Italy
Franz Haas Pònkler 2019 Pinot Nero Alto Adige 750 mL
Bright ruby in colour, with ripe raspberry, rosehip and blood orange giving the nose a vivid, lifted character. Sage, candied ginger and fine green spice add complexity without obscuring the fruit. The palate is deep yet elegant, spreading smoothly across the tongue with polished structure and lively spice. A subtle stony note brings focus, while balanced freshness carries the wine into a very long, precise finish.
Castiglion del Bosco Campo del Drago 2009 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Ripe red fruit leads a mature, savoury profile, with earth, cedar and polished oak adding depth. Dried herbs, warm spice and a quiet mineral note emerge with air. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, its fruit meeting firm but fine tannins and steady acidity. Vanilla recedes into the background as the wine opens, allowing cherry, woodland detail and a lightly bitter note to shape the long, composed finish.
Ornellaia 2021 Bolgheri Superiore 750 mL
Mediterranean herbs, cypress berries and blackberry open a rich, expressive nose. The palate is concentrated yet precise, with dark fruit and dense, finely woven tannins balanced by aromatic freshness. Blackcurrant, violet and a light mineral note add lift, while tobacco and wild herbs bring savoury depth. Generous without feeling heavy, it closes with polished texture, vibrant energy and an enduring finish.
Fuligni 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 750 mL
Light garnet in the glass, opening with rose petals, bright red cherry and wild strawberry. Cedar and gentle yellow spice add savoury depth, while a subtle peach note brings lift. The palate is poised and finely structured, with fresh acidity shaping the fruit and polished tannins providing quiet grip. Floral detail returns on a long, measured finish, joined by red berries, spice and a restrained earthy note.
Castello di Ama 2015 L’Apparita Merlot 750 mL
Blackberry, black cherry and plum are layered with violet, black olive, vanilla, black pepper and juniper. The palate is full and enveloping, yet freshness keeps the dark fruit poised and precise. Silky, powerful tannins provide a firm frame, while balsamic herbs, tobacco and a mineral edge add savoury complexity. The finish is exceptionally persistent, carrying ripe fruit, spice and polished structure in balance.
Oddero Monvigliero 2021 Barolo 750 mL
Translucent ruby in colour, with bright red berries, mint and white pepper leading an unusually graceful profile. Lilac, iris and cherry blossom bring floral lift, while a blood-orange note adds freshness and definition. The palate is silky and vibrant, with fine tannins carrying the fruit toward gentle spice and earth. Precise rather than heavy, it finishes long, perfumed and composed.
Figli Luigi Oddero 2015 Barolo 750 mL
Camphor, rose and wild herbs open over raspberry, ripe Morello cherry and a gentle earthy note. The palate is round and juicy, with polished tannins supporting the fruit and savoury layers of new leather, star anise, cinnamon and brown spice. The finish is balanced, persistent and already expressive, while retaining the structure expected of mature Nebbiolo. Decant carefully and serve with braised beef, porcini, truffle dishes or aged Piedmontese cheese.
Dal Forno Romano Vigna Sere Recioto 2004
Intense black cherry and kirsch lead a concentrated aroma, joined by violet, clementine and blackcurrant jam. Mint, chocolate and Christmas-cake spice add depth, while charred cedar and prune bring a darker savoury edge. The palate is powerful but sharply defined, its sweetness held by freshness and structure. The finish is polished and persistent, leaving dark fruit, cocoa, spice and aromatic lift.
Nardi Vigneto Manachiara 2016 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Ripe blackberry and cassis open with dark chocolate, toasted oak and a clear mineral line. The palate is robust and concentrated, but precise acidity and velvety tannins keep the structure controlled. Spice and savoury detail build with air, giving the single-vineyard fruit both depth and definition. Full-bodied and persistent, it closes with polished power, mineral tension and a long, balanced finish.
Cesare Bussolo 2019 Barolo Fossati 750 mL
Rose petal and violet lead into sour cherry, blackberry and dried plum, with tar, tobacco and licorice adding a distinctly savoury dimension. The palate is structured and energetic, shaped by bright acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins. Mineral detail carries through a long, composed finish that balances fruit, earth and spice. Decant before serving with braised beef, osso buco, roast lamb, mushroom risotto or aged hard cheese.
Cappellano 2019 Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris Barolo 750 mL
Red cherry and lifted floral notes meet earthy truffle, warm stone and subtle spice. The palate is medium-bodied yet concentrated, with pure fruit held in tension by firm, classic tannins. A mineral edge and savoury depth build through the middle while the texture remains pliant and finely judged. Long and structured, the finish carries rugged energy with unusual harmony and refinement.
Giovanni Chiappini 2013 Guado de’ Gemoli Bolgheri Superiore Magnum
Cassis, ripe black cherry and raspberry open with tobacco, liquorice, black pepper and a quiet balsamic note. The palate is concentrated and vigorous, combining dark fruit with close-grained tannins, savoury olive and measured toast. Fresh acidity and a saline edge keep the richness in balance, carrying the wine into a long, firm finish. Decant carefully and serve with braised beef, roast lamb or porcini dishes.
Roagna 2018 Pira Barolo DOCG
Pale ruby in colour, with preserved strawberry, red cherry and currant framed by rose petal, lavender, dried herbs, tobacco and mint. The palate is bright and linear, combining vivid acidity with refined, closely woven tannins. Sandalwood, licorice and graphite add depth before an energetic, long and finely poised finish.
Castello di Perno Perno 2017 Barolo Riserva 750 mL
Dried rose, red cherry and ripe plum open with tar, leather and liquorice. The palate is full-bodied and elegant, its firm tannins integrated by vibrant acidity and generous fruit. Blackberry and cranberry meet forest floor, tobacco and warm spice as the wine develops. Balsamic, anise and mineral notes extend the finish, giving this structured Riserva both depth and composed persistence.
Borgogno Cannubi 2019 Barolo 750 mL
Fragrant red berries and cherry open with rose petal, rosemary and a cool herbal lift. As it unfolds, fresh leather, liquorice and a gentle savoury note add depth. The palate is graceful and finely balanced, with bright acidity and supple tannins carrying the fruit without heaviness. A subtle mineral edge sharpens the middle. The finish is floral and persistent, leaving raspberry, herbs and quiet earthy detail.
Isole e Olena Cepparello 1996 Toscana IGT 750 mL
Light to medium ruby with mature bricking, this shows cherry, spice and underbrush alongside subtle leather. The palate is medium-bodied and lively, with tart red fruit, clear acidity and tannins that have largely settled into the wine. Earth, dried herbs and a faint tobacco note add complexity without obscuring the fruit. Concentrated yet graceful, it finishes with persistent cherry, savoury spice and a composed mature freshness.
Roagna Pajè 2017 Barbaresco 750 mL
Rose petals, red cherry and cranberry lead a restrained but finely detailed bouquet, joined by tobacco, dried flowers and warm spice. The palate is silky and light-footed, with vibrant acidity and fine, sandy tannins giving shape to the delicate fruit. Mushroom, leather and gravelly mineral notes emerge with air. Graceful rather than forceful, it finishes long and gently savoury, with dark berries, liquorice and a lingering earthy lift.
Col d’Orcia 2004 Poggio al Vento Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 750 mL
Red cherry, plum and cranberry form the documented fruit profile, joined by violet, clove and fennel. Tobacco, cedar, licorice and dried herbs add mature savoury detail; a saline edge is also recorded. The palate is described as silky and polished, leading to a long, refined finish marked by spice, menthol and porcini. Four years of oak ageing is also recorded.
Gaja 2015 Ca’Marcanda Camarcanda Bolgheri
Ripe black cherry and blueberry meet tobacco, iron and dark mineral notes. The palate is compact and concentrated, with succulent fruit, silky tannins and a sleek, tensile shape. Polished yet serious, it carries fine minerality through a balanced finish and is best served with grilled steak or lamb.
Canalicchio di Sopra 2017 Brunello di Montalcino
Candle wax, ripe cherry and worked leather lead a deep, savoury aroma, with cedar shavings adding definition. The palate is full and fleshy, shaped by firm tannins and cranberry-like acidity. Mineral salinity runs through the fruit and keeps the structure precise. The finish is long and smouldering, returning to dark cherry, leather, smoke and a taut mineral edge.