The nose is lively and fragrant with tones of strawberries, red cherries, licorice, herbs, earth notes, violets, and roses. The nose is lifted, but it kind of lacks some depth and seriousness. The Medium/full bodied feel has a deftness to it that is lovely, but it also lacks some depth and is a smidge thin on the mid-palate. The high acidity is crisp, but with a bit of extra sting while the high tannins are youthful but also slightly coarse. Age will help this, but I don’t know it will ever be all that great. This does a good enough job given the challenges of the vintage, but the vintage also shows itself.
The nose is aromatic and savory with a refined sense to the tones of red cherries, raspberries, sour red berries, perfumes, licorice, roasted herbs, spice notes, leather, and a lot of violets. There is nice depth with a bit of restraint going right now on the nose. The Medium/full bodied feel is deft and balanced with tart, high acidity and youthful, high tannins. The structure isn’t too strong right now, but it is clearly showing youth. This is lovely now, but there is room to improve and I can see where this really turns on in time.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
The nose is deep, poised, and gorgeously savory with youthful tokes of red cherries, red berries, sour red fruits, licorice, roasted herbs, spice notes, and a good amount of rose petals. The Medium bodied feel is refined, poise, and deep with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins that are a bit sneaky in their youth. Yea, this is pretty awesome already. It’s deceptively drinking as this will certainly put on a show down the line, but it’s super sexy right now. Don’t be fooled though, let this rest for another 5+ years and it will reward that patience.
The nose is lifted and fresh with balanced tones of strawberries, red cherries, herbs, leather notes, earth tones, and violets. I like the perfume of this, but the depth is sadly lacking. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and balanced, but like the nose it lacks depth as the mid-palate is showing thin. The high acidity is tart while the high tannins are a little coarse while showing a fair bit of youth. This could certainly use several years to develop. It shows the vintage a bit and really just more lacks depth across the nose and palate.
The nose is extremely heady and perfumed with a lot of poise and depth to the tones of red cherries, strawberries, raspberries, pepper notes, roasted herbs, licorice, leather, spice notes, wild flowers, and violets. There is a gorgeous seamlessness that is enticing and intoxicating while it feels like it’s still holding back. The Medium/full bodied feel is refined, poised, and deep with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. This is certainly on the young side, but it’s also really refined. Aging will help this really turn on as this feels like once it has harmonized, it will be a real stunner.
The nose is fresh and lifted with pretty tones of red cherries, red currants, strawberries, red cherries, fresh herbs, and rose petals. The nose leans well into the red spectrum and with a real prettiness that is enticing, though it lacks some depth. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and balanced with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. The structure is youthful, but fresh while this also lacks some depth on the feel like the nose. A few years could do this some good, but it feels like a very open-knit and friendly Barbaresco that will provide some joyful, early drinking.
The nose is fresh and balanced with a darker take to the tones of raspberries, dark red cherries, spice notes, black tea, licorice, leather notes, and violets. The Medium/full bodied feel is robust, yet balanced with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. This is a nice Barolo that leans more into the darker tones for the fruit. That said, it lacks a bit of intrigue and character as it comes off a bit foursquare.
The nose is fragrant and berry-laced with vibrant tones of crushed rocks, dark red cherries, raspberries, raspberry liqueur, spice notes, licorice, herbs, and violets. There is excellent balance, but it lacks some depth that would amp it up a bit. The Medium/full bodied feel is balanced and poised with tart, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is open and feeling like it is giving a fair bit right now. A few years could round out a few rough edges, but it is otherwise drinking great.
The nose is well balanced and perfumed with tones of crushed rocks, pomegranate, red cherries, raspberries, licorice, incense, spice notes, herbs, and rose petals. This shows off some real style and depth that draws you into the glass. The Medium bodied feel is silky and poised with crisp, medium+ acidity and refined, medium+ tannins. The structure feels pretty well in balance at this time. Simply put, this is really sexy and showing beautifully right now.
The nose is savory and vibrant with Smokey notes, raspberries, tobacco leaf, dark red cherries, earth tones, pomegranate, and violets. The medium/full bodied feel has some density to it, but it lacks a little on the mid-palate. This is really enjoyable and has some lovely interplay between the fruit and savory portions.
The nose is upfront and expressive with red cherries, raspberries, tobacco leaf notes, earth tones, smoke, and wood poking through to distract too much. The oak is bothersome as is the lack of depth. The Medium bodied feel is balanced, but the oak is also noticeable here with the medium tannins being a bit stiff along with possessing medium acidity. This just lacks and doesn’t provide much intrigue. The oak notes dominate too much for my taste and I don’t know how they’ll really integrate.
The nose is wound up a bit, but still showing good red-fruited tones of raspberries, plums, crushed berries, dark red cherries, violets, earth notes, and roses. This does lack a bit past plush fruit tones while not showing too much depth either. The Medium/full bodied feel is very youthful and vibrant, but lacking on the mid-palate along with tart, medium+ acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. This will really need some time to fully express itself. If this can add in some layers and complexity, it can really blossom.
The nose is seamless and vibrant with some lovely perfume to the tones of crushed rocks, plums, pomegranate, red cherries, crushed berries, licorice, spice notes, and roses. There is good depth and poise that wakes your nostrils up. The Medium bodied feel is plush and vibrant with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This has some youth to the structure that can really bloom as it resolves with age. But, it’s also really lovely now with a refined sensibility.
The nose is perfumed and heady with vibrant tones of red cherries, strawberries, fresh picked red berries, thyme, herbal spices, leather notes, juniper berries, licorice, and roses. There is a real expressive side to this that is lovely and fresh. The Medium/full bodied feel is poised and expressive with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. This is really sexy and super enjoyable right now. I can certainly see some positive development with a few more years to let it fully harmonize.
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
The nose is rich and with some restrained power to the tones of black cherries, black raspberries, Asian spices, licorice, raspberry liqueur notes, leather, chocolate, and a touch of raisins. There is good depth and seamlessness as this has an open nature already. The Full bodied feel is robust and plush with medium acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins that have some punch behind them. While this could age, it’s super delicious right now.
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
The nose is deep, robust, and rich with soulful tones of ripe plums, black cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, spice notes, licorice, some black tea, and a lovely touch of violets. There is excellent depth with this showing a lot of delicious, primary fruit that is well balanced. The Full bodied feel is brawny while also showing a plush quality along with medium acidity and gripping, high tannins. The structure is showing that this could well use a few more years. It is still extremely good right now as it lacks a punch without being too big.
The nose is powerful, but open with black cherries, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, leather notes, licorice, and some violets. This feels like it is still holding back a slight bit as it the tones feel like they are all doing their thing rather than working together in full harmony. The Full bodied feel is robust and brawny with crisp, high acidity and chewy, high tannins. This is Sagrantino and there will always be tannins. So, within its own spectrum the structure isn’t too overbearing but this could certainly use a few more years to get going.
2014 Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The nose is lively and fragrant with tones of strawberries, red cherries, licorice, herbs, earth notes, violets, and roses. The nose is lifted, but it kind of lacks some depth and seriousness. The Medium/full bodied feel has a deftness to it that is lovely, but it also lacks some depth and is a smidge thin on the mid-palate. The high acidity is crisp, but with a bit of extra sting while the high tannins are youthful but also slightly coarse. Age will help this, but I don’t know it will ever be all that great. This does a good enough job given the challenges of the vintage, but the vintage also shows itself.
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2012 Ettore Germano Barolo Riserva Lazzarito 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The nose is aromatic and savory with a refined sense to the tones of red cherries, raspberries, sour red berries, perfumes, licorice, roasted herbs, spice notes, leather, and a lot of violets. There is nice depth with a bit of restraint going right now on the nose. The Medium/full bodied feel is deft and balanced with tart, high acidity and youthful, high tannins. The structure isn’t too strong right now, but it is clearly showing youth. This is lovely now, but there is room to improve and I can see where this really turns on in time.
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2013 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino 94 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
The nose is deep, poised, and gorgeously savory with youthful tokes of red cherries, red berries, sour red fruits, licorice, roasted herbs, spice notes, and a good amount of rose petals. The Medium bodied feel is refined, poise, and deep with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins that are a bit sneaky in their youth. Yea, this is pretty awesome already. It’s deceptively drinking as this will certainly put on a show down the line, but it’s super sexy right now. Don’t be fooled though, let this rest for another 5+ years and it will reward that patience.
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2014 Vietti Barolo Castiglione 88 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The nose is lifted and fresh with balanced tones of strawberries, red cherries, herbs, leather notes, earth tones, and violets. I like the perfume of this, but the depth is sadly lacking. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and balanced, but like the nose it lacks depth as the mid-palate is showing thin. The high acidity is tart while the high tannins are a little coarse while showing a fair bit of youth. This could certainly use several years to develop. It shows the vintage a bit and really just more lacks depth across the nose and palate.
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2014 Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The nose is extremely heady and perfumed with a lot of poise and depth to the tones of red cherries, strawberries, raspberries, pepper notes, roasted herbs, licorice, leather, spice notes, wild flowers, and violets. There is a gorgeous seamlessness that is enticing and intoxicating while it feels like it’s still holding back. The Medium/full bodied feel is refined, poised, and deep with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. This is certainly on the young side, but it’s also really refined. Aging will help this really turn on as this feels like once it has harmonized, it will be a real stunner.
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2015 Bel Colle Barbaresco Pajoré 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
The nose is fresh and lifted with pretty tones of red cherries, red currants, strawberries, red cherries, fresh herbs, and rose petals. The nose leans well into the red spectrum and with a real prettiness that is enticing, though it lacks some depth. The Medium bodied feel is fresh and balanced with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. The structure is youthful, but fresh while this also lacks some depth on the feel like the nose. A few years could do this some good, but it feels like a very open-knit and friendly Barbaresco that will provide some joyful, early drinking.
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2013 Bel Colle Barolo Simposio 90 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The nose is fresh and balanced with a darker take to the tones of raspberries, dark red cherries, spice notes, black tea, licorice, leather notes, and violets. The Medium/full bodied feel is robust, yet balanced with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. This is a nice Barolo that leans more into the darker tones for the fruit. That said, it lacks a bit of intrigue and character as it comes off a bit foursquare.
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2016 Cantine Nicosia Etna Rosso Fondo Filara 90 Points
Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
The nose is fragrant and berry-laced with vibrant tones of crushed rocks, dark red cherries, raspberries, raspberry liqueur, spice notes, licorice, herbs, and violets. There is excellent balance, but it lacks some depth that would amp it up a bit. The Medium/full bodied feel is balanced and poised with tart, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This is open and feeling like it is giving a fair bit right now. A few years could round out a few rough edges, but it is otherwise drinking great.
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2012 Cantine Nicosia Etna Rosso Riserva Contrada Monte Gorna 92 Points
Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
The nose is well balanced and perfumed with tones of crushed rocks, pomegranate, red cherries, raspberries, licorice, incense, spice notes, herbs, and rose petals. This shows off some real style and depth that draws you into the glass. The Medium bodied feel is silky and poised with crisp, medium+ acidity and refined, medium+ tannins. The structure feels pretty well in balance at this time. Simply put, this is really sexy and showing beautifully right now.
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2014 Firriato Etna Rosso Cavanera 90 Points
Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
The nose is savory and vibrant with Smokey notes, raspberries, tobacco leaf, dark red cherries, earth tones, pomegranate, and violets. The medium/full bodied feel has some density to it, but it lacks a little on the mid-palate. This is really enjoyable and has some lovely interplay between the fruit and savory portions.
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2013 Firriato Nero d'Avola Sicilia Harmonium 85 Points
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
The nose is upfront and expressive with red cherries, raspberries, tobacco leaf notes, earth tones, smoke, and wood poking through to distract too much. The oak is bothersome as is the lack of depth. The Medium bodied feel is balanced, but the oak is also noticeable here with the medium tannins being a bit stiff along with possessing medium acidity. This just lacks and doesn’t provide much intrigue. The oak notes dominate too much for my taste and I don’t know how they’ll really integrate.
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2015 Palmento Costanzo Etna Nero di Sei 88 Points
Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
The nose is wound up a bit, but still showing good red-fruited tones of raspberries, plums, crushed berries, dark red cherries, violets, earth notes, and roses. This does lack a bit past plush fruit tones while not showing too much depth either. The Medium/full bodied feel is very youthful and vibrant, but lacking on the mid-palate along with tart, medium+ acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins. This will really need some time to fully express itself. If this can add in some layers and complexity, it can really blossom.
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2015 Palmento Costanzo Etna Mofete 91 Points
Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC
The nose is seamless and vibrant with some lovely perfume to the tones of crushed rocks, plums, pomegranate, red cherries, crushed berries, licorice, spice notes, and roses. There is good depth and poise that wakes your nostrils up. The Medium bodied feel is plush and vibrant with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. This has some youth to the structure that can really bloom as it resolves with age. But, it’s also really lovely now with a refined sensibility.
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2013 Ca' Viola Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The nose is perfumed and heady with vibrant tones of red cherries, strawberries, fresh picked red berries, thyme, herbal spices, leather notes, juniper berries, licorice, and roses. There is a real expressive side to this that is lovely and fresh. The Medium/full bodied feel is poised and expressive with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. This is really sexy and super enjoyable right now. I can certainly see some positive development with a few more years to let it fully harmonize.
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2013 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Costasera 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
The nose is rich and with some restrained power to the tones of black cherries, black raspberries, Asian spices, licorice, raspberry liqueur notes, leather, chocolate, and a touch of raisins. There is good depth and seamlessness as this has an open nature already. The Full bodied feel is robust and plush with medium acidity and chewy, medium+ tannins that have some punch behind them. While this could age, it’s super delicious right now.
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2011 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 93 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
The nose is deep, robust, and rich with soulful tones of ripe plums, black cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, spice notes, licorice, some black tea, and a lovely touch of violets. There is excellent depth with this showing a lot of delicious, primary fruit that is well balanced. The Full bodied feel is brawny while also showing a plush quality along with medium acidity and gripping, high tannins. The structure is showing that this could well use a few more years. It is still extremely good right now as it lacks a punch without being too big.
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2011 Còlpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino 90 Points
Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino
The nose is powerful, but open with black cherries, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, leather notes, licorice, and some violets. This feels like it is still holding back a slight bit as it the tones feel like they are all doing their thing rather than working together in full harmony. The Full bodied feel is robust and brawny with crisp, high acidity and chewy, high tannins. This is Sagrantino and there will always be tannins. So, within its own spectrum the structure isn’t too overbearing but this could certainly use a few more years to get going.
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