Italy

97+ Points! Bright red. Intense, sultry aromas and flavours of red roses, violets, nail varnish, pomegranate reduction and red cherry syrup, plus sexy vanillin oak. Layered and nicely mouthcoating, with a string underlying spine that neatly supports the ripe red fruit and sexy spice flavours. Finishes long with hints of blood orange and candied violet. More than other more forward-drinking 2020 Brunellos, this needs to spend time in a good cellar, for it is bound to improve considerably. - Ian D'Agata Wine Review: 

97+ Points! Brunello of identity, the result of a protocol aimed at enhancing the elegance of Sangiovese di Montalcino. Imposing aroma, which attacks on notes of pomegranate, with touches of juniper and wild mint and hints of licorice root. Savory palate, recall notes of red fruit and balsamic notes. - Luca Gardini

97 Points! The 2020 Brunello from Fuligni is fragrant, smooth and delicious. It opens with enticing aromas of wild berry, violet, crushed mint and pine forest. Full-bodied and loaded with flavor and finesse, it delivers mature Marasca cherry, raspberry, star anise and cake spice set against fine-grained tannins. Boasting a weightless finesse, it’s well balanced, with fresh acidity. - Kerin O'Keefe

97 Points! A bright red color with orange highlights, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is very pretty, with a delicate rustic hint that I find quite attractive. It reveals attractive red fruit on the nose, with notes of cranberries, wild herbs, and just a subtle hint of saddle leather and blood orange. Mid-weight, it's light on its feet while delivering wonderful energy and freshness, with snappy ripe red fruit, a refreshing, angular feel, and mouthwatering saline and acidity. This is certainly one of the highlights of the 2020 vintage.  - Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com

91 Points! A restrained, fairly neutral wine with white pepper, lemon leaf and sage aromas. Vibrant, almost electric on the palate, with a textured medium body, peach and leaf flavors and a tight finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and brooding, with nuances of crushed black cherry, savory herbs and ashen stone wafting up from the glass. It displays silky textures and notable weight, with mineral-inflected red berry fruits that slowly saturate the senses. Fine-grained tannins add an aching tension through the finish as the 2021 leaves a penetrating tart berry concentration that adds chewy depth. - Eric Guido, Vinous

97 Points! The expressive flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and rose are offset by thick, dusty tannins and accents of wild herbs and menthol. This red stays vibrant throughout, with a long aftertaste of red fruit and savory notes. Delivers layers, freshness and the potential for aging. - Wine Spectator

96 Points! The expressive 2021 Brunello di Montalcino opens with an array of crushed violet and lavender tones before giving way to citrus-laced blackberries and cherries. Cool-toned and wickedly fresh, it possesses a solid core of mineral-infused wild berry fruits and blue and purple inner florals that arch throughout. Sweet tannins frame the finish beautifully as hints of balsamic spice and pomegranate linger incredibly long. The 2021 is a radiant beast in need of taming. It's hard to put this glass down. - Eric Guido, Vinous

98 Points! Enticing aromas of red cherries, dried strawberries and hints of plums, cedar, sandalwood and balsamic. Medium-bodied with a tight and rich center palate and a chewy and powerful finish. This needs time to come together and soften slightly. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Aromas of new leather, spiced black plum, violet and camphor unfold on the bold and beautiful 2021 Brunello Pianrosso. Combining power and restraint, the full-bodied palate delivers layers of ripe Morello cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and fine tobacco blend before a spiced orange zest close. Velvety, enveloping tannins provide seamless support. - Kerin O'Keefe

100 Points! The drop-dead gorgeous Gianni Brunelli stopped me in my tracks with its stunning fragrance of freshly picked violet, iris, forest berry, leather and eucalyptus. All about extreme elegance, the palate is equally captivating, delivering layers of succulent Morello cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange, dark spice and crushed mint. Taut, ultra-refined tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity keeps it vibrant and impeccably balanced. While it’s already incredibly tempting, it also promises years of graceful aging. Hats off to Laura Brunelli and her team. - Kerin O'Keefe

97 Points! Pouring a bright red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is persistent and fantastic, with youthful tension and expressive aromatics of Bing cherries, orange zest, and iron-tinged earth. The palate is medium-bodied and focused, with refined tannins, refreshing acidity, and savory length framed by salty earth and bright fruit through the finish. It’s a complete, elegant Brunello that should continue to improve with time in bottle. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! Pouring a reflective red/garnet hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is floral and detailed on the nose, with preserved cranberries, cherries, anise, fresh roses, and polished leather. The palate is medium-bodied, structured, and bright, with chalky, angular tannins, refreshing acidity, and fabulous fruit purity that carries through a long finish. It’s exceptional and crisp, and it should easily hold up for 20 years.  - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! A spicy and classic Brunello with vibrant aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, violets, smoky wood and licorice. Full-bodied, it shows balanced extraction, tamed velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and a super-savory, minerally finish. Juicy and long. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Plum, cherry, leather, earth and menthol flavors infuse this grippy red. Starts out smooth, picking up dusty tannins that build to the dry, compact finish. Nevertheless, there’s a core of ripe fruit, and everything is in the right place. Accents of cocoa linger on the finish. Give this time. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Evolved, complex wine full of depth, with aromas of forest floor, prunes and blackberry jam, plus subtle spice and smoky wood. The overall elegance is confirmed on the palate with medium body, integrated, refreshing acidity and savory, long, layered finish. One of the best Ripassos tasted this year. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2021 Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore entices with a beguiling bouquet of sweet herbs, wet stones, crushed blueberries and hints of spice. It is silken and round, with weighty textures offset by cooling acidity as masses of ripe red and blue fruits swirl throughout. The finish has grippy tannins balanced by a bump of fresh acidity as hints of plums fade slowly. - Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points! The 2021 Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore entices with a beguiling bouquet of sweet herbs, wet stones, crushed blueberries and hints of spice. It is silken and round, with weighty textures offset by cooling acidity as masses of ripe red and blue fruits swirl throughout. The finish has grippy tannins balanced by a bump of fresh acidity as hints of plums fade slowly. - Wine Spectator

97 Points! Showing firm structure and a bold fruit profile, the Ceretto 2021 Barolo Prapò reveals a dark core with crushed stone, iron oxide and candied cherry. Prapò never holds back in terms of intensity. This site has a unique ripening cycle that means harvest comes 10 days later, giving the fruit more time to develop complexity. This wine is just terrific. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2020 Coste della Sesia Ca' du Leria is seriously impressive. Deep, layered aromatics lead into an expansive core of dark red-toned fruit. Readers will find a wine of notable dimension and class. The 2020 opens beautifully with time in the glass. Clerico at his finest. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

96 Points! The 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino Montosoli pours a deeper ruby hue and opens with compact aromatics of black raspberries, tea leaf, cocoa, rosemary, and crushed stone. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm core of tannins and a refreshing spine of acidity that keeps everything lifted and precise. It’s still tightly wound and will benefit from another couple of years in bottle, then drink beautifully for 15 years or more. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points! A lively Brunello with aromas of plums, ripe cherries, cedar and teak that follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a crisp finish. Crunchy and linear. Lovely energy at the end. - JamesSuckling.com

98 Points! Pouring a dark magenta, the 2021 Grattamacco is fruity and floral with aromas of lavender oils, plum, mocha, incense, and sweet earth. Full-bodied, it has refreshing acidity, defined, ripe tannins, and a good finish. It has a lot of potential and should improve and stand the test of time. It’s fantastically detailed. Drink 2026-2050. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

97 Points! This is at a different level, with blackcurrants, blueberries and Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary and sage. Also tobacco and coffee bean. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a persistent finish. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. A new quality level with this wine. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Blueberry, black currant and pomegranate flavors are accented by oak spice, graphite and rosemary notes in this fresh, long red. Taut and vibrant, with terrific balance and a fine-grained band of tannins lining the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! A well-balanced red, combining Amarone power with a sense of approachability. The black, lightly dried fruit is packed into a tight core that runs through the wine, picking up spicy and oaky notes as it goes. The aromatic complexity is not huge at present, but the tannins are deeply embedded and allow for a largely unhindered flow through the full-bodied palate. Long finish. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! A serious and reliable Ripasso with complex aromas of fresh berries and multiple savory nuances, from minerals to dried flowers and perfumed bark. Medium- to full-bodied with an intense and vibrant palate, brimming with the same fruit and savory notes. The tannins are firm but not angular. This will even out and gain complexity with a another year or two in bottle, but it’s hard to resist now. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! The 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie is terrific. Sweet rose petal, cinnamon, leather and wild cherry soar from the glass. Medium in body, with excellent structure and tons of class, the Roncaglie has so much to offer. It's a wine of harmony and breeding through and through. The long, persistent finish is so gorgeous. Time in the glass brings out the wine's stature. This is one of the very finest wines I have tasted at this address. High class. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

97 Points! The organic Cavallotto 2019 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe shows thick texture and density with dark fruits, plum and blackberry layered with extra depth. This wine makes a big impact on the palate and wraps lavishly over the senses. This is one of the most opulent and full-bodied editions I have yet tasted. The fruit is sourced from a 2.38-hectare site with 60-year-old vines with southwest exposures at 310 and 340 meters in elevation. The wine sees 60 months of careful maturation in 20-hectoliter and 100-hectoliter Slavonian botti. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

91 Points! The 2024 Soave Classico Otto impresses with its fresh mix of vividly ripe orchard fruit. It’s airy and lifted with notes of minty herbs, sweet spices and white smoke. A burst of vibrant acidity invigorates the palate as salty minerals saturate. Crisp and clean, the Otto closes with a long, citrus-inflected finish. - Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points! The 2023 Chianti Classico is fabulous. Rich and layered in the glass, the 2023 impresses with its purity and exceptional balance. Strong spice, leather and tobaco notes run through a core of red Sangiovese fruit. All the elements are so well balanced. Dollops of Canaiolo and Colorino are so well put together. This is a sublime wine. Truly exceptional. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

93 Points! A layered wine with a floral edge and vibrant, complex orange peel and orange blossom aromas that are polished and slightly minerally. Sharp and silky on the palate, with a medium body and floral, saline flavors. Cleansing yet precise. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

91 Points! This has a bright, citrusy, leafy profile with yellow plums and ferns. Tart on the palate with zesty acidity, light body and dairy flavors. The lemony finish is polished yet not long. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com