in Montalcino. Very well done. Ian d'Agata.   WS 91 (6/2018): This is ripe and rich, showing cherry, plum, tobacco and woody accents. Feels open and will likely be ready soon, yet finishes with ample tannins and fine length. Best from 2020 through 2032. 1,250 cases made.
	2013	Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazia	$169.95	22
	WA 97 (2/2018): Sangiovese-whisperer Alessandro Mori has delivered another superstar wine with the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Delle Grazie. The bouquet is detailed and fine with bright accents of fragrant red rose, red currant, cola, licorice, grilled herb and crushed white peppercorn. The bouquet is loose, light and buoyant, with a smooth and natural progression of building aromas. The mouthfeel, however, is direct, important and determined. It's that playful juxtaposition between the wine's soft side and its stern side that makes this such an interesting and sensational wine to drink. Only 5,993 bottles were produced, and that's the bad news.   WS 93 (6/2018): A ripe style, displaying macerated cherry, plum and rose hip tea flavors. This is supported by a firm backbone yet feels balanced and stays long on the finish. Leather, earth and tobacco notes round this out. Best from 2021 through 2035. 500 cases made.
La Spinetta	2007	Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano	$139	4
	VM 93+ (11/2009): Good full red. Musky, wild aromas of strawberry and mint; more classic than the 2006 version. Then broad and perfumed in the mouth, with sexy flavors of spicy red fruits, minerals, dried rose and spices. Finishes broad and very long. A vibrant, complex Barbaresco that will need time. Rivetti says this reminds him of a Barolo from Serralunga. A very strong showing. Stephen Tanzer.
Le Piane	2012	Boca	$54.99	11
	VM 94 (6/2018): The 2012 Boca is fabulous. Rich, ample and deep, the 2012 offers a level of pure immediacy that, while not typical of this wine, does mean that the 2012 will drink well with only minimal cellaring. Even so, I expect the 2012 will age beautifully because of its palate density and weight. Wild cherry, sweet tobacco, licorice, smoke and underbrush build into the powerful finish. As always, the Boca presents slightly darker shades of Nebbiolo. Drink 2020-2032. Antonio Galloni.   WA 93 (8/2017): The 2012 Boca represents a traditional blend of 85% Nebbiolo with 15% Vespolina. It sees a longer maceration time and up to four years of aging in large oak casks. The bouquet in this vintage is slightly less expressive and subdued overall. As it warms in the glass, it begins a long and elegant presentation of dried rose, wild berry, licorice, campfire ash and white truffle. What sets this wine apart, however, is the extreme elegance and finesse of the mouthfeel.
Le Ragnaie	2013	Brunello di Montalcino	$69.99	28
	JS 95 (11/2017): Extremely perfumed and decadent with dried fruit, orange peel and meat on the nose. Full body, linear and bright with intense citrus. Long and powerful. Like a Barolo! Drink or hold. Made from organic grapes.   VM 93 (4/2018): Bright red. Perfumed, precise aromas of raspberry, strawberry, espresso, minerals and violet. Penetrating, linear and youthfully juicy and fresh, featuring raspberry and bitter cherry fruit flavors given clarity by firm but harmonious acidity and a pronounced mineral component that is very Le Ragnaie-like. This very floral, pristine Brunello has an almost Pinot Noir-like primary quality and superb inner-mouth tension. The finish is extremely bright, long and clean. Ian d'Agata   WS 92 (6/2018): Macerated cherry, berry, savory wild herb and tobacco flavors are the hallmarks of this mineral-tinged red. Fluid, yet supported by a solid backbone of tannins and acidity. Best from 2021 through 2035. 2,350 cases made.   WA 91 (2/2018): Le Ragnaie always makes elegant and graceful wines, as is demonstrated by the delightful 2013 Brunello di Montalcino. The delivery of fruit is immediate and fresh, but the wine shows volume and staying power with a firm grip on the palate. Sour cherry, cassis, grilled herb and cola conspire to create aromatic intensity. In the mouth the wine is tight, streamlined and delicately nuanced.
	2013	Brunello di Montalcino Fornace	$124.99	1
	WA 94 (2/2018): Le Ragnaie's 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace is a slightly more robust and structured expression. It has a sturdier vinous exoskeleton, so to speak. For this reason, it needs longer to age and will undoubtedly benefit from more years in your cellar. In fact, I tasted this wine several times over the course of many hours and was delighted by the steady and positive evolution it showed. Given time, the wine gives wild berry and earthy tones that come together with encouraging symmetry.   VM 93+ (4/2018): Dark red with a pale rim. Aromas of raspberry, violet, iris, licorice and sweet spices are accented by white pepper. Ripe but vibrant, this highly concentrated, seamless wine boasts nicely integrated acidity and light peppery and strong floral qualities giving lift to the explosive midpalate. Finishes with sweet, building tannins and superb fruity persistence complicated by notes of tar and licorice. Remarkably rich, pliant and distinctive traditional Brunello. Ian d'Agata.   JS 93 (11/2017): The plum and berry character rises out of the glass with floral undertones. Some bark, too. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a bright finish. Linear and focused. Drink in 2019. Made from organic grapes.
Montevertine	1982	Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT Bin-Soiled Label	$450	1
	VM 92 (1/2016): Tasted from double magnum, the 1982 Pergole Torte is a wine of real impact. For starters, the 1982 has a level of mid-palate sweetness and intensity that stands out after the 1980. Dried rose petal, autumn leaves, kirsch and dried red stone fruits all lift from the glass. Here, too, the wine has reached its peak of maturity. If well stored, the 1982 will drink well for another few years because of its depth and creamy, layered personality. This is an especially fine bottle of the 1982. Of course, 1982 remains a sentimental vintage in Italy because it is the year Italy won the World Cup in Spain, defeating archrivals Germany and Brazil along the way. Martino Manetti adds that this is the first vintage he remembers having tasted from cask and the wine that he knew he would spend the rest of his life at the estate. Antonio Galloni.
	1990	Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT Very Top-Shoulder Fill; Scuffed Label	$609	2
Orma	2014	Orma IGT	$54.95	60
	JS 94 (3/2017): Fascinating aromas of stone, wet concrete and dark fruit. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. A structured and firm wine. Give it two or three years to soften.   VM 93+ (4/2018): The 2014 Orma is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Although the 2014 doesn’t have the radiance or immediacy of the 2015, it has plenty to offer, especially once it comes together a bit more in bottle. Beams of tannin give the 2014 its insistent, nervous personality. But beneath that, the flavors are remarkably pure. Savory herb, espresso, tobacco and menthol start to open up with time in the glass. The 2014 could turn out to be a real jewel of a wine if it softens in time. There is a good bit of potential here. Antonio Galloni.   WA 92 (10/2017): The 2014 Orma is a Tuscan blend of Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc executed with evident inspiration from Bordeaux. The wine shows a deep, dark appearance with rich consistency and a full-bodied approach. The bouquet delivers the power and integrity that you can expect of this celebrated Tuscan blend, although the mouthfeel does not show the same level of extraction or power. This is a good thing, in my opinion, as the 2014 vintage offers a level of understated elegance that you don't usually get from a wine of this more international and contemporary approach.
Paolo Scavino	2000	Barolo Bric del Fiasc (3.0 L)	$600	1
	WS 98 (7/2004): Very, very ripe fruit, with strawberries and plums galore. Turns to Indian spices and cedar. Full-bodied, with an exquisite palate of ultraripe tannins that turn to velvet. Long, long finish. Cashmere. Great from barrel, great from bottle. This is the best Bric dël Fiasc ever. Best after 2010. 875 cases made.   WA 92 (8/2005): The 2000 Barolo Bric del Fiasc, powerful and penetrating in aroma with expansive sensations of tar, truffles, and anisette, is dense, burly, and concentrated on the palate, intense on the close, but less sweet and round than unusual. It is built to last, however, and will still be drinking well in 2018.   VM 92 (12/2004): Good full red. Dee p aromas of redcurrant, smoke and earth. Also rather backward, but shows a lighter touch than the Carobric, with sweeter fruit. Intensely flavored but not weighty, with more classic Barolo energy and notes of flowers and tar. Subtle and flavorful Barolo, finishing with serious tannic backbone for aging.
	2011	Barolo Riserva Novantesimo	$309.99	30
	WA 97 (8/2017): The 2011 Barolo Riserva Novantesimo is a proud and exuberant wine that does enormous justice to the vintage and to the mighty Nebbiolo grape. This is remembered as a warm growing season, and this wine is richly layered, generous and beautifully intense as a result. Dark cherry aromas are folded within spice, cured tobacco and leather. The best part is that subtle crunch or snap you get on the palate, thanks to the fresh acidity that is neatly integrated within.   VM 96+ (3/2015): In 2011, Scavino bottled a small amount of the 2011 Barolo Riserva Novantesimo, a blend of fruit fruit from a handful of top-notch sites to celebrate the winery's 90th anniversary. A hauntingly beautiful wine, the 2011 graces the palate with notable nuance and detail. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red berries are all laced together in an exquisite Barolo endowed with real class and pedigree. The Novantesimo is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. That is little wonder. Look at the vineyard sites: Fiasco (Castiglione Falletto), Monvigliero (Verduno), Cannubi and Vignane (Barolo), San Bernardo (Serralunga), Bricco Ambrogio (Roddi) and Rocche dell’Annunziata (La Morra). This is a fabulous effort. Antonio Galloni.
Piero Antinori	2012	Solaia	$199	4
	JS 97 (8/2015): Extremely impressive ripe dark fruits of blueberries, plums and blackberries follow through to a full body, round texture and bright acidity. The finesse and depth to this red is stunning making it a wonderful successor to the 2011 Solaia. Needs three or four years to soften and open. Better in 2018. AG 94 (9/2015): Another intense, tightly-wound wine, the 2012 Solaia is likely to require a number of years in bottle before it is ready to drink. Graphite, smoke, plums, black cherries, rose petal and mint meld together effortlessly in the glass. Here, too, the style is all about grace and finesse. The 2012 Solaia is going require patience, but all the elements are in the right place. In 2012, the Cabernet Franc is nearly 7% of the blend, which is on the high side.
	2015	Tignanello	$119.99	5
Piombaia	2012	Brunello di Montalcino	$32.50	3
Podere Poggio Scalette	2015	Il Carbonaione	$44.95	6
	JS 97 (6/2018): Sit back and enjoy this very rich but beautifully polished Tuscan red, which is the essence of the sangiovese grape. Great concentration and a very long and silky finish that has a great bittersweet-chocolate character. Beautiful now, but it has many, many years ahead of it.   WS 90 (7/2018): This is lush, featuring a light touch of oak spice shading black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors. Firm yet well-integrated, with a lingering, fresh finish. Sangiovese. Drink now through 2022. 2,200 cases made.
Punset	2004	Barbaresco Campo Quadro	$47	2
	WS 87 (12/2007): Aromas of watermelon and berry follow through to medium- to full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Slightly one-dimensional, but clean. Best after 2010. 1,100 cases made.
Roberto Voerzio	2000	Barolo Cerequio	$199	1
	WS 95 (7/2004): Bright berry, jam and tar aromas in this one, turning to Indian spices. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. Velvety. This is a modern, superclean wine. Long finish, yet tightly wound like a golf ball. Voerzio owns 4.5 acres of the Cerequio vineyard near La Morra. Best after 2009.   WA 95 (8/2005): Cerequio is the vineyard which, from the very start, made Roberto Voerzio a name to reckon with, and the 2000 Barolo Cerequio confirms that this is the cru which systematically gives him the best fruit.   VM 92 (12/2004): Good medium red. Fresh, complex aromas of cherry, dried flowers and spices. Very sweet and lush, with terrific concentration and depth; wonderfully creamy and broad. Highly complex, aromatic flavors of raspberry, dried flowers and minerals. Finishes long and elegant, with sweet, fine-grained tannins. A superb showing.
Sottimano	2012	Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine	$48.99	47
	VM 92 (10/2014): The 2012 Barbaresco Cottà shows its typical profile of round, ample fruit and generosity, but with a touch less richness than is the norm. Broad, ample textures fill out the wine's frame nicely. Pine, menthol and dark spices wrap around a core of super-expressive dark red stone fruits. All of the typical Cottà signatures are in place, but in miniature, which is to say this is a highly representative wine for the year.   JS 92 (10/2015): I like the aromas of dried rose petal, plum and cedar. Some stems. Full-bodied, layered and chewy. Needs a year or two to soften: better in 2017.   WA 91 (6/2015): The 2012 Barbaresco Cottá shows a slightly subdued personality and a timid approach. The wine is bright, buoyant and brilliant across the board but it delivers its best assets with less intensity compared to the other single-vineyard expressions of Barbaresco produced by Sottimano. Pretty tones of white cherry and forest berry form a smooth union with light spice, mint and cola. This wine should flesh out further with more time in the cellar.   WS 90 (8/2015): A fresh, elegant style, with a firm edge of tannins under the pure cherry, strawberry, floral, spice and leather flavors. The tannins have the upper hand for now, so be patient. Best from 2018 through 2026. 400 cases made.
	2015	Barbaresco Cotta (1.5 L) ex-Domaine	$129.99	12
	WA 93 (9/2018): From a celebrated cru in Neive, the 2015 Barbaresco Cottà is a shapely, soft and accessible interpretation of Nebbiolo from a warm vintage. This mid-weight wine boasts a bright bouquet with ruby highlights. Those aromas are alert, tonic and straightforward in delivery. In terms of mouthfeel, this wine is firm and structured. However, the astringency is safely within bounds (for a young Nebbiolo). Some 10,000 bottles were made. Only 10% of the wine goes into new oak and the rest goes into neutral barrique.   JS 93 (9/2018): Very attractive red-cherry, redcurrant, plum and floral nose with discreet oak, then a sleek yet powerful and tannic palate with a lot of structure and some real elegance. Enough fruit for immediate drinking, but this is made for aging.   VM 92 (10/2018): Sottimano's 2015 Barbaresco Cottà is powerful, dense and brooding. Today the big, potent tannins somewhat constrict the mid-palate and finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 fleshes out with time in bottle. While that may happen, I expect the 2015 will always remain a bit rough around the edges, certainly within the context of the finest Sottimano Barbarescos of recent vintages. Smoke, grilled herbs, plum and firm, chunky tannins all give the 2015 Cottà its burly potent feel. Antonio Galloni.
	2015	Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine	$59.95	60
	WA 93 (9/2018): From a celebrated cru in Neive, the 2015 Barbaresco Cottà is a shapely, soft and accessible interpretation of Nebbiolo from a warm vintage. This mid-weight wine boasts a bright bouquet with ruby highlights. Those aromas are alert, tonic and straightforward in delivery. In terms of mouthfeel, this wine is firm and structured. However, the astringency is safely within bounds (for a young Nebbiolo). Some 10,000 bottles were made. Only 10% of the wine goes into new oak and the rest goes into neutral barrique.   JS 93 (9/2018): Very attractive red-cherry, redcurrant, plum and floral nose with discreet oak, then a sleek yet powerful and tannic palate with a lot of structure and some real elegance. Enough fruit for immediate drinking, but this is made for aging.   VM 92 (10/2018): Sottimano's 2015 Barbaresco Cottà is powerful, dense and brooding. Today the big, potent tannins somewhat constrict the mid-palate and finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 fleshes out with time in bottle. While that may happen, I expect the 2015 will always remain a bit rough around the edges, certainly within the context of the finest Sottimano Barbarescos of recent vintages. Smoke, grilled herbs, plum and firm, chunky tannins all give the 2015 Cottà its burly potent feel. Antonio Galloni.
	2012	Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine	$48.99	1
	2013	Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine	$59.95	8
	2014	Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine	$53.95	15
	VM 93 (10/2017): The 2014 Barbaresco Fausoni is all grace. Aromatic and lifted, with striking inner perfume and sweetness, the 2014 Fausoni is a terrific example of the year. Sweet red cherry, red plum, rose petal and mint infuse this pliant, super-expressive Barbaresco. In many years, Fausoni can be a bit lean, but in 2014, the late-ripening season allow for the full ripeness of fruit and tannin. What a gorgeous wine this is. Antonio Galloni.   JS 92 (10/2017): Layered and chewy with chocolate, tea and leather character to the dried fruit. Medium to full body. Good fruit for the year and a clean finish. Wait for a year or two to soften.   WS 91 (12/2017): Shades of spice augment the cherry and medicinal herb flavors in this savory red. A firm line of dusty tannins holds court on the finish despite the relatively open texture. Best from 2019 through 2033. 400 cases made.   WA 91 (4/2018): This Nebbiolo shows amber and garnet hues over a lean and delicate appearance. The 2014 Barbaresco Fausoni is broad and accessible in character. The bouquet really puts it all out there and holds nothing back. It delivers bright fruit, spice and white licorice. The fruit feels a degree riper and darker in this unusual vintage that ended with a blast of pre-harvest heat following a cool summer. The Fausoni vineyard is home to 45-year-old vines.
	2015	Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine	$59.95	60
	VM 94 (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Fausoni offers terrific freshness and lift, especially within the context of the year. Bright red berry fruit and floral notes give this mid-weight, nervy Barbaresco much of its vibrancy. The tannins could use a bit more bottle age to soften, but otherwise, the 2015 is just as impressive today as it was last year, when I tasted it just after bottling. Antonio Galloni.   JS 94 (9/2018): Deep, plum and floral nose, then a ripe and generous palate with considerable tannic power, but also very good balance. The dry, quite minerally finish is long and intense. Drink or hold.   WA 92+ (9/2018): Showing elegance and grace starting with the first sip, the 2015 Barbaresco Fausoni also reveals power and integration. You get both sides of the spectrum with this wine: silk and muscle. The bouquet emits aromas of pressed blue flower, rose hip, dried red currant, spice and fine licorice. The finish is compact and long in persistence. Only 5,000 bottles were produced.
	2014	Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine	$52.95	57
	VM 95 (10/2017): The 2014 Barbaresco Pajoré is broad, ample and super-expressive. Dark cherry, spice, lavender, licorice and leather flesh out in a multi-dimensional, complex Barbaresco endowed with myriad shades of nuance. Here, too, the tannins are fully ripe, which allows all the purity of the fruit to come through loud and clear. Antonio Galloni.   WA 94 (4/2018): The 2014 Barbaresco Pajorè is a lovely wine with a firm and convincing sense of inner intensity and elegance. Red cherries and cassis rise from the bouquet, which is delivered with almost musical pulses of brightness that keep time and tempo. The wine's concentration is dark ruby and luminous. Dried mint, anise and licorice appears on the silky finish. The 1.5-hectare Pajorè vineyard is located in Treiso. Vines are up to 70 years old.   WS 92 (12/2017): Fresh thyme, cherry, tobacco and mineral flavors are the hallmarks of this firm, linear red, which is shy aromatically, but there is a core of sweet fruit. Fine length and freshness. Best from 2020 through 2032. 400 cases made.   JS 90 (10/2017): Very clean and focused dark fruit here with lemon rind undertones and cedar, too. Medium body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Needs a year or two to soften.
	2015	Barbaresco Pajore (1.5 L) ex-Domaine	$129.99	10
	VM 94+ (10/2018): Far from an easygoing wine in this ripe vintage, the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is going to need time to come together. Today, the potent tannins are bruising. Even so, there is tremendous depth to the fruit and plenty of character. In 2015 Pajorè shows a much more red fruit-leaning profile and floral notes than its more typical balsamic profile. Antonio Galloni.   JS 93 (9/2018): Intense aroma of cloves, but also rose and earth notes. This rather sophisticated, medium-to full-bodied Barbaresco has bold, dry tannins that are well integrated and a long, dry finish. Drink or hold.   WA 93 (9/2018): Of these various single-vintage releases by Sottimano (including Basarin, Cottá and Fausoni), the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is very well integrated and smooth. The tannin management shows an excellent approach, and you don't get the astringency that comes forward in the Basarin. Instead, this expression offers increased focus on the ripe, round and plump fruit of the vintage. Only 5,000 bottles (including magnums) were produced.
	2015	Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine	$59.95	60
	VM 94+ (10/2018): Far from an easygoing wine in this ripe vintage, the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is going to need time to come together. Today, the potent tannins are bruising. Even so, there is tremendous depth to the fruit and plenty of character. In 2015 Pajorè shows a much more red fruit-leaning profile and floral notes than its more typical balsamic profile. Antonio Galloni.   JS 93 (9/2018): Intense aroma of cloves, but also rose and earth notes. This rather sophisticated, medium-to full-bodied Barbaresco has bold, dry tannins that are well integrated and a long, dry finish. Drink or hold.   WA 93 (9/2018): Of these various single-vintage releases by Sottimano (including Basarin, Cottá and Fausoni), the 2015 Barbaresco Pajorè is very well integrated and smooth. The tannin management shows an excellent approach, and you don't get the astringency that comes forward in the Basarin. Instead, this expression offers increased focus on the ripe, round and plump fruit of the vintage. Only 5,000 bottles (including magnums) were produced.
Tenuta dell' Ornellaia	2009	Ornellaia	$169	1
	VM 97 (6/2012): The 2009 Ornellaia caresses the palate with layers of seamless, radiant fruit. Sweet red berries, mocha, flowers, new leather and spices are some of the many notes that are layered in this sumptuous, totally beautiful wine. The 2009 stands out for its silky tannins and phenomenal overall balance. This is one of those wines that will probably enjoy a long drinking window. There is little question the ability to blend grape varieties was a huge help in this vintage. In my opinion, that is the main reason Ornellaia is a slightly more complete wine than Masseto in 2009. In one of my blind tastings, the 2009 made a very eloquent case for itself as the wine of the vintage. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. In 2009 winemaker Axel Heinz used the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever in Ornellaia and gave the wine less time in oak, both with the goal of preserving as much freshness as possible. Antonio Galloni.
Tua Rita	2013	Redigaffi	$313	2
	JS 99 (8/2015): Superb wine here, offering aromas of dark berries, tobacco, tar, blackberries and black cherries. It changes all the time and is very complex with hints of meat. On the palate it's full-bodied and very well refined, showing wonderful tannin tension and polished texture. It closes with an amazing finish that lasts for minutes and turns to pure fruit. Better in 2018 but a fabulous young wine to taste now. A modern example of the legendary 1997 but more elegant.   VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Redigaffi is one of the more understated versions of Redigaffi I can remember tasting. If opened young, the 2013 needs quite a bit of air, as it appears to still be recovering from its recent bottling. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, leather, licorice and spices build to an explosive finish supported by beams of acidity and tannin. The 2013 is still sorting itself out in bottle, so patience is key.
	2015	Redigaffi	$249.95	7
	JS 99-100 (10/2017): This is an extremely intense and dense Redigaffi yet it remains lively and agile. Full body and powerful tannins that are polished and long. It goes on for minutes. So compacted and structured but always reserved. Acid balance is just right. Can't wait to taste it in bottle. Made from organic grapes.   WA 97 (11/2017): No surprise, Tua Rita delivers yet another unbelievable edition of its legendary Merlot from Coastal Tuscany. The 2015 Redigaffi is a blockbuster, a beautiful and expressive blockbuster at that. This vintage delivers a unique level of intensity and power that is very much linked to the easily ripened fruit obtained in this warm and sunny vintage. Despite that inner bulk and power, the wine reveals an elegant sense of harmony and depth. Etched mineral or graphite notes segue to black fruit, spice, leather, mocha and toasted espresso bean. The wine is structured and firm in terms of mouthfeel.   VM 95 (4/2018): Just bottled a few weeks ago, the 2016 Redigafi is rich, powerful and explosive, with serious depth and volume in all of its dimensions. A host of chocolate, mocha, espresso, licorice and smoke overtones give the wine nuance to match its intense, super-ripe purplish and black-fleshed fruit. Antonio Galloni.
Valdicava	2003	Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva	$109	6
	WA 93 (1/2009): The 2003 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a super-ripe, opulent wine that resembles the 1997 in its generous, full-bodied personality. The tannins are surprisingly well-balanced within the context of this challenging vintage. The 2003 should drink well relatively early for this Riserva. All things considered, this is a superb effort. Production was down sharply in 2003. The estate bottled just 13,000 bottles of this wine compared to the typical production of 23,000 bottles. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.
	2004	Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva	$209	6
	WA 96+ (4/2010): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano continues to develop very positively. This huge, concentrated Madonna del Piano dazzles for the richness of its fruit and the delineation of its aromas. The clean, vibrant finish suggests many years of cellaring potential. The Valdicava Brunellos are often misunderstood when young because they possess so much richness, but with time in bottle the wines turn more delicate and complete. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.   WS 96 (6/2010): Intense aromas of blackberry, blueberry and mineral, with just the right amount of licorice and mineral. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a beautiful finish. Best after 2012. 2,415 cases made.   JS 95 (1/2011): This is drinking a little tight at the moment. Still, the bright and decadent fruit give way to nice chewy tannins. Very complex, full bodied, and balanced. This needs some time to come back around. Drink this after 2012.   VM 88 (7/2010): Very dark ruby-red with a light rim. Overripe aromas of red cherry, plum and underbrush give the nose a blowsy quality. Then sweet and creamy in the mouth, with pretty balsamic nuances to the ripe red and black fruit flavors. This rather fat wine finishes with decent complexity and smooth tannins, but I found myself wishing for a little more finesse.
Vietti	1989	Barolo Rocche	$400	3
	WA 96 (2/2010): The 1989 Barolo Rocche opens with an incredible bouquet that is reminiscent of a top-flight grand cru Burgundy. The wine shows exceptional elegance in the freshness of its color, the softness of the fruit, and a silkiness in the tannins that is only matched by Mauro Mascarello’s 1989 Barolo Monprivato, not coincidentally also from the village of Castiglione Falletto. I am amazed by the sheer purity and depth of the fruit, a quality of the wine that was extremely forward-looking twenty years ago. This layered, sublime Rocche represents the height of elegance and refinement in Barolo. It remains a spectacular effort from Alfredo Currado. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.   VM 94 (5/2016): What a treat it is to taste the four epic vintages of the 1980s side by side. The 1989 Barolo Rocche is a bit reticent on this night. Although the 1989 is pretty, our bottles aren’t quite as explosive or intensely perfumed as the best examples can be. At its best, the Rocche is one of the finest 1989s. On this night though, the 1989 is merely Outstanding. Much the same is true of the 1990 Barolo Rocche, which is very good, but also not quite as memorable as it has been in the recent past. Antonio Galloni.   WS 83 (10/1994): Lean in structure, with a solid core of earthy, chocolaty, gamy flavors that seem to shoulder aside the modest raspberry notes. A stylish Barolo that should be best after 1997.
Alfredo Prunotto	2001	Barolo Bussia (1.5 L)	$159		Sold Out
Angelo Gaja	1964	Barbaresco	$375		Sold Out
	2000	Langhe Sori San Lorenzo (1.5 L)	$699		Sold Out
	2000	Langhe Sori Tildin (1.5 L)	$799		Sold Out
	2000	Langhe Sperss	$289		Sold Out
Caparzo	2007	Brunello di Montalcino Riserva	$79		Sold Out
Casanova di Neri	1999	Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto	$199		Sold Out
	2000	Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto	$189		Sold Out
Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera	1994	Brunello di Montalcino	$495		Sold Out
	2008	Toscana Sangiovese Slightly Depressed Cork	$399		Sold Out
Domenico Clerico	2004	Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra	$159		Sold Out
Fanti	1999	Brunello di Montalcino	$99.99		Sold Out
Fuligni	2013	Brunello di Montalcino	$64.89		Sold Out
Giuseppe Cortese	2001	Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva	$119		Sold Out
Giuseppe Rinaldi & Figli	1999	Barolo Brunate Le Coste	$399		Sold Out
Piero Antinori	2008	Solaia (3.0 L)	$969		Sold Out
Tenuta dell' Ornellaia	2004	Ornellaia	$229		Sold Out
Tenuta San Guido	2006	Sassicaia	$249		Sold Out