Italy - All Red Wines
Italy is renowned worldwide for its exceptional red wines, which showcase the country's rich winemaking traditions and diverse terroir. From the iconic regions of Tuscany and Piedmont to the hidden gems of Sicily and Veneto, Italy offers an extensive selection of fine red wines that captivate the palate and leave a lasting impression.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido produce some of the most renowned red wines in the world. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. These wines exhibit flavors of ripe berries, elegant tannins, and a harmonious balance that reflects the unique Tuscan terroir.
Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards and wineries that produce outstanding red wines. Renowned names such as Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo are synonymous with excellence. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins that develop beautifully with age.
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian red wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality, showcasing the island's diverse terroir.
In the Veneto region, Amarone della Valpolicella stands out as a distinctive and powerful red wine. Wineries like Allegrini, Tommasi, and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines using dried grapes, resulting in a wine with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture.
These are just a few examples of the remarkable red wines Italy has to offer. Whether you're indulging in a classic Tuscan Sangiovese, an elegant Piedmontese Nebbiolo, a bold Sicilian Nero d'Avola, or a robust Venetian Amarone, Italian red wines transport you to the sun-drenched vineyards and embody the passion, history, and artistry of Italian winemaking.
Experience the allure of Italian red wines and discover the immense variety and quality that make them a true treasure in the world of wine. From prestigious appellations to hidden gems, Italian red wines are sure to impress even the most discerning wine enthusiasts with their complexity, elegance, and ability to age gracefully.
Italy - All Red Wines
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Veneto | 20 | 93 (VN) | د.إ1,795.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)A burst of mocha and clove is balanced by dusty black cherries and savory herbs as the 2017 La Poja blossoms in the glass. This is a heady and extroverted expression with a pretty inner sweetness contrasted by tart black fruits and inner herb tones. Dark chocolate, cloves, hints of vanilla and candied lavender can all be found through the incredibly long and palate-staining finale. The 2017 finishes lightly structured. For all of its extroverted character, the La Poja boasts only three grams of residual sugar per liter. This may be a big wine, but the balance is remarkable. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95+ (JD) | د.إ1,755.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (95+)The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has remarkably consistent integration from the nose to the palate. There are generous aromatics of fresh raspberry, rosemary, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. The palate opens up with ripe and inviting cherry fruit and tea leaf, with supple tannin and freshness on the finish. Its drinkability now should not be confused for a lack of structure, as it is true to the energetic nature of the vintage. Drink 2021-2036. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WE) | د.إ1,855.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)Balancing power and grace, this wine delivers alluring aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, grilled herb, licorice and tar. Vibrant acidity and firm, velvety tannins provide freshness and structure, while a hint of pipe tobacco closes the lingering finish. Drink 2020–2032. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) | د.إ1,850.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures of vivacious red fruit. A beautiful, nimble Brunello 2015. Drink from 2024. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WS) | د.إ1,815.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (97)Packed with sweet, ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit and framed by loamy earth and woodsy notes, this red is intense, lively and light on its feet. Balanced, with firm tannins and a salty, minerally impression on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. 1,200 cases made. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WS) | د.إ3,260.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (97)Laced with ripe cherry, strawberry, floral, spice, iron and leather flavors, this red is complex and charming, yet with serious tannins that ply the structure and lift the long finish. The fine balance should facilitate longevity. Best from 2024 through 2048. 1,600 cases made. |
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Tuscany | 19 | 96+ (WA) | د.إ2,145.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva holds tight to its unique character and power. The classic 2016 vintage produced generous wines that are layered and rich but also coiled tightly at their core. This wine exemplifies this point, adding lots of tart Sangiovese fruit and freshness along the way. It also shows an impressive richness of flavors with dried cherry, licorice, pressed violets, balsam herb and dusty limestone. The caveat with this wine, should you decide to drink it early, is that it needs extra time to open (and a double decanting would also help). This 10,000-bottle production opens beautifully in time. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | د.إ1,515.00 | |||||
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A jewel of Italian winemaking, the Andrea Oberto Barolo 2010 is a product of exceptional cultivation. Crafted in the verdant Langhe hills of Italy's distinguished Piedmont region, Andrea Oberto's celebrated vineyard has passionately adhered to traditional wine-making techniques, yielding wine of unparalleled quality. This unique Barolo, made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, is attentively aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, before refined bottle aging, enhancing its distinguished character. Andrea Oberto Barolo 2010 reveals an admirably deep ruby hue, coupled with intoxicating aromas of cherry, spice and truffle, leading to a captivating taste of ripe red fruits and velvety tannins. Gracefully structured and masterfully balanced, this wine is a testament to Andrea Oberto's tireless commitment to quality and authenticity in each bottle. A true treasure for the discerning oenophile, the Andrea Oberto Barolo 2010 delights the palate with its sophisticated richness and elegant finish. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 93 (VN) | د.إ894.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)Rich dark fruits, spiced cookie, smoky plums and black cherries define the 2018 Syrah Bramasole. This is cool-toned, pliant and pleasantly sweet, with a fresh display of inner violets, minerals and bright acids that keep the mouth watering. Nuanced tannins and sweet spice linger as this high-energy Cortona Syrah tapers off with blue and purple-toned florals. The 2018 Bramasole is stunning and so easy to like. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 94 (VN) | د.إ982.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)Crushed ashen stone, peppery black fruits, camphor and lifting mineral tones waft up from the 2019 Syrah Bramasole. This is soft and deeply textural, guided by brisk acids and salty minerals which mix with its masses of ripe dark fruits to create a harmonious expression. Aggressive tannins saturate toward the close. There’s so much potential here and with incredible length. A “wow” wine for sure; one that will provide a long and steady evolution in the cellar. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 94 (VN) | د.إ1,105.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano is remarkable wine in many ways. For starters, the 2013 is the first vintage of the Badia a Passignano done entirely in cask and in a more refined style than was the norm in the past, when this wine was rather bombastic. Outrageously beautiful, vivid and voluptuous, the wine is dark and enveloping, with tons of character and remarkable finesse. To be sure, this site will always produce ample, broad wines, but the 2013 is also incredibly elegant. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 94 (VN) | د.إ1,425.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano is a terrific example of how responsive Sangiovese can be to site. Here, the flavors are darker and richer, while at the same time the wine possesses a level of textural resonance and breadth that distinguishes it from the more linear wines Antinori makes at the Tignanello vineyard. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol fill out the wine's frame effortlessly. This is another stellar wine from Antinori. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (JS) | د.إ917.00 | |||||
James Suckling (95)This is a really beautiful red with cherry, blackberry, violet and chocolate character. Full and layered, yet it remains linear and bright, with an energetic finish. So drinkable now, but better in 2024. |
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Tuscany | 12 | 93 (VN) | د.إ2,290.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2016 Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino from Antinori is dark and rich, displaying notes of brown spice, mocha and tobacco, before giving way to musky black cherries and sage. Its cooling, creamy textures usher in a dense wave of ripe red and hints of black fruit, with salty minerals and fine-grained tannins providing grip. Licorice and violets resonate, along with inner earth tones throughout the long and structured finish. The Pian delle Vigne will require many years of cellaring to show its best, but it is well worth the wait. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 93 (WS) | د.إ799.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (93)Cherry, black currant and raspberry flavors are at the heart of this red, flanked by vanilla, toasty oak, mineral and tobacco elements. There is a beam of ripe fruit and dusty tannins right through the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 5,000 cases imported. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 94 (WS) | د.إ771.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (94)A harmonious red, offering an expression of cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors offset by a vibrant, well-integrated structure. Shows iron, tobacco, smoke and a hint of wild herbs, which weigh in as this evolves on the palate toward a lingering aftertaste. Delivers finesse and energy. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 5,000 cases imported. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WS) | د.إ943.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (95)A sleek, elegant red, with fine purity to the aromas of cherry, black currant, iron, olive and tobacco. Shows new oak on the palate, lending both spiciness and structure offset by ample fruit and texture. Ends with a balanced, complex finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2047. 5,000 cases imported. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) | د.إ3,360.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)So much blue fruit such as blueberries and blackberries; the purity of the fruit is incredible. Essence of cabernet sauvignon. Full-bodied yet with focused and fine tannins. Forceful but focused and polished. Needs two or three years to come around. And then enjoy for years afterwards. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WA) | د.إ3,005.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)From a warm and sunny vintage that produced darkly concentrated fruit, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a teaser and a super pleaser. This is one flashy wine. This carefully calculated blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot pours from the bottle with a beautifully saturated and rich color. I double-decanted my sample before writing this review, and the wine's aromas showed immediate harmony and intensity. The wine seduces and flirts with all your senses. This vintage caps many years of study regarding blending: The Merlot is slightly decreased here, and the Cabernet Franc is slowly taking on a more important supporting role. The Petit Verdot that was used as a peppery accent two years ago has now been removed altogether. The results are pliant, seamless and fluid, and that's the big takeaway here. The wine is bountiful, round, supple and full-bodied. Unless you are decidedly not a fan of this style, there's nothing not to love. I had anticipated more tightness in terms of possible hot-vintage tannins, but I am very pleased by the general integration of the mouthfeel. The Guado al Tasso vineyards are located not too far from the sea, at a low elevation of about 60 meters above sea level. The soils are alluvial with a unique mix of limestone clay and sand, with pockets of rocks and are generally known as the Bolgheri Agglomerate. Some 120,000 bottles of this vintage hit the market in February 2020. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) | د.إ3,420.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Renzo Cotarella, managing director of Marchesi Antinori tells me that the 2018 vintage showed very different results in the inland and hilly Chianti Classico appellation compared to the flat, sea-facing Bolgheri appellation. This season saw some rain right before harvest. That extra humidity rolled right off the Chianti Classico hills and disappeared without effect, but it stuck around longer in the thicker, flatter soils of Guado al Tasso. For this reason, one of the estate's top wines, the Cabernet Franc-based Matarocchio, was not produced in 2018 for fear that the fruit would not offer the concentration required of a wine of that important stature. The best of that fruit was used in this wine instead. For that reason, the 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees a little more Cabernet Franc (clocking in at about 22% of the blend) and less Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, (at about 60%). To be honest, the percentage of Cabernet Franc has been deliberately creeping up over the years to render a more focused and sharper bouquet. Aromas of dark fruit and freshly milled white pepper replace the more banal cherry-based flavors delivered by the Merlot, and the wine appears more lifted and precise as a result. The Cabernet Sauvignon delivers spice and licorice, and these pretty aromas are likewise given more breathing room, thanks to the counterparts found in the Cabernet Franc. Linearity, sharpness, pencil shavings and dark currant or blackberry—this is the direction Guado al Tasso is taking, and this 2018 vintage opens the door to a new chapter for the wine. Some 115,000 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) | د.إ2,835.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 96 (WA) | د.إ3,080.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | د.إ3,370.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a very beautiful wine, but also quite a departure from the style that made it famous years ago. Readers will find an especially polished Guado al Tasso, a wine that emphasizes finesse more than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of black cherry fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Bright, saline undertones extend the exquisite finish. There's more Cabernet Franc in the blend these days, and that very much comes through in the wine's crazy aromatic presence and feel. The 2021 spent 16 months in wood, three months in used French oak barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months in barrel (80% new) for the rest of its aging. Gorgeous. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) | د.إ1,100.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2018 Il Bruciato is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of the Antinori family’s Guado al Tasso estate in Bolgheri. Rich, creamy and ample on the palate, Il Bruciato is an absolute delight today. Blackberry jam, chocolate, spice and licorice are front and center. This opulent, heady Tuscan red has so much to offer. I would prefer to catch it on the young side. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) | د.إ4,495.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Matarocchio, the estate's pure Cabernet Franc, is stunning. Dark, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2016 is a seamless, exotic beauty. Even with all of its richness, the 2016 remains finessed and nuanced to the core, with exceptional balance and tons of energy. This vibrant Bolgheri Cabernet Franc will drink well for many years. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN) | د.إ3,670.00 | |||||
Vinous (98)The 2019 Matarocchio is the most elegant and refined edition of pure Cabernet Franc yet. There is plenty of aromatic Franc intensity and tons of depth, but less of the more heavily extracted style that marked the early years. Don’t get me wrong, that approach can work with Franc, as those wines showed, but I find greater delineation, focus and cut here. In 2018 and 2020, this juice was used to improve Guado al Tasso. The 2019 spent 18 months in 100% new oak, all Taransaud barrels. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | د.إ1,765.00 | |||||
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In the world of fine wines, the Antoniotti Odilio Bramaterra 2015 stands distinguished for its distinct complexity and remarkable balance. Crafted meticulously by the Antoniotti family, renowned vintners since the 19th century, from the eclectic terroir of Northern Piedmont, Italy. A harmonious blend of Nebbiolo, Croatina, Vespolina and Uva Rara, it undertakes a two-week fermentation in stainless steel before maturing patiently for 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels. Resplendent in a ruby robe, the Antoniotti Odilio Bramaterra 2015 exudes an elegant nose of red fruit, intertwined with earthy truffles and hints of leather. On the palate, it unfolds a symphony of cherry and raspberry, counterbalanced by profound mineral notes and velvety tannin. Vibrant acidity and a long, lingering finish affirm its eminent stature, making it a cherished choice among connoisseurs. Antoniotti Odilio Bramaterra 2015 is indeed a testament to the fine art of wine-making. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 95+ (WA) | د.إ1,035.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95+)This is a terrific wine and one of the new releases from Montalcino that I happily include on a short list of top recommendations. The Argiano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows a very lively bouquet that is already singing despite the young age of this new release. The wine opens to a dark ruby color with garnet highlights. The bouquet shows a large span of wild berry, earth, licorice spice and medicinal herb aromas. This vintage also reveals a pretty floral character with dried rose potpourri and lavender buds. After fermentation, the wine is aged slowly for 30 months in large oak botte (including 10-, 30- and 50-hectoliter capacity), thus restricting oxygen and gently slowing its evolution. However, the 2015 vintage is naturally expressive and exuberant, and that's the main takeaway here. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JS) | د.إ1,055.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)A very polished red with cloves and caramel, on top of black cherries, mushrooms and forest floor. Black olives, too. It's full-bodied with polished tannins and lovely depth all the way through. Lightly chewy. Juicy black-cherries and savory black-olive character. Complex. Drink after 2025. |
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