Italy
Italy is renowned for its exceptional wine production, with iconic regions such as Tuscany, Piedmont, and Veneto producing world-class varietals like Chianti, Barolo, and Prosecco. The country has a rich tradition of spirits, including amaro, grappa, and the famous aperitif, Campari, showcasing a diverse range of flavours and styles. Italy’s craft beer scene is also flourishing, with breweries creating innovative brews that highlight local ingredients and traditional brewing techniques.
Soldera 1998 Brunello di Montalcino
Pure red fruit and dried cherry rise with rose, violet, herb and warm spice. The palate is intense yet remarkably composed, adding red berries, liquorice, smoke and a gentle leather note as it opens. Fresh acidity and finely resolved tannins give the mature fruit lift, carrying the wine into a long, balanced and quietly mineral finish.
Cordero di Montezemolo 2007 Monfalletto Barolo DOCG 12-Bottle Case
Fresh cherry and juicy red fruit lead an elegant nose, with dried rose petal and sweet baking spice adding lift. The palate is delicate and approachable, shaped by bright acidity and soft, rounded tannins. Classic in profile and graceful in texture, it closes poised, balanced and quietly persistent.
Masseto 1999 Toscana IGT
Violet, raspberry and ripe berry aromas rise from a deep, concentrated core. The palate is full-bodied, powerful and structured, with silky tannins giving the dark fruit remarkable polish. Freshness keeps the scale in balance, while berry richness and quiet savoury detail build toward an exceptionally long, composed finish.
Montevertine 2017 Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT Magnum
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2002 Bolgheri
Concentrated and expressive, with blackcurrant, plum and ripe dark berries joined by tobacco, dried herbs, forest floor and subtle spice. The palate balances rugged savoury depth with unmistakable elegance, bringing velvety texture, fresh acidity and fine tannins into a long, vibrant finish. Allow time in a decanter and serve with roast lamb, beef or porcini mushrooms.
Biondi-Santi 2004 Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Deep garnet colour opens to cherries, raspberries, licorice, forest floor and leather. The documented palate remains youthful and intense, yet balanced, with refined tannins and lively acidity. A second exact record adds stone fruit and blackberry, describing a fresh, layered and elegant profile with ripe tannins and a very long finish. This is a mature Brunello that still shows notable freshness and definition.
Tenuta San Guido 2022 Sassicaia Bolgheri 750 mL
Cassis, blackberry and dark plum are lifted by bergamot, blood orange, Mediterranean herbs, cedar, graphite and fresh mint. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with concentrated black fruit held in balance by lively acidity. Firm, polished tannins provide a fine-grained frame, while liquorice and damson add depth. The finish is long, structured and savoury, carrying graphite, herbs and dark fruit with composed persistence.
Ornellaia 2005 Bolgheri Superiore 750 mL
Red and black berries lead an elegant, complex bouquet, with tobacco, spice and a light balsamic note developing behind the fruit. The palate is full and enveloping, framed by densely woven tannins that feel ripe, soft and polished. Dark cherry, blueberry and crushed stone add definition, while fresh acidity keeps the concentration measured. The finish is long, fruity and quietly savoury.
Tua Rita 2018 Redigaffi Rosso Toscana IGT
Deep purple with generous layers of blueberry preserve, ripe plum and blackberry, followed by dark chocolate, licorice, black pepper, vanilla and incense. Full-bodied and lush, the palate carries its concentration with polished tannins and controlled richness. The finish is exceptionally long, dark-fruited and warmly spiced without losing balance.
Castiglion del Bosco Campo del Drago 2016 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Generous and intense, showing crunchy red fruit, liquorice and fresh pepper leaf, with a darker, slightly savoury edge underneath. The palate is broad and juicy, balancing ripe fruit with firm structure and a sense of lift. Tannins are present but well integrated, and the wine builds steadily rather than feeling heavy. The finish is persistent, carrying spice, dried herbs and red fruit long after each sip.
Tenuta di Trinoro 2013 Palazzi 750 mL
Ripe red stone fruit and raspberry open with wild flowers, white truffle and exotic spice. The palate is opulent yet animated, its generous Merlot fruit held in focus by bright acidity and silky tannins. Floral and savoury layers continue to shift with air, giving the wine more freshness and definition than its richness first suggests. The finish is long, aromatic and polished. Decant before serving with roast lamb, braised beef or porcini dishes.
Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina 2019 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Bright and composed, opening with cedar, rose hip and dried blood orange over restrained dark fruit. The palate has a juicy core and a distinctly savoury, saline line, with polished structure and no excess weight. Subtle earth and spice add depth as it opens, leading to a compact, powerful finish. A refined Brunello that balances concentration with freshness and detail.
Tommasi 2009 De Buris Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC Riserva
Bright, deep ruby with a taut, finely drawn nose of sour and sweet black cherry, evolving toward spice and cocoa bean. The palate is concentrated yet never heavy, delivering high-toned, vibrant fruit over a delicately velvety texture. Poised and harmonious, it closes with remarkable persistence and a long, polished finish.
Castiglion del Bosco 2011 Campo del Drago Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 1.5 L
Red cherry opens with sweet spice, leather, cola and balsamic herbs. The palate is generous and full, its ripe fruit framed by well-present tannins and a firm mineral structure. Savoury complexity builds through the middle while steady acidity keeps the wine composed. The finish is long and characterful, returning to cherry, spice, tobacco and stony detail.
Castello di Bossi 2008 Corbaia Toscana IGT 3 L
Blackcurrant, cherry and cassis lead with tobacco, dark chocolate and a measured touch of coffee. The palate is concentrated and energetic, combining layers of ripe fruit with substantial tannins and fresh acidity. New-oak spice is present but held within a balanced, harmonious frame, while the finish remains long and composed. Decant carefully and serve with bistecca, roast lamb, wild mushrooms or aged pecorino.
Brancaia Il Blu 2020 Toscana IGT 1.5 L
Currant, violet and cocoa shape an expressive, polished nose. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with wild berries bringing freshness through the centre. Firm tannins are creamy rather than coarse, giving the wine structure while preserving a smooth, composed texture. Subtle oak and dark chocolate tones sit behind the fruit, and the finish is rich and persistent, carrying sweet currant and savoury depth in measured balance.
Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri DOC Superiore 750 mL
Black fruit leads with blackberry and black cherry, layered with vanilla, tobacco and a touch of sweet spice. The palate is expansive and generous, supported by powerful yet finely integrated tannins. Cedar, dark cocoa and a mineral edge add definition through the middle, while fresh acidity keeps the concentrated fruit composed. Savoury and vibrant on the finish, it carries its richness with clarity and enduring length.
Bartolo Mascarello 2018 Barolo 750 mL
Raspberry, wild strawberry and red cherry form a bright, transparent core, lifted by orange peel and rose petals. Wet stone, cardamom and soft earth add savoury definition without dulling the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied and poised, with fresh acidity and fine, integrated tannins creating a silky but structured feel. Floral and mineral notes persist through a long, precise finish with measured spice and gentle earthy depth.
Vietti 2021 Perbacco Langhe Nebbiolo 3 L
Ripe red fruit opens with mint, sweet spice and a lightly floral note. The palate is robust and generous in its youth, yet shaped by rounded, elegant tannins and enough freshness to keep the fruit clear. Savoury earth and dried herbs emerge through the middle. The finish is long and refined, leaving red cherry, spice and a composed mineral persistence.