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.
Read More
Italy
Photo
AI Chat
-
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2018 Ornellaia is mostly Merlot but includes a solid amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It's a gorgeous wine that takes air to show at its best (and deserves bottle age), giving up a terrific array of red and black currants, cedar pencil, tobacco, iron, and savory herbs. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly well-balanced red that has building, ripe, polished tannins, perfectly integrated acidity, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a finish. While not a blockbuster in the exuberant, extroverted sense of the word, it has incredible intensity and depth, and this is a gem of a wine. It needs another 5-7 years to hit maturity and, I suspect, will evolve for 30-40 years.د.إ1,470.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2018 Ornellaia is mostly Merlot but includes a solid amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It's a gorgeous wine that takes air to show at its best (and deserves bottle age), giving up a terrific array of red and black currants, cedar pencil, tobacco, iron, and savory herbs. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly well-balanced red that has building, ripe, polished tannins, perfectly integrated acidity, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a finish. While not a blockbuster in the exuberant, extroverted sense of the word, it has incredible intensity and depth, and this is a gem of a wine. It needs another 5-7 years to hit maturity and, I suspect, will evolve for 30-40 years.د.إ4,130.00 -
The Wine Independent (100)
The Ornellaia 2019 with 62% has the most Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend since the 65% used in the 2001 and 2002 vintages. It is bold and bright on the nose, full of joyful blackberry, cream, and sweet spice. It is very much like the 2016 Ornellaia in terms of finesse and harmony but bigger, bolder, more youthful, and maybe on a larger scale in terms of the brightness of aromas and flavors. On standing the nose becomes much more nuanced and fragrant with blue flowers like iris and violet. There is great concentration on the palate, but it is held together within a very elegant, tight structure. This is a powerful style of Ornellaia but with the 2019 the tannins are more refined than ever and there is a thrilling acidity enlivening the palate! According to Axel Heinz, Director of the Estate, "I think we have learned to tame the tannins.” This 2019 Ornellaia is a beautiful, luxurious, and vivacious wine.د.إ1,430.00 -
The Wine Independent (100)
The Ornellaia 2019 with 62% has the most Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend since the 65% used in the 2001 and 2002 vintages. It is bold and bright on the nose, full of joyful blackberry, cream, and sweet spice. It is very much like the 2016 Ornellaia in terms of finesse and harmony but bigger, bolder, more youthful, and maybe on a larger scale in terms of the brightness of aromas and flavors. On standing the nose becomes much more nuanced and fragrant with blue flowers like iris and violet. There is great concentration on the palate, but it is held together within a very elegant, tight structure. This is a powerful style of Ornellaia but with the 2019 the tannins are more refined than ever and there is a thrilling acidity enlivening the palate! According to Axel Heinz, Director of the Estate, "I think we have learned to tame the tannins.” This 2019 Ornellaia is a beautiful, luxurious, and vivacious wine.د.إ4,325.00 -
Matthew Jukes (20+)
An long-forgotten image flashed into my mind when I first tasted this wine. It took me back to a visit, as a child, to a stately home. Goodness knows where this place was, but I remember walking down a long corridor when a huge door opened to my left. As I walked past, I caught a glimpse of the most glamorous and beautifully decorated room beyond the person holding the door ajar. The door closed, and I passed by, but this image has stuck with me ever since. This momentary glimpse of incredible splendour is echoed in this magnificent wine. It starts midnight black in the glass, then as one focuses on the surface, can one see stars? Interestingly, it finishes black, too, in the form of ultra-fine sooty tannins that caress the taste buds as the flavour senesces. Between these two moments of perfect calm, there is layer upon layer of splendour and magnificence. The keyword for this vintage is ‘proportion’, as I found out half an hour through the presentation. It is an inspired choice because every element of 2020 Ornellaia is in scintillating proportion. 2020 Ornellaia represents more than harmony or balance and more than composure and equilibrium – it is truly in perfect proportion. In fact, I have never tasted a vintage of Ornellaia like it. There is a sense of greatness here, both in the intensity of the fruit and also its freshness and lift on the nose and palate – it is astonishing. The Cabernet theme (the blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot) is dominant both in the primary fruit notes but also in the signature flavours. Merlot adds glossiness and also traction, while Cabernet Franc appears to add grace and also crispness and aromatic flourishes. Petit Verdot acts as the invisible welds that pin this magnificent structure together – a complete three-dimensional flavour with no apparent flaws whatsoever. This wine will undoubtedly drink early in its life, given the silkiness and generosity on display, but it will not genuinely get into its stride for a decade, and I feel it will take another decade for it to blossom fully. My childlike fascination with today’s glimpse into the glass will no doubt grow into a full-blown stroll around this wine with the door flung open wide in years to come. This wine will prove to those with the good fortune to own it that its best is yet to come, so be patient in spite of its early allure. Until then, I do not doubt that it is a work of perfect proportion, so I am delighted to award it my first-ever perfect score for Ornellaia.د.إ4,190.00 -
The Wine Independent (100)
Deep ruby in color, the 2021 Ornellaia has an irresistible nose of violets, cherry cordial, salted caramel, cracked pepper, and fertile soil. The palate is incredibly nuanced, with a beautiful through-line of balletic tannins, freshness, and a finish laced with mulled spices and dark berries. A glass I will not soon forget and an accomplishment to be lauded for the team at Ornellaia. The blend is 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot.د.إ4,595.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (99)
One of the few 2022 Tuscan wines where you can really see that this will benefit from a few years in bottle, right now it is, hovering on the edge of something delicious, vibrating over the tannic architecture, feathered, campfire smoke, fennel, blackberry, liquorice and crushed peonies, and the bitter fennel and slate scrape, dense, contrast of textures and flavours like only truly great wines can do, a reflection of skilful construction. A gorgeous wine, slowly stretching out in the palate, 65% new oak for ageing. Harvest began August 9 for the whites, and the reds began August 25 with Masseto, and then a few days later for Ornellaia, one of the earliest on record, with around 38hl/h yield.د.إ3,900.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (98)
Enticing waves of perfectly judged gunsmoke reduction on the first nose, dancing across the palate and hinting at minerality rather than closing things down. Fragrant, joyous, chiselled citrus, lime, chamomile and lemongrass, with a slate scrape texture giving grip, depth and persistency. I've said it before, but I put this right up there with my favourite dry white wines, alongside Pavillon Blanc, Remelluri Bianco and Penfold Yattarna. This is winemaker Axel Heinz working his magic. Love it.د.إ2,620.00 -
James Suckling (91)
This is very Mediterranean in character with sage and rosemary to the blackberry and tar aromas. It’s medium-to full-bodied with medium, chewy tannins and a savory finish. Black-pepper undertones with cloves. Drink now.د.إ535.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (93)
Grabs you from the first moment your nose hovers over the glass. Smudged charcoal runs into raspberry, underbrush and mandarin orange peel that speaks of Tuscan sun. Excellent quality, good persistency in the glass as it stretches out through the palate. Everything feels in balance, and this provides another indicator that 2020 is a great vintage in this corner of Italy - Le Volte is (almost) 100% Merlot but has freshness and nuance. Director Axel Heinz, oenologist Olga Fusari.د.إ550.00 -
James Suckling (92)
A firm and silky wine with bark, berry, chocolate and light coffee aromas and flavors. Medium body. Creamy textured finish. Merlot with cabernet sauvignon and some montepulciano. Drinkable and fresh. Drink now.د.إ661.00 -
Wine Advocate (92)
This is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. In this hot vintage, the Merlot was slightly reduced. The Ornellaia 2022 Le Volte dell'Ornellaia remains a plush and accessible Tuscan red. Harvest time saw lower yields on average, with smaller berries and greater fruit concentration. This wine matures in used oak passed down from the top-shelf wines. There is blackberry and dark cherry with sweet spice.د.إ540.00 -
Decanter (97)
Sitting just below the town of Montalcino, Padelletti's six hectares are northeast-facing on clay soil rich in sandstone and limestone. The estate offers elegant yet profound wines epitomised by the 2016 vintage. It opens gradually with scents of violet, lilac, truffle and liquorice. Midweight and fluid, with finessed but firm tannins and brisk acidity, this finishes long with savoury tea notes. A magnificent reminder that Brunello doesn’t need to be a powerhouse to be ageworthy.د.إ1,080.00 -
Kerin O'Keefe (97)
Showing intensity and elegance, the delicious Padelletti 2019 Brunello is a stunner, starting with enticing aromas of dog rose, violet, forest berry, dark spice, crushed mint and a whiff of flint. On the linear, precise palate, a backbone of firm but refined tannins and bright acidity support juicy red cherry, orange zest, licorice and tobacco. Lay this down for several more years and you’ll be rewarded with even more complexity. Drink 2028–2044.د.إ1,155.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2019 Barbaresco Basarin, here in its second release, is terrific. It shows a slightly dark fruit profile along with notable textural richness and a feeling of creaminess that is quite appealing. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. There's real depth and substance here.د.إ1,230.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2019 Barbaresco Basarin, here in its second release, is terrific. It shows a slightly dark fruit profile along with notable textural richness and a feeling of creaminess that is quite appealing. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. There's real depth and substance here.د.إ1,205.00 -
د.إ1,130.00 -
د.إ1,055.00
-
د.إ1,570.00 -
د.إ859.00 -
د.إ2,160.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2016 Barbaresco Serraboella is bright, perfumed and very nicely lifted, with an attractive interplay of floral aromatics and textural depth. Mint, pine, kirsch, dried flowers and sweet tobacco are some of the nuances that emerge. The 2016 is tightly wound and classically austere in style, so it needs time in bottle to unwind, but it has undoubtedly fine potential.د.إ1,030.00 -
James Suckling (95)
A vivid, solid Barbaresco with intense density of fruit and ripe tannins. It’s full-bodied with lots of plums and chocolate with some walnuts and bark. Extremely flavorful and powerful. Try after 2024.د.إ1,375.00 -
Vinous (90)
The 2018 Barbaresco Serraboella is a very pretty wine. In this vintage, the Serraboella is quite ethereal in feel. Rose petal, orange peel, spice, mint and sweet dried cherry all lift in the glass. The Serraboella is a typically light to medium-bodied wine that reflects the modest depth of the year.د.إ1,080.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2019 Barbaresco Serraboella is fresh, floral and quite delicate. Bright acids lift a core of red fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper. Nervy and quite aromatic, the 2019 is super-impressive today. I especially like the mineral drive. Give this sinewy, taut Barbaresco a few years to soften.د.إ1,030.00 -
د.إ1,300.00 -
Vinous (88)
The 2015 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin offers a bit more textural depth and resonance than the Serra Boella, but it, too, is quite marked by the personality of the year. Rose petal, hard candy, mint and crushed raspberry all develop in the glass. Grippy tannins provide a good measure of balance, but I am not sure there is enough fruit to support more than a few years of cellaring.د.إ1,205.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin is another gorgeous wine from the Pasquero family. It has more power, depth and structure than the Serraboella, with a slightly darker tonalities of fruit and more tannic heft, but the differences between the two wines are not as marked as they can be. That’s what happens sometimes in warm, dry vintages – the differences between sites are baked out. Even so, the Sorì Paitin offers quite a bit of character. I would cellar it for at least a few years.د.إ1,180.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2018 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin offers good depth and plenty of grip, but there is no way of getting around the mid-weight structure of the year. Nervy tannins wrap around a core of red berry fruit, lavender, rose petal, spice and mint. I would give the Sorì Paitin a few years in bottle to soften, but imagine it will always remain a lighter wine by the estate's historical standard. It will be interesting to see where this goes. In 2018, there is no Vecchie Vigne; the best fruit was used here.د.إ432.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2018 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin offers good depth and plenty of grip, but there is no way of getting around the mid-weight structure of the year. Nervy tannins wrap around a core of red berry fruit, lavender, rose petal, spice and mint. I would give the Sorì Paitin a few years in bottle to soften, but imagine it will always remain a lighter wine by the estate's historical standard. It will be interesting to see where this goes. In 2018, there is no Vecchie Vigne; the best fruit was used here.د.إ1,205.00
