Wine Enthusiast (95)

Earthy aromas of underbrush, wild herb and rose mingle with woodland berry and toasted nut on this full-bodied red. Combining finesse, structure and concentration, the smooth palate doles out ripe morello cherry, licorice and bitter almond alongside a backbone of firm but refined tannins.

Decanter (96)

Intense floral and raspberry fruit bouquet. Pure silk on the attack; very concentrated but not overbearing, with lots of Maraschino cherry and spicy flavours. This is poised, polished, and seductive, with a very long, sweet cherry, finish.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

Iris, violet and espresso aromas mingle in the glass along with woodland berry. Elegantly structured and linear, the full-bodied palate features ripe Marasca cherry, dried botanical herb, molten chocolate and licorice notes alongside enveloping, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2024–2029.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 Barolo Castelletto is fabulous. It is also the wine in this range that feels the least marked by heat. Red/purplish fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and lavender all grace this beautifully translucent, expressive Barolo. There is some tannin that needs to soften - this is Monforte after all - but all the elements are impeccably balanced.

James Suckling (95)

A firm, fine-tannined Barolo, yet very structured and intense with ripe-strawberry, cedar and lemon-peel character. Medium to full body. Tar and walnut to the bright fruit. Tight finish. Give this time to open. Best after 2024.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

Blue flower, underbrush, camphor and hazelnut aromas come to the forefront. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the palate offers ripe raspberry, Morello cherry, tobacco and a hint of coffee bean alongside firm, close-grained tannins. Drink after 2027.

Decanter (97)

This is delicious! Finds a good gear and runs with it through to a lengthy finish. Seductive cherry, graphite, sweet spice and red forest fruit aromas flow onto a beautifully harmonious and complex palate, conveying a tender texture of dark cherry and plummy fruit that’s carried by perfectly pitched tannins. The flavours linger long in the mouth. It will make many red wine devotees swoon.

Decanter (97)

This is a stunning wine with a complex cherry, prune, herbal, leather and balsamic bouquet. Excels on the concentrated and succulent palate, with lovely mouthfeel and lots of spicy, smooth, fleshy tannins, superfine acidity and great length. A classic gourmand style per eccellenza perhaps but remarkable from any angle. (Platinum Medal)

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

This is savoury, dry in the best possible way, with a ton of red fruits, dried roses and herbs, and waves of fragrance. It’s a successful blend where the Sangiovese is dominant, conferring the wine with its warm personality but the Cabernet Sauvignon adds a touch of austerity to the tannins and a sense of quiet confidence. Turmeric and olive tapenade as it opens, alongside raspberry, red cherry and smoky oak, the whole thing both extremely delicate and intensely fragrant. Can drink now with a short carafe - there are tannins here but they are well defined and finely layered - but it will also age. Small amounts of the 2018 were released last winter, but this September sees the first proper release through the Place de Bordeaux. Ageing 18 months in small French oak barrels, 70% new, plus four months in concrete tanks afterwards. One to look out for - great stuff from the Mazzei family, that has been making wine in Tuscany since the 15th century.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)

Love the slow build of this wine, it gently climbs through the palate, savoury and restrained at first, then opening up with a smile, plenty of welcoming dried herbs, chamomile tea, dried rosebuds, orange peel, raspberry fruits. Great quality, full of concentration and lift, push and pull, and just so juicy on the finish. Great stuff, from soils of decomposed limestone and sandstone, aged in large oak casks for the Sangiovese and small barrels for the Cabernet Franc, then 3 months in concrete tanks before bottling. Mazzei family, winemaker Gionarta Pulignani. Tasted with the September Releases and again at the estate.

Wine Advocate (94)

This wine is a symbolic bridge from the Old World to the New. The Mazzei 2019 Philip is an all-Tuscan expression of Cabernet Sauvignon (with a tiny part Cabernet Franc) that delivers rich texture, ripeness and ripe fruit. The wine is named after Philip Mazzei (1730–1816), who was a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson. The two men reportedly exchanged winemaking tips and vineyard techniques. The 2019 vintage nails that proverbial sweet spot between softness, structure, fruit and spice. This is a plush, fruit-forward and balanced Tuscan red.

James Suckling (98)

What a beautiful nose of elderberries, freshly picked blackcurrants, citrus, herbs, licorice and crushed stones, amidst a backdrop of coffee beans, cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins and an impressive balance of fruit and acidity. Long, grainy and elegant on the finish. A masterpiece. Drink in 2020.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 Siepi is a total knock-out and one of the best recent vintages I can remember tasting. All the elements simply fall into place. Succulent dark cherry, spice, chocolate, leather and licorice build as the 2017 gains volume in the glass. Sangiovese and Merlot have rarely been so complementary. The 2017 is a gorgeous wine that offers plenty of the richness readers have become accustomed to over the years, but in a slightly less extracted style.

Vinous (97)

Siepi, Fonterutoli’s Merlot/Sangiovese blend, is absolutely gorgeous in 2018. Rich, pliant and creamy, Siepi offers all of the seductiveness of Merlot with the bright acids and grip of Sangiovese. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, dried herbs, spice, licorice and new leather meld together in an open-knit, inviting Tuscan red with no hard edges and tons of allure shaped by alberese soils with a good bit of clay. The 2018 is an undeniably sexy wine with so much immediacy. Siepi (the wine) is built on a core of holdings from Siepi, a historic property dating back to the 1400s, plus holdings from the broader Fonterutoli estate. Merlot and Sangiovese lots are harvested, vinified and aged separately. The 2018 saw long macerations 20 or more days, followed by 16-17 months in French oak, with a preference for 225L barrels for Merlot and larger 500L tonneaux for the Sangiovese, which also spent a bit less time in oak. The final blend was assembled and then the wine spent 5-6 months in cement, a recent change made for the first time in 2017 that really seems to let the purity of the fruit come out. The 2018 is positively stellar and also one of the very best editions in recent memory. Don’t miss it.

Vinous (97)

Siepi, Fonterutoli’s Merlot/Sangiovese blend, is absolutely gorgeous in 2018. Rich, pliant and creamy, Siepi offers all of the seductiveness of Merlot with the bright acids and grip of Sangiovese. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, dried herbs, spice, licorice and new leather meld together in an open-knit, inviting Tuscan red with no hard edges and tons of allure shaped by alberese soils with a good bit of clay. The 2018 is an undeniably sexy wine with so much immediacy. Siepi (the wine) is built on a core of holdings from Siepi, a historic property dating back to the 1400s, plus holdings from the broader Fonterutoli estate. Merlot and Sangiovese lots are harvested, vinified and aged separately. The 2018 saw long macerations 20 or more days, followed by 16-17 months in French oak, with a preference for 225L barrels for Merlot and larger 500L tonneaux for the Sangiovese, which also spent a bit less time in oak. The final blend was assembled and then the wine spent 5-6 months in cement, a recent change made for the first time in 2017 that really seems to let the purity of the fruit come out. The 2018 is positively stellar and also one of the very best editions in recent memory. Don’t miss it.

Vinous (99)

The 2019 Siepi continues a trend towards greater finesse and nuance in this wine. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice, licorice and plum meld together effortlessly in the glass. Dense and layered, with striking detail, the 2019 is so impressive. The flavors are bright, bold and punchy. An exceptionally beautiful and riveting wine, the 2019 is rich and concentrated, but not at all heavy. What a total knock-out.

Decanter (98)

Dried herbs and sweet spices on the nose, forest notes with bramble fruits, concentrated and expressive. Such a smooth delivery on the palate, tannins glide across the tongue giving the sweet strawberry, raspberry and plum fruit time to expand in the mouth as the acidity gives a mouthwatering aspect. This is very much on the lively and vibrant fruit - shouting loudly about its energy. Feels extremely well made, clear definition, finesse and balance. Such a gorgeous fruit profile, the high-toned strawberry and cherry, bright and piercing, yet also round and generous with tobacco and wood nuances. Ample tannins are fine but present, giving support. All round an exceptionally beautiful wine. I love this. Giving such immediate and youthful enjoyment but this will continue to age well. Ageing 18 months in French oak barrels (70% new), barriques (Merlot), tonneaux (Sangiovese), followed by four months in concrete tanks.

James Suckling (97)

The aromas of dark berries, violets and perfume are enchanting. The palate is medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are polished and so elegant and they run the length of the wine. They are rather endless. Very classy and balanced. A merlot and sangiovese blend. Give this a year or two, but it’s already a joy to drink. Drink or hold.

Vinous (90)

The 2018 Barolo Cerequio is an attractive mid-weight wine. Dark red/cherry plum fruit, mocha, leather, spice and incense all grace this supple, silky Barolo. There's lovely creaminess and plenty of allure in this tasty Barolo from Michele Chiarlo.

Matthew Jukes (18.5)

While the estate Valpolicella is the only wine which is drinking perfectly right now all of the wines in this piece are certainly approachable and yet they have considerable staying power, too. This Ripasso is, most-certainly, the wine with the highest ‘value ratio’ given that the flavour is astounding and the price, stubbornly, remains affordable! Of course, this is cause for great celebration because the extra dimension of flair and richness at the heart of this gorgeous Ripasso is sensational. While many wines of this style carry extra weight and darker fruit tones, this elite version parades red fruit and uncommon succulence. I absolutely love it and it fully deserves its gold medal score.

Vinous (92)

The 2018 Chianti Classico Vigna Mezzuola is a gorgeous, mid-weight wine. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berry fruit, tobacco, orange peel and spice are nicely pushed forward in this translucent, mid-weight Chianti Classico that delivers so much Sangiovese character.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2018 Eneo is pure and total class. Dark, resonant and super-expressive, the 2018 boasts terrific personality and class, with striking inner perfume that adds sweetness and aromatic intensity to a core of inky fruit. Lavender, mint, pine and sage are some of the many nuances that come alive with a bit of time in the glass. More than anything else, it is the wine's creaminess and overall feel that are so alluring today.

Wine Spectator (95)

Features a focused beam of black currant, black cherry, plum and spice flavors. Herbal and vanilla accents add complexity as this winds down on the lingering aftertaste, with elements of Mediterranean scrub. Displays an engaging texture and harmony despite the youthful exuberance. Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2045. 250 cases made.

Vinous (97)

The 2016 Nardo is distinguished by a whole range of floral, savory and blood orange notes that give the wine striking aromatic brightness and perfume. Powerful and dense on the palate, with tremendous structure, the 2016 is incredibly racy today. Even with all of its richness, Nardo remains so precise and finely cut, with a real sense of saline-infused energy that drives the flavors. It is simply stunning. Wow!

Vinous (96)

Proprietor Fabio Chiarelotto and longtime winemaker Fabrizio Moltard ratchet things up with their stellar 2018 Nardo. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, gravel, spice, underbrush, menthol, licorice and scorched earth give the 2018 its distinct, sepia-toned personality. Dark and brooding in the glass, with imposing tannins, the 2018 is a flat-out stunner. Give it a few years in bottle first. Nardo is built around a core of Sangiovese, with Montepulciano, Alicante and Malvasia Nera. Chiarelotto has reduced the presence of Montepulciano in the blend. If the 2018 is any indication, that choice looks to be spot on.

James Suckling (97)

A red with plum and cherry character with hints of bark, mushroom and clove. It’s full-bodied with layers of fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Needs time to soften, but structured and beautiful. Such finesse with strength. Really impressive. Try after 2022.

Indulge in the tantalising taste of Muraje, Carema, Sumie 2018. This exquisite fine wine was created in the mystically serene region of Piedmont, Italy by the admired wine producers, Carema. The extraordinary effort behind this production is commendable. Made from Nebbiolo grapes, typically handpicked during the first fortnight of October, the ageing process occurs in large oak barrels creating an enthralling flavour profile.

Tints of rich, intense ruby-red dance around the glass, unfolding robust, yet elegantly intertwined notes of cherries, wild berries and lavender complemented by the heartwarming hint of cinnamon. Expressing extraordinary persistence, the taste of Muraje, Carema, Sumie 2018 is deep-rooted, characterised by a velvety, balanced finish that elaborates the fruity and spicy undertones.

Experience a taste of Italian tradition with Muraje, Carema, Sumie 2018, echoing an epic journey from the idyllic vineyards of Piedmont, right to your palate. A wine for the discerning connoisseur, it embodies the ethos and essence of fine wine indulgence.

Wine Advocate (92)

The weather in Gattinara is often unexpected. For example, in 2017 it rained more in this area than it did in Barolo. This vintage was more tempered, and this 2015 Gattinara comes across as pretty, elegant and soft, with light notes of berries and a pretty ashy signature. This particular expression of Nebbiolo would be a good choice for lamb.