Wine Advocate (96+)

Monvigliero in the Verduno township is quickly becoming one of the most celebrated and talked about crus in Barolo. The Fratelli Alessandria estate was among the first to understand its potential, and indeed, this wine was first released in 1978. Fast forward to today and you will find that the 2015 Barolo Monvigliero is an absolutely classic interpretation that stays faithful to past incarnations. The wine offers pretty berry aromas intermingled with spice, licorice and crushed stone. A floral aroma of red rose also appears. The tannins are solid and will require extra years of bottle aging.

Vinous (96)

The 2017 Barolo Monvigliero marries the raciness of the year with the floral lift and elegance of this great Verduno site. More than anything, the 2017 is a Barolo of pure and total sensuality. Even so, there is more than enough tannin to allow the 2017 to drink well for many years to come. It is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. The rich, substantial finish is a thing of real beauty.

Vinous (95)

Rich, bold and effusive, the 2017 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno shows the darker side of Nebbiolo from Verduno, as it always does. Black cherry, gravel, licorice, game, spice and cured meats are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop in the glass. Broad and ample, with tons of punch, the 2017 San Lorenzo delivers the goods, and then some.

Vinous (91)

The 2019 Dolcetto d'Alba is a standout. Readers will find a bold, juicy red done in a style that leans towards the savory, pungent end of the spectrum. Plum, olive tapenade, game and licorice give this Dolcetto a somewhat wild personality.

Wine Advocate (90+)

I absolutely have a soft spot for the Pelaverga grape that achieves such beautiful, but unusual, characteristics when given the chance. The 2018 Verduno Pelaverga Speziale is a happy and cheerful wine destined for easy-drinking occasions like with pizza or wood-fire flatbread with spicy sausage and broccoli. Native to Verduno in Piedmont, the grape typically shows a strong layer of freshly milled white pepper. That's exactly what you get in this cool and balanced vintage. This is a lean-bodied red to drink within the next 18 months.

Experience the remarkable quality of Frederic Cossard Gevrey-Chambertin Les Genevrieres Qvevris 2020, a prestigious wine from the heart of Burgundy. Frederic Cossard, respected as a maestro in biodynamic farming and natural winemaking, employs ancient Georgian winemaking techniques, with grapes fermented in Qvevris - special clay pots buried underground. The 2020 Les Genevrieres, sourced from handpicked Pinot Noir grapes amid the low-yielding Gevrey-Chambertin vineyards, demonstrates masterful vinification.

Fermented using indigenous yeasts and aged in Qvevris for a distinctive profile, this wine exhibits a magnificent balance of firm minerality and remarkable fruit purity. Rich notes of cherries and redcurrants intertwine with undertones of forest floor and exotic spices, leading to a stupendously long, poised finish. Perfect for sipping or savouring alongside sophisticated fare, Frederic Cossard Gevrey-Chambertin Les Genevrieres Qvevris 2020 is a quintessential indulgence for any discerning oenophile.

Experience the extraordinary taste of Frederic Cossard Gevrey-Chambertin Les Genevrieres Qvevris 2022 - an authentic Burgundian masterpiece. This wine is meticulously crafted in Gevrey-Chambertin, a revered appellation within Côte de Nuits, renowned for producing wines of richness and robust character. A genius of natural viticulture, Frederic Cossard applies a non-interventionist approach, ensuring a pure expression of his delicate Pinot Noir grapes, aged in Qvevris - traditional Georgian earthenware vessels.

Each bottle of Frederic Cossard Gevrey-Chambertin Les Genevrieres Qvevris 2022 possesses depth and complex flavours. Swathed in deep ruby red hues, it unlocks fragrances of wild red berries whilst enrapturing the palate with elegantly harmonious tannins and a vibrant, long finish. This exquisite wine truly epitomises Cossard's unrivalled expertise in winemaking.

The Frederic Magnien Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2018 is indeed an exquisite treasure in the industry of fine wines. Hailing from the celebrated vineyards of Burgundy, France, this elegant Grand Cru is a master creation of renowned winemaker Frederic Magnien, whose family has been creating exceptional wines since the early 19th century.

Noted for a commitment to traditional wine-making practices, the Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2018 is hand-crafted in small batches. Vinified using organic viticulture techniques, the exceptional Pinot Noir fruits are matured for 18 months in oak barrels, revealing a luscious complexity.

This impressive French red offers a captivating nose of ripe fruit, matched with an opulent, silky palate boasting notes of black cherry and earthy undertones. A sublime testament of the terroir, the Frederic Magnien Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2018 is a rich, luxurious wine, certain to charm even the most discerning palates.

Wine Advocate (93)

I tasted this wine next to Frescobaldi's Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from their Tenuta Perano, and the differences between that wine and this are enormous. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino CastelGiocondo takes us to the southern side of Tuscany, and despite the fact the grape used in both wines is the same (Sangiovese), these two wine are as different as day and night. This Brunello gives you more saturated color intensity, more substantial weight and density that you feel on all the senses. Its extraction is much thicker, and the bouquet opens to aromas of plummy dark fruit, black currant, tobacco and spice. That ample width and power make this a good choice next to a grilled T-bone steak

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

A great year for Brunello and this is like a breath of fresh air, transporting you to Tuscany. Emphasis on dried herbs, leather, campfire smoke with traces of sweet cherry, butterscotch and coffee bean. Love the soft and gentle waves of flavour that gather power through the palate; tannins are grippy and mouthwatering, and this is pretty irresistible. One of the original producers of Brunello in the 1800s, with vineyards planted between 250-400 metres above sea level, still setting the pace.

James Suckling (96)

Plenty of complexity to this, with cherry, plum, blackberry and hints of cedar and stone. Full-bodied with layered, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Punctuated and defined for the 2017 vintage. Drinkable now, but better after 2023.

Kerin O'Keefe (98)

Ripe berry, Mediterranean brush and spice aromas mingle with new leather on this classy, vibrant offering from historic estate Fuligni. Full-bodied and gorgeous, the savory palate features juicy Morello cherry, star anise, almond and saline mineral notes framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized.

James Suckling (99)

The complexity and beauty of this wine is something else on the nose, offering perfume, cedar, dried flower, black cherry, blueberry and crushed stone. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied with incredible layers of ultra-fine tannins that give this wine horizontal depth that almost seems endless. Extremely long and lightly chewy at the end. This is one for the cellar. Try after 2026.

Kerin O'Keefe (100)

The 2019 Fuligni Brunello Riserva is drop-dead gorgeous. Made with the oldest estate vines, it opens with enticing scents of pine forest, violet, eucalyptus, juniper, new leather and dark exotic spice. Boasting intensity and finesse, the delicious, radiant palate delivers succulent Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice, black tea and baking spice set against enveloping, velvety tannins. Fresh acidity provides balance and the promise of great longevity. An absolutely thrilling wine.

Vinous (100)

The 2019 5500 offers up a mesmerizing range of Stags Leap aromatics that confer presence as well as depth. Lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, plum and crème de cassis lend sumptuous elegance to this striking, beautifully delineated Cabernet. Rich and seamless in the glass, the 5500 possesses mindblowing intensity married to a real feeling of finesse. It is quite possibly the finest wine I have ever tasted here. Dazzling.

Vinous (96)

Gaja's 2016 Barbaresco is positively stellar. A wine of poise and grace, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive spice and floral notes open up first, but what really stands out is the wine's nuance and delineation. There is a sense of translucency to the 2016 that is impossible to miss. Sweet red cherry, mint, cinnamon and rose petal develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance. Quite simply, the 2016 is one of the very finest Gaja Barbarescos in recent memory. This is such a gorgeous wine. Don't miss it.

James Suckling (97)

Aromas of ripe strawberries with hazelnuts, blood oranges and some coconut. Full-bodied with very refined and polished tannins that nicely form this young red wine. Fresh and delicious aftertaste of berry, cedar, bark and dark chocolate. Ever so subtle, yet powerful and driven at the finish. Very long and intense. Very classical style to it and cooler. This is a blend of seven vineyards including the Costa Russi and Sori Tilden. Approachable now, but better after 2025 and onwards.

The Wine Independent (97)

Gaja's 2019 Barbaresco was bottled only a few days before this tasting but it already has sweet roses and red fruits on the nose with very subtle, gentle spice notes. It has a great texture and flows gracefully across the palate. It feels very harmonious with plenty of refreshing acidity and finely integrated tannins. Sublimely elegant with a fine, silt-like texture to the tannins, it is poised, beautifully understated and charming. Keep for 2 years and drink for up to 20 plus.

James Suckling (98)

The nose opens with a startling play between white truffles, bark and tea leaves and then crushed violets, lavender, blueberry peel, lemon rind and sour cherries. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, acidity as sharp as a razor and a long, ethereally mineral finish. The length but sheer clarity and accuracy in the delivery is remarkable. Perhaps hard to believe that this better than the 2013, but it is. Drink in 2022.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is a gorgeous vintage that continues to flesh out beautifully. I added an extra point to my score since the last time I tasted the 2019 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda in order to underline the great potential of this vintage. This wine could legally be a Bolgheri Superiore, but Angelo Gaja prefers not to use qualifying wine terms such as Superiore, Classico or Riserva in his various wine projects spanning from Piedmont to Tuscany to Etna. Semantics aside, this is a gorgeous wine—one of the best made at Ca' Marcanda for sure—with impressive intensity and balance. Dark fruit and blackberry are contrasted against spice, tobacco, grilled rosemary and Mediterranean bramble. The 2019 vintage saw favorable weather conditions and "just the right amount of rain," Gaja says.

Vinous (91)

The 2018 Promis is a very pretty wine. Lifted, floral aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure give it tons of immediacy and overall appeal. Hints of succulent red cherry, cinnamon, mint and leather linger effortlessly.

Greg Sherwood MW (96)

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino normale is a fabulously plush, concentrated and intense expression of Brunello and represents probably the estate’s best vintage to date. The aromatics are perfumed and detailed showing cherry blossom, violets, vanilla oak spice and ripe dark layers of red and black berries, sweet cherry tobacco, cola and subtle red liquorice notes with just the faintest spearmint menthol top note. On the palate, the tannins are ripe but powerful with broad mouth-coating grip supported by pure cherry and cranberry fruit concentration, hints of balsamic, crystalline fresh acids and a wonderfully long harmonious finish. Distinguished and refined, but showing tremendous breadth, depth and structural power making this a perfect wine for medium to long-term cellaring. Drink from 2024 to 2036+

James Suckling (98)

Plenty of black cherries, cedar, dried flowers and red cherries on the nose, following through to the palate, which is dense and compressed with gorgeous, intense fruit and chewy yet integrated tannins. Very, very impressive red here. Try after 2024

Wine Advocate (100)

The golden touch, that proverbial Gaja magic, is taken to a whole new level in the 2016 Barolo Sperss. Angelo Gaja has taught his children to follow their own path, and now that the generational switch is well underway at the family estate, we can see that Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni have done him proud. Very proud. This stunning expression from the 2016 vintage (with 16,000 bottles released) represents quite a few celebratory milestones. We are now in the fifth generation to protect the Gaja legacy in an unbroken family chain that has endured since 1859. This wine is 100% Nebbiolo, and since the 2013 vintage, it is part of the Barolo DOCG appellation. Winemaking has been tweaked to embrace a more elegant, ethereal and streamlined personality, instead of the bigger extraction we saw in the past. This upgraded identity is distinctly evident in this newest release of Sperss. Starting with appearance, the wine is luminous and bright with shiny ruby and garnet gemstone. Its aromatic reach is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Delicate berry tones cede to pressed lilac, anise, sandalwood and cardamom spice. I double decanted and left the bottle open for a few hours before my tasting. The results are tight and gentle, and the wine shows beautiful vertical lift and intensity. To achieve this much power without the excess fruit weight is really quite an accomplishment. This is the magic of Nebbiolo, and the magic of Gaja.

James Suckling (96)

A powerful yet balanced red with glorious dark fruits, sweet tobacco, dark mushroom and flowers. Full body, chewy and rich tannins and a long and powerful finish. Drink in 2019 but already a star.