Italy

From the importer: I’m not sure why I didn’t bring in this perfect everyday white when I first started importing the Montepulciano; I certainly should have. The wine is pale straw in color, with aromas of almond, citrus and a hint of herbs. It is bone dry and finishes with a very attractive hint of apple-skin. This is a knockout everyday bottle of white wine, flavorful enough to stand up to a range of dishes but bright enough to make a good dry aperitif.

From the importer: 

The ‘Rocce di Pietra Longa’ is 100% Grillo from the Pietralunga vineyard, located near the town of Corleone. The vineyard can be recognized by a tall stone (the Pietra Lunga), about 100 feet high, nearby. Vines were planted in stony alkaline clay soil with many rocky outcroppings. Pale straw yellow color in the glass.

Gorgeous intense mouthwatering aromas of lemon, marzipan and wet stones. Outstanding lively fresh palate impression, by far the best example of the variety I’ve had.  Very long, very concentrated. A delicious, mineral, serious white wine from an unexpected source. Maybe even age-worthy. This Grillo can stand with some of Italy’s best white wines.

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! 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

92 Points! Salty and spicy with white-pepper and flinty aromas, this is light-bodied yet very savory and crisp with a polished finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Floral and slightly spicy, with a fresh fruit profile, this has red currants, pomegranate and deep graphite. Medium-bodied, it shines with concentration, weight and elegant tannins. The supersavory finish is sustained by crisp acidity. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

A GREAT vintage of this wine. From the winery: 

Passorosso offers a journey through the Contrade of Passopisciaro.

It is crafted with Nerello Mascalese grapes selected from vineyards at different altitudes, ranging from 550 to 800 m / 1,804 to 2,624 ft asl and from diverse volcanic soils, some rich in volcanic ash and some with lava stones of varying grain sizes.

It is produced exclusively from old vines, with an average age of 100 years.

Definitely the finest deal on a Pinot Grigio we've tasted. This one has more body, weight and complexity than anything else out there under $15, guaranteed...

From the importer:

Luigi talks about the Campi Flegrei terroir more than the varieties, but they are also doing genetic testing on the Falanghina. Falanghina Beneventana, from around Benevento, to the north-east of Naples is a completely different variety than Falanghina Flegrea from the Campi Flegrei (near Naples). At La Sibilla, they are growing Falanghina Flegrea, and this is a very distinctive example of how delicious Campanian white wines can be.

It delivers a crisp minerally character while also showing appealing aromas and flavors of citrus, flowers, and tarragon. This is an excellent seafood wine. I also drink it as a dry aperitif, with olives and salami, while deciding what to make for dinner. 

From the importer: 

Originally, Ciro produced only Fiano because the vineyards he bought were planted only with that variety. A few years ago he started making Greco from a rented vineyard, a vineyard that he is now renting and farming himself. The soil is a sandy clay of volcanic origin called tuff, or 'tufo' in Italian (but the name of the appellation refers not to the soil, but to the village of Tufo, which is not far from Avellino). Chunks of pure sulfur can sometimes be found in the vineyard.

Picariello's Greco is made similarly to his Fiano, although the must is pressed more quickly to avoid oxidation. Ciro tells me that Greco can age like Fiano; given that he started making Greco more recently, I haven't had the chance to test this for myself, but the first Picariello wine I ever tasted was a ten-year-old bottle of Fiano di Avellino that knocked my socks off, so I have no reason to doubt it. My sense is that Ciro is getting better with this variety; I clearly preferred the Fiano when we first started working together, but the Greco is excellent white wine, savory, very minerally, long and complex. Ciro's description: 'orange blossom, citrus peel, melon.' 

94 Points! Showing apricots, peaches and sage, this is layered and savory. On the palate, it’s vibrant and refined with silky texture, crisp acidity and a long finish. From organically and biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! ...the organic Pieropan 2024 Soave Classico is a favorite bottle from Northern Italy for very good reason. This simple expression of Garganega (blended with 15% Trebbiano di Soave for extra richness) offers nice freshness, mineral tones and sweet primary fruit that recalls freshly cut apple and white peach. This was not an easy vintage by any stretch, but this white wine comes out fighting. The Pieropan family does a terrific job with this entry-level release of 560,000 bottles. The grapes are sourced over 60 hectares on volcanic soils, and the wine sees a brief five to six months in cement tank. The process is simple and easy, and the wine is delicious. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! A wine that announces itself like June roses in full bloom. Split cherries and crushed raspberries lead you down a garden path where wild thyme grows. The palate shifts gears, showing unexpected muscle under its pretty exterior. Here's your answer to the eternal "what pairs with everything" question. - Wine Enthusiast

This cuvée is a selection of Nebbiolo from the younger vines of the various “cru” in Barbaresco supplemented by grapes from the neighboring village of Neive.  The average age of the vines is 30 years.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel for 10 days to 2 weeks and then is refined in large oak barrels for an additional year before being bottled.  An astonishing value … as are all of the fine wines from this remarkable estate.

93 Points! Dark cherries and strawberries with fresh sage and thyme aromas follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a crunchy finish. Savory and delicious with lovely energy and drinkability. A blend of 45% sangiovese, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 10% malvasia and 10% other varieties. Precise and yummy. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com