Italy
Italy, known as the "Land of Wine," is celebrated for its exquisite range of fine wines. With a winemaking history dating back thousands of years and a diverse array of terroirs, Italy offers a remarkable collection of wines that delight the senses and captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido have become synonymous with excellence. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards like Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins. Veneto, renowned for its sparkling Prosecco wines, is also famous for Amarone della Valpolicella. Vineyards like Allegrini and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality.
These are just a few examples of the renowned vineyards and wines Italy has to offer. From the northern regions of Piedmont and Veneto to the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and down to the southern regions of Sicily and Puglia, Italy's wine regions are a treasure trove of exceptional wines. Experience the allure of Italian wines and immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse terroirs, and passionate winemaking that define the Italian wine scene. Whether you're sipping a prestigious Barolo, a refined Brunello di Montalcino, a refreshing Prosecco, or a bold Nero d'Avola, Italian wines promise a journey of flavors and a celebration of Italy's winemaking heritage.
Italy
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Piedmont | 5 | 94 (VN) | د.إ3,335.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)Canonica's 2017 Barolo Paiagallo is an exotic, utterly beguiling wine. Crushed red berry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and cinnamon give this effusive, mid-weight Barolo its exotic, alluring personality. There's plenty of tannin lurking beneath. A few years of cellaring are advisable. This flamboyant, attractive Barolo is pretty impossible to resist now, though. Canonica works out of a tiny cellar in the historic center of Barolo that has just enough space for the barest essentials. The wines are always unique and idiosyncratic. |
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Piedmont | 4 | 93 (VN) | د.إ3,190.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2018 Barolo Paiagallo is laced with kirsch, sweet spice, new leather, menthol and rose petal. Exotic and super-ripe, the 2018 shows all the warmth of the year in its sweet fruit and pronounced alcohol, but avoids the angular contours that afflict so many wines. Even with all of that richness, the 2018 retains a good bit of freshness and energy. An opened bottle was still vibrant after a number of days whereas many other wines in the same tasting faded far faster. The 2018 is a very fine effort from one of Barolo's artisan growers, but readers have to be willing to accept elevated ripeness and alcohol. |
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Piedmont | 9 | 94 (VN) | د.إ1,280.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2017 Barolo Bricat is delicate, understated and very pretty. A quiet wine, the Bricat offers lovely mid-palate pliancy and depth. The tannins need to soften a bit, but that should not be an issue in another few years' time. Sweet red berry fruit pomegranate and spice nuances flesh out nicely. This soft Barolo is not an obvious wine, but it will delight readers who appreciate finesse. I very much like the brightness and floral lift here. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (VN) | د.إ1,175.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2017 Barolo Castelletto captures all of the savory and mineral complexity of this high-altitude site. Ethereal and gracious, the Castelletto has so much to offer. Pine, mint, blood orange, crushed raspberry and star anise are all finely sculpted throughout. This is one of the best Barolos I have ever tasted from Manzone. Don't miss it. |
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Piedmont | 10 | 95 (VN) | د.إ1,205.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2017 Barolo Gramolere is broad and ample, yet retains the gracious style that is typical of the Manzone Barolos these days. The fruit profile is a bit darker, though, and there is a bit more of an oak imprint. Black cherry, new leather, menthol and spice all meld together effortlessly as the 2017 blossoms with a touch of aeration. |
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Piedmont | 39 | 96 (DC) | د.إ1,305.00 | |||||
Decanter (96)After 30 to 36 months in big oak casks, this 2019 vintage of one of Serralunga's most celebrated MGAs shines for its restrained nose of Parma violets, wild strawberry, orange juice and a super-intense, stunning rhubarb root character. It's floral as well on the palate, elegant and refined, very classic, with polished, velvety tannins that are dusty on the finish. The structure defies time here; the potential is great. |
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Sicily | 1 | 95 (JA) | د.إ486.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)Beautiful jewel-like ruby colour, vibrant and expressive, this is just so moreish, with a beautiful grip that holds the sour cherry and fresh raspberry fruits in place. Gentle tannins also, with a subtle intensity. Excellent quality, this is one to shout about and share with friends. A perfect wine for the heat of summer, it has sweetness on the nose but finishes extremely dry with a refreshing signoff. Got to be the best value wine in the September Releases, and shows just what an exciting category Etna Rosso is right now. A 6.5ha estate on the northern slopes of Etna sat at 750m, winemaker Andrea Delpiano is based in Piedmont, but is in Sicily every month. A must buy. |
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Sicily | 1 | 94 (JA) | د.إ466.00 | |||||
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (94)Soft red, beautifully pale jewel-like colour, brings you right into the heart of Etna, transparent and yet intense. Fresh acidity, orange peel, brushed leather, redcurrant. This is distinctive, with subtle intensity that builds slowly, never anything other than easy to love. The oyster shell salinity on the finish speaks of the limestone and volcanic soils. Clings on, sappy and mouthwatering. Harvest mid October, fermented in stainless steel vats, ageing in large sized oak vats. 5.5ha estate, vines planted 1975. Winemaker Andrea Delpiano. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 93 (WA) | د.إ1,440.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)From a vineyard site in La Morra, the 2018 Barolo Serradenari boasts a very bright and lifted bouquet that is colored by tart raspberry, wild blueberry, exotic spice and hints of campfire ash. La Morra is recognized for its fine and silky tannins, and this vintage delivers those with a little more emphasis. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | د.إ957.00 | |||||
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The impeccable character of the Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco 2019 originates from the heart of Piedmont, Italy, renowned for its premium red wines. This outstanding vintage masterfully encapsulates the dedication of the Cortese family to sustainable viticulture and precise winemaking. Grown on calcareous clay soils coupled with meticulous hand-harvesting, the Nebbiolo grapes express an unrivalled potency and elegance. The wine undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks and ageing in Slavonian oak casks for 22 months, which reinforces its multifaceted, dense palate and delicate tannins. The Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco 2019 boasts of an intense ruby red hue and offers an enchanting bouquet of wild berries, rose petals and subtle spices. Its well-structured, velvety nuances makes it a wonderful accompaniment to hearty meat dishes, mature cheeses and truffles. Truly, a sublime union of tradition, terroir and time, the Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco 2019 is an excellent addition to a discerning wine aficionado’s collection. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 96 (WS) | د.إ3,400.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (96)A perfumed style, boasting floral, cherry, kirsch and licorice flavors. Slightly chewy, yet elegant overall, with fine balance and a lingering finish of macerated cherry, earth and tobacco notes. Shows fine length and intensity, leaving an essence of mineral. Best from 2021 through 2043. 1,941 cases made. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 93 (VN) | د.إ3,135.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2017 Barolo Monprivato is elegant, classy and nuanced. Crushed red berry fruit, spice and blood orange lend and exotic flair to this silky, mid-weight Barolo. The 2017 loses some of its persistence with air, but it offers tons of immediacy and sheer allure. Best of all, the 2017 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is one of the better recent vintages of Monprivato the Mascarello family has released. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 97 (WA) | د.إ1,610.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)The 2015 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco is big, bold and absolutely stunning. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese is dark and luscious, with overlapping melodies of tobacco, spice, dark fruit and grilled herb. There is so much depth and power. This vintage is a gem for your cellar, and the wine should award a long aging trajectory for those who have the patience to wait. Some 50,000 bottles were made. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (DC) | د.إ1,765.00 | |||||
Decanter (97)Grattamacco is one of the highest estates in Bolgheri, located just beneath the village of Castagneto Carducci. It has a distinctive contribution of 15% Sangiovese to the blend, along with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This indigenous grape gives the wine a particular freshness and drinkability, rejuvenating the tension of the classic Bordeaux varieties. In 2016, Grattamacco has exceeded itself, with aromas of elegant, youthful red currant fruits integrated with citrus notes and cedar wood. On the palate the wine is perfectly balanced, and more immediately drinkable than some of the other top samples. It has delicious tension and ripeness, with a mediterranean character and a hint of kiwi on the finish. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) | د.إ2,085.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)Moving to the 2018 Grattamacco, this vintage is more classic in its expression and marked with finesse. While the summer was quite hot, it cooled at the end of August, with 60 mm of rain and an abrupt cold snap that slowed maturity, so they had to be quite patient waiting for the grapes to get ripe. The Sangiovese is very important in this vintage for its acidity. In the glass, it pours an almost identical, perhaps slightly more youthful red brick color, and it’s fresh and pretty on the nose, with a detailed perfume of fresh herbs, flowers, cherries, and redcurrants. The palate is refreshing and more vertical but not lacking ripeness, with fine tannins and a spine of refreshing acidity. Its characteristic saltiness frames the wine as it floats off the palate, with a mintiness on the backplate. I personally would be thrilled to drink this wine over the coming 15 or more years. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (JD) | د.إ1,910.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)Reserved layers and depth slowly begin to emerge from the 2019 Grattamacco, so it is going to need time in cellar to open and show itself. As it opens in the glass, it reveals attractive dark mineral earth, kirsch, black pepper spice, and balsamic. It is concentrated and compact at this stage, with savory richness, and it displays full and balanced structure, ripe and present tannins, and notes of cassis, cedar, and pine resin. It reveals rich complexity without ever feeling murky, and its energetic tension takes this wine to the next level. Drink 2025-2050. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 90 (VN) | د.إ981.00 | |||||
Vinous (90)The 2018 Barolo Vigna S. Caterina is another attractive wine in this range for Guido Porro. It offers up scents of dried cherry, orange peel, spice, mint and dried rose petal, with lovely inner perfume and fine balance. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous layers to round things out. Drink it over the next few years. |
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Piedmont | 7 | 88 (VN) | د.إ957.00 | |||||
Vinous (88)The 2018 Barolo Gianetto is a very pretty, open-knit Barolo to drink over the next handful of years. Sweet red cherry, hard candy, spice and floral top notes are all nicely put together in this friendly, easygoing Barolo from Guido Porro. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 92 (VN) | د.إ1,080.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2018 Barolo Vigna Lazzairasco is a beguiling, nuanced wine. Sage, mint, dried tobacco leaves and cedar give the Lazzairasco its nuanced, complex aromatics. Medium in body, with gorgeous inner perfume and fine balance, the 2018 shows quite well today. Relatively soft tannins (for Serralunga) and mid-weight structure argue for near and medium term drinking, |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93 (VN) | د.إ2,260.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2018 Barolo Vigna Rionda is a very good wine for the year. Classic Rionda aromatics give this mid-weight, pliant Barolo tons of seductiveness. Silky tannins add quite a bit of charm. This is a fine showing in a very difficult year from a vineyard that is still very young following a replanting just a few years ago. Well done. |
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Piedmont | 8 | - | د.إ1,815.00 | |||||
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Sicily | 1 | - | د.إ1,045.00 | |||||
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As an expert connoisseur, I am captivated by the exquisite IDDA Etna Bianco 2021. This alluring Sicilian white wine is produced by the collaboration between two notable wine families; the winemaking maestros of Tuscan estate Tenuta di Trinoro and the Ribera family of Etna. With meticulous harvesting of the native Carricante variety from volcanic slopes, this exceptional white delivers a heady and harmonious blend of minerality and acidity. Meticulous vinification in stainless steel tanks preserve bright fruit notes, underpinning a flinty minerality and succulent citrus intrigue. Complex and vibrant, the IDDA Etna Bianco 2021 personifies the unique expression of Etna's diverse terroir. Savour every drop of this testament to the transformative power of volcanic soils and Italian craftmanship. |
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Sicily | 3 | - | د.إ1,025.00 | |||||
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Embark on a captivating sensory journey with the enchanting IDDA Etna Rosso 2020. Crafted in the prestigious vineyards nestled on the magnificent slopes of Mount Etna, in Sicily, this standout wine unravels the layer upon layer of distinct notes contained in each bottle. Reflecting the invigorating terroir of volcanic soils and exuding a breath of the Mediterranean aura, the IDDA Etna Rosso 2020 showcases grace and sophistication. Cultivated and bottled by the critically acclaimed partnership of the Gaja family and Alberto Graci, this wine imbues the perfect harmony of the indigenous Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes. Meticulous vinification techniques yield this wine's intense ruby hue, evocative berry flavours, elegantly trailing into a long-spiced finish. Full-bodied and velvety, yet exhibiting reserved power, the IDDA Etna Rosso 2020 is indeed a fine homage to innovative Sicilian viticulture. Please note, always drink responsibly. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (DC) | د.إ2,945.00 | |||||
Decanter (98)2016 was a later harvest, with picking interspersed with rain showers. 18 micro-vinifications took place in 25% new tonneaux and 75% stainless steel tanks, using wild yeast for the first time (the 2015 was inoculated). It was also the first year of using large barrels as the team sought to reduce overt oakiness in the wine, and so the 2016 was matured for 24 months in new tonneaux and one large 15hl barrel, followed by five months in cement before bottling. It has a darker profile with more black cherry character compared to 2015, grippier, more powerful and silky in the mouth. It has great freshness, showing plenty of balsamic influence and raspberry acidity, finishing with flourishes of wood, herbs, spice and earthiness. 3,600 bottles produced. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96 (VN) | د.إ2,875.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2009 Il Caberlot has developed beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark red cherries, dark raspberries, rose petals, mint and licorice all explode from the glass. Rich, vibrant and beautifully alive, the 2009 impresses for its superb balance and class. This is a stunning wine that brings together the intensely savory personality of the Cabernet Franc/Merlot hybrid allied to the voluptuousness of the warm vintage. Today, the 2009 comes across as fresher and more vibrant than the 2011s. Any way you look at it, the 2009 is a stunning Caberlot. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) | د.إ1,450.00 | |||||
Vinous (100)The 2018 Il Caberlot is a stunning wine. It's not the most immediate nor explosive Caberlot, but it is such a tremendous example of this wine. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. Crushed herbs, rose petal, mint, blood orange, incense and sweet pipe tobacco all build in the glass. Imagine Cheval Blanc, but with a good dose of Tuscan sun. Readers who can find the 2018 should not hesitate, as it is magical. I imagine it will be even better in the commercial magnums than this 750ml tasting sample. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 94 (VN) | د.إ2,210.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)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. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) | د.إ1,940.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (98)Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this perfumed red features enticing scents of woodland berry, pine forest, violet, underbrush and a whiff of sandalwood. Elegantly structured, it’s tantalizingly ethereal, delivering juicy red cherry, strawberry, black tea, licorice and a pronounced mineral note evoking rusty iron alongside tightly knit, refined tannins. It’s surprisingly vibrant for the hot vintage and still youthfully austere, but that’s a good thing as it shows great aging potential. Drink 2025–2035. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 98 (WE) | د.إ2,455.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (98)Perfumed, focused and loaded with energy, this radiant red boasts enticing scents of iris, rose, crushed mint and wild berry. Boasting ethereal elegance as well as intensity and flavor, the chiseled palate has great fruit purity, delivering juicy red cherry, spiced cranberry, star anise and white pepper. Noble tannins and bright acidity provide balance and an ageworthy framework. Drink 2024–2046. |
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