Italy

R.P. 93 pts.

The 2010 Langhe Arborina is a pure expression of Nebbiolo that opens to beautiful shades of black fruit, tar, licorice, plum and dried blackberry. There’s a noticeable softness to the tannins that drives the wine’s lush, supple finish.

R.P. 94 pts.

The 2009 Barolo Arborina demonstrates a pretty floral quality with pressed rose and spots of lavender oil. Expressive and beautifully intense, the wine is crafted to show the delicate and more feminine side to the Altare portfolio. Silky and fine, the mouthfeel is streamlined and crisp.

R.P. 92 pts.

Wild berry, black fruit, tar, garden herb and spice characterize the bouquet. In the mouth, the wine displays fine tannins and a perfectly polished feel.

R.P. 94 pts.

Shows great fruit intensity with ripe tones of dark fruit (it is aged in neutral oak). Even the wine’s appearance is slightly darker and more concentrated that neighboring wines.

R.P. 97 pts.

Galardi’s 2008 Terra di Lavoro is a legend in the making. It is a fabulously ripe, rich and seductive wine endowed with beautifully articulated dark plums, ash, leather, licorice, all of which meld together in an explosive, utterly thrilling display of class and elegance. Clean, mineral notes frame the eternal finish.

R.P. 93 pts.

The 2016 La Massa is a terrific blend of 65% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon available at an accessible price. Alicante Bouschet was used in the blend until last year but has now been removed. The results are surprisingly complex and profound, although the wine's best asset is the fresh and straightforward approach it makes, especially on the palate. That inner depth will give this wine some proper aging potential I should expect.

R.P. 92 pts.

The 2009 Chianti Classico is a model of elegance and class. Firm yet well-integrated tannins provide the backdrop for expressive red cherries, licorice, tobacco and spices.

R.P. 95 pts.

The 2009 Flaccianello della Pieve is now hitting that very specific point in a wine's evolution in which you still identity some of the fruit, but you also get a supporting chorus of evolved aromas that enhance the overall finesse and depth of the bouquet.