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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Vinous (92)
The 2012 Barbaresco Montestefano is an excellent choice for drinking now and over the medium term, as it is already quite expressive. Soft, silky tannins wrap around a core of dried flowers, red cherries, mint, spices, licorice and leather. The 2012 is a relatively approachable young Barbaresco from Rivella. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.د.إ1,080.00 -
Vinous (92)
The 2014 Barbaresco Montestefano is a dark, mysterious wine. Wild black cherry, lavender, cloves, menthol and leather add to the wine's somber personality. Readers should expect a potent, old-school Barbaresco built on structure. This is an especially raw, brooding wine for the year, and yet there is so much character.د.إ3,045.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2015 Barbaresco Montestefano is a glorious wine that captures Rivella's style at its best. Deep, fresh and full of energy, the 2015 shows a refined side of this highly regarded Barbaresco site, with soft edges that give the wine tremendous raciness as well as immediacy. This is a positively stellar, captivating wine from Guido Rivella.د.إ1,915.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2016 Barbaresco Montestefano is magical. Bright and translucent, the 2016 pulses with energy from the very first taste. This is about as classic as things get in Barbaresco today. Sweet rose petal, cinnamon, dried flowers, cedar and mint all give this ethereal, wonderfully nuanced Barbaresco ton of subtlety. A kick of bright Nebbiolo acids and tannins give energy and shape.د.إ2,040.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2017 Barbaresco Montestefano is open-knit and radiant, which makes it a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next 15-20 years. Sweet tobacco, cedar, spice and leather are some of the many notes that grace the 2017, a wine that marries the natural intensity of the year with the super-classic style that is the house signature. Grippy but well balanced tannins round out the persistent finish.د.إ1,915.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2018 Barbaresco Montestefano shows the lighter style of the year. Sweet perfumed and nuanced, the 2018 is an attractive, easygoing wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Dried cherry, mint, cedar and tobacco. All of the house signatures are present, but in a decidedly smaller scaled style. In exchange, the 2018 will drink nicely right out of the gate. I would not push my luck on aging.د.إ1,990.00 -
Experience the richness of Italian wine-making with the 'Rizzi Barbaresco 2016'. This Nebbiolo-based wine hails from the esteemed Rizzi estate, located in the heart of the Piedmont region. These vineyards are known for their marl and clay-enriched soils, providing the ideal conditions for grape cultivation. Each batch of grapes is handpicked at optimal ripeness to ensure the finest quality. The 2016 vintage exhibits intricate layers of complexity. Intense yet ethereal, it hosts a tantalising bouquet of red cherries and roses, balanced by hints of spice and earthiness. Enticing tannins and a gentle acidity complement its robust structure, signifying the wine’s excellent ageing potential.
A decade-long cellaring term testifies the dedication and genius of Enrico Dellapiana, the mastermind vintner behind this creation. Crafted meticulously, every sip of Rizzi Barbaresco 2016 reflects the tradition and passion embedded in every vine of the Rizzi estate.د.إ564.00 -
(6x75cl) 2016The Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2016, hailing from the esteemed wine region of Piedmont, Italy, is a veritable masterpiece from the highly respected Rizzi winery. This iconic Nebbiolo-based red boasts exquisite complexity, embodified by engrossing layers of red fruit, rose petal, mint, sweet pipe tobacco and anise.
Expertly crafted by enologist Enrico Dellapiana, this sophisticated vintage adheres to time-honoured winemaking processes. The grapes are hand-picked and macerated before prolonged ageing in both large oak barrels and barriques, to develop its seamless structure and alluring, long finish.
The Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2016 is a testament to Rizzi's uncompromising dedication to producing terroir-expressive wines of unrivalled finesse. The Nervo vineyard in Barbaresco is celebrated for producing crowning jewels in Piedmontese winemaking, and this exceptional vintage only heightens that reputation.
Well-structured yet harmoniously balanced, the Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2016 is the epitome of elegance. A captivating choice for any discerning palate.
د.إ627.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Drawing its fruit from a leased vineyard in Neive, the Roagna 2014 Barbaresco Albesani opens to a medium ruby color with pretty garnet highlights. The wine is redolent of dark fruit, dried cherry, tilled earth and black licorice. There is much more aromatic intensity here than you might expect given the rather subtle and nuanced appearance the wine makes in the glass. The soils in Albesani are fundamentally calcareous, and these conditions add to the perfumed and fragrant qualities you get here. Production for this wine is 230 cases (of 12 bottles each).د.إ2,570.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2015 Barbaresco Albesani is gracious, floral and lifted, which is not common in Albesani, where the wines tend to be more powerful. Bright acids and lively tannins give the 2015 its shape and energy. This translucent, inviting Barbaresco has so much to offer.د.إ2,595.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The Pajè vineyard is among the most calcareous in terms of soil composition within the entire Barbaresco appellation. The vines are 50 years old, and those six years of barrel and bottle aging are absolutely necessary. This plot is a little under two hectares in size, and this site has been in family hands since 1953. In fact, Roagna is releasing all its expressions from 2013 at the same time. Thanks in part to the relative youth of the vines (young I suppose only by Roagna standards), the 2013 Barbaresco Pajè's aromas are large in scale and generally more fleshed out. The tannins are also a bit more dry or astringent. The wine shows deep contrasts between the sweet nature of the bouquet and the very sharp nature of the mouthfeel.د.إ2,260.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (98)
Structured but also loaded with finesse, this opens with earthy aromas of truffle, blue wildflowers, new leather and ripe dark-skinned berries. Juicy and delicious, the full-bodied palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice before closing on a hint of tobacco. Noble tannins and fresh acidity provide the firm framework and balance. Give it plenty of time to fully develop.د.إ3,185.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (97)
Blue flower, tobacco, camphor and ripe berry are just some of the aromas you'll find on the stunning red. Firmly structured and still youthfully austere, the compelling palate features ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside noble tannins. Bright acidity keeps it well-balanced and lends a seriously ageworthy structure.د.إ13,135.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2014 Barolo Pira is a very pretty wine, but it is also quite open, both in its aromatics, and structural feel, where the wine feels unusually ample. Dark spice, tobacco, worn-in leather and mint are nicely laced together. This is a superb effort for the year, but I would not plan on cellaring it for too long, as it is quite open for a young Barolo, by Roagna standards. Relative to the other wines in this lineup, the Pira comes across as a touch flat and lacking in body. Much of that is attributable to the vintage.د.إ2,350.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2008 Barolo Brunate is beautifully balanced from start to finish. Freshly cut flowers, mint, licorice, hard candy and dark red fruit are layered in this utterly impeccable Barolo. Waves of fruit build toward a huge, dramatic finish supported by serious tannins, yet the Brunate remains one of the more understated wines here. The Brunate is all about length, weightless elegance and an elusiveness that is only matched by the greatest Burgundies. This is a dazzling effort. Readers should expect the Brunate to take the better part of a decade to become expressive. Following the Brunate over the course of several days was immensely rewarding. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.د.إ13,000.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The sumptuous 2004 Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate is fresh and vibrant, with layers of dark fruit that flow from the glass. As it sits, the balsamic, mentholated notes that are characteristic of this wine gradually emerge, along with an attractive spiciness that frames the fruit. It is a weighty, structured Barolo that will require patience, yet it is spectacular today. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020.د.إ10,300.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
Voerzio’s 2007 Barolo Cerequio is a wonderful counter to the virile, imposing Brunate. Sweet red fruit, flowers and menthol are woven into a nuanced, textured fabric of notable class and elegance. The Cerequio possesses dazzling inner perfume, silky tannins and phenomenal length. It is a stunning, beautifully articulated Barolo blessed with tons of intensity and compelling overall balance. A final burst of red berries informs the long, explosive, perfumed finish. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.د.إ7,435.00 -
James Suckling (100)
Wow. This is archetypal Barolo with a solid cylinder of polished tannins running through the center of the wine from start to finish. Full-bodied and wonderfully constructed with the tannins and beautiful fruit in all the right places. Dark fruit, dried earth and mushrooms with mild, hazelnut notes. Fantastic is the word to describe it. Endless finish. Drink after 2024 and onwards.د.إ4,375.00 -
James Suckling (95)
This is incredibly deep and tight with dried rose petals, cedar and light plums and strawberries on the nose. The palate is refined and firm with precise balance of fruit, tannin and acidity. This is the first vintage. 50% of this comes from Voerzio crus and the rest comes from an area called Boiolo, near Brunate and Rocche dell’Annunziata. Wonderful balance and depth. Drink after 2022.د.إ2,555.00 -
A ying yang combination of power and aggression with body and drinkability. Spicy dark fruit – lots of volume and power on the palate, quite ferrous. A masculine virile style of wine. Dark fruit and stones. A 35-40 year old plot. At the top of the vineyard the soils are volcanic and stony. Extending down towards the bottom the soils are more clay-influenced.د.إ2,975.00 -
James Suckling (100)
What a surprise. Best La Serra ever from here. Perfection. This is really ripe, with dark and dried fruits. Almost raisiny, with grilled meat too. Full bodied, with an insane amount of power and fruit. Incredible depth and power. Mind blowing. Such power. Explosion of fruit. Give it five or six years of bottle age.د.إ9,515.00 -
James Suckling (98)
Sweet berry with light tar and hazelnut on the nose. It’s full-bodied with creamy, chewy tannins that are fine-grained and lead you down to a long, energetic finish. It goes on and on. Drink after 2025.د.إ3,865.00 -
James Suckling (95)
Enticing aromas of orange peel, mushrooms and plums with hints of stone and dark chocolate. This is a very tight wine with chewy, focused tannins that hit you just at the end. It’s tight and reserved now. Give it two or three years to start to open up. Try after 2023 and onwards.د.إ3,515.00 -
د.إ1,580.00 -
Decanter (93)
As high temperatures in mid-August shut down the ripening of Sangiovese, Marco Ricasoli reports picking approximately a week later than usual. He also introduced a sorting table to remove dried or green berries as well any pieces of stems. His resulting annata is pristine and sophisticated. Deep violet in colour and equally youthful on the nose, it exudes wild berries, black plum, and hints of wood spice. Tangy dark red cherry fills the mouth, buoyed by rambunctious acidity and framed by suede-textured tannins. Winter mint and liquorice root linger on the finish. With admirable complexity, this outperforms its category.د.إ452.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)
The 2015 Ridolfo is still a very young wine, even from a standard 750ml bottle (the commercial release is only in magnum). Blood orange, spice, star anise, dried herbs and pomegranate lend notable freshness and complexity. This vivid red is so beautiful, so expressive. With a bit of air, the 2015 can be enjoyed now, although I would prefer to wait.د.إ2,260.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)
A total stunner, the 2016 Ridolfo is potent and intensely vertical right out of the gate. Beams of tannin immediately announce an important, structured young red. Blood orange, plum, spice, new leather, menthol and dried rose petal scream out of the glass. What a vivid and dynamic wine this is.د.إ1,865.00 -
Distinguished by its robust bouquet, the Rocca di Montegrossi San Marcellino Chianti Classico 2016 is an elegant blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Pugnitello grapes. Crafted in the heart of Tuscany by Rocca di Montegrossi, a winery revered for steadfast commitment to tradition coupled with a dash of innovation. This vintage shines with a deep ruby colour and treats the palate to complex layers of cherry, plums, and well-integrated tannins with a spicy finish. Matured in French oak barriques for two years before being transferred to bottle, this splendidly balanced wine epitomises the winemaker's meticulous attention to detail. The Rocca di Montegrossi San Marcellino Chianti Classico 2016 pairs well with sumptuous meat dishes and robust cheeses, promising to be a showstopper at your dinner table. It further cements Rocca di Montegrossi's pedigree with its decadent flavour profile and impressive structure.
د.إ1,720.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2017 Geremia is fabulous. Rich and explosive, the 2017 stains the palate. Inky red fruit, blood orange, spice, new leather and cedar are all wonderfully amplified. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2017 has aged magnificently. I find it exotic, seductive and flat-out gorgeous.د.إ1,095.00 -
Vinous (90)
The 2015 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is an attractive, gracious La Morra Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, crushed flowers and sweet dried cherry are all nicely lifted. Readers will find a translucent, ethereal Barolo that is all about perfume and silkiness. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, give or take.د.إ1,720.00
