Wine Advocate (100)

This wine merits every one of these 100 points. The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano Occhio di Pernice (375 milliliters) is a singular work of art and a profound expression of Tuscany. I know Avignonesi owner Virginie Saverys would like to draw attention to the other wines in her portfolio, and she has every right to do so. But I just want to cry. When you have a wine as profound and perfect as this, everything else fades fast into the background. Virginie likes to say that Occhio di Pernice (made with red grapes) is the male and the Vin Santo di Montepulciano (made from white grapes) is the female. This is a great observation. The bouquet here is smoky and savory, but brilliant and sophisticated at the same time. You get an infinite array of caramel, maple syrup, espresso bean, licorice and candied fruit aromas. There's so much dried fig as well. The concentration and thickness is out of this world. This wine is built like a tank and I'm not sure it will ever exit its drinking prime.

Vinous (94+)

I am shocked (pleasantly, I must say), by how closed the 2001 Barbaresco Santo Stefano is. Powerful, tightly wound and totally closed down, the 2001 exudes class. Orange rind, tobacco and smoke add striking aromatic complexity to the intense dark fruit. Today, the tannins are surprisingly intense and raw, so readers will have to be patient. The 2001 is superb, but the wine’s full personality will not be on display for at least another few years. There is a good bit of upside here.

Vinous (98)

The 2001 vintage in Piedmont has long been a favorite of mine. Bruno Giacosa’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is explosive and decadently rich from the very first taste. The 2001 is arguably the last truly classic vintage for the Rocche Red Label. To be sure, the 2004, 2005 and 2007 are all compelling, but the 2001 has more in common stylistically with vintages like 1996 and 1999. Dense, perfumed and wonderfully intense, the 2001 is phenomenally great. Wow.

Vinous (98)

The 2001 vintage in Piedmont has long been a favorite of mine. Bruno Giacosa’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is explosive and decadently rich from the very first taste. The 2001 is arguably the last truly classic vintage for the Rocche Red Label. To be sure, the 2004, 2005 and 2007 are all compelling, but the 2001 has more in common stylistically with vintages like 1996 and 1999. Dense, perfumed and wonderfully intense, the 2001 is phenomenally great. Wow.

Vinous (98)

The 2001 vintage in Piedmont has long been a favorite of mine. Bruno Giacosa’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is explosive and decadently rich from the very first taste. The 2001 is arguably the last truly classic vintage for the Rocche Red Label. To be sure, the 2004, 2005 and 2007 are all compelling, but the 2001 has more in common stylistically with vintages like 1996 and 1999. Dense, perfumed and wonderfully intense, the 2001 is phenomenally great. Wow.

Vinous (96)

The 2001 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is a great choice for readers who can be patient. Freshly cut flowers, mint, spices and violets are some of the many notes that flow from this structured, powerful Barolo. The 2001 remains virile and incredibly youthful in its personality. Sweet balsamic notes develop in the glass, adding considerable depth and nuance. The San Giuseppe is a jewel of a wine with a bright, bright future. Today it is stunningly beautiful.

Vinous (93)

The 2001 Barolo Cannubi, a rich ruby, presents a complex, multi-dimensional nose of flowers, sweet fruit and toasted oak. The beautiful 2001 version is classic in every way, revealing layers of sweet fruit, licorice, tar, mineral and toasted oak flavors, with great length and freshness on the finish. It is a wine of great class and elegance.

Wine Advocate (89)

The estate’s 2001 Brunello di Montalcino is a full-bodied, supple effort offering ripe dark fruit, earthiness and toasted oak with excellent length, if not much overall complexity. This attractive Brunello will benefit from another year or two of bottle age and should drink well to at least age fifteen. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.

Vinous (95)

Pulling yourself away from a glass of 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Al Vento Riserva is an exercise in futility. It wafts up with a heady bouquet of dried cherries and clove complemented by brown spices, worn leather, tobacco and the slightest hint of mocha. There are silken depths here, ushering in intense, tart red currants, motivated by stimulating acidity, as saline-minerals and a burst of sour citrus provides lovely contrasts. It leaves a potent and persistent staining of primary fruit and sweet tannins, all under rosy inner florals and earth tones. Judged by the bright ruby color alone, you’d never guess this was a twenty-year-old wine, yet what you find within tempts the imagination even more. The 2001 Riserva has many years of evolution in store.

Vinous (95)

Pulling yourself away from a glass of 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Poggio Al Vento Riserva is an exercise in futility. It wafts up with a heady bouquet of dried cherries and clove complemented by brown spices, worn leather, tobacco and the slightest hint of mocha. There are silken depths here, ushering in intense, tart red currants, motivated by stimulating acidity, as saline-minerals and a burst of sour citrus provides lovely contrasts. It leaves a potent and persistent staining of primary fruit and sweet tannins, all under rosy inner florals and earth tones. Judged by the bright ruby color alone, you’d never guess this was a twenty-year-old wine, yet what you find within tempts the imagination even more. The 2001 Riserva has many years of evolution in store.

Vinous (93)

This strong series continues with the 2001 Barolo Pajana. It too is a deeply-colored effort, with notes of violets, minerals and tar that appear out of the glass. The lower altititude of the vineyard gives a wine that is perhaps a touch less complex aromatically but that is quite rich, round and soft on the palate with generous amounts of very ripe black fruit,chocolate and toasted oak flavors supported by notable structure and finishing with excellent length.

Wine Spectator (95)

A silky, beautiful wine, with plum and berry character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing texture. Seductive, with layers of fruit and tannins. Best after 2009. 890 cases made. -JS

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (99)

Can you believe Conterno’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is next? Neither can I. What a wine. Sweet, perfumed and also massively endowed in every dimension, the 2001 Monfortino is another wine that pushes all the right buttons.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (99)

Can you believe Conterno’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is next? Neither can I. What a wine. Sweet, perfumed and also massively endowed in every dimension, the 2001 Monfortino is another wine that pushes all the right buttons.

Immerse yourself in the exquisite taste of Lamborghini Campoleone 2001, crafted in the heart of Italy's Umbria region. This elite red blend is a harmonious union of Sangiovese and Merlot varietals, produced by the eminent Lamborghini winery, a beacon of pedigree and prestige. Each grape is given individual attention, vinified separately in French oak barrels, thoughtfully blended post-fermentation, resulting in a wine of complex yet balanced character.

Heralded for its vibrant ruby hue, the Lamborghini Campoleone 2001 is redolent of ripe red fruits with subtle undertones of cocoa and spices, underpinned by a structured tannin profile ensuring longevity. The mouthfeel is plush, abundant with layered flavours of cherry, blackcurrant, and tobacco, seamlessly cascading into a lingering finish. This limited-edition interpretation is a testament to the impeccable benchmark set by the Lamborghini family, offering a sophisticated drinking experience for the discerning wine aficionado. Relish the robust Italian craftsmanship captured within each bottle of Lamborghini Campoleone 2001.

Wine Advocate (96)

Luciano Sandrone’s 2001 Barolo Le Vigne is fresh, vibrant and totally impeccable. Flowers, mint, minerals and juicy red berries are some of the many nuances that come to life in the 2001 Le Vigne. The wine gains volume and shape with time in the glass. Seemingly endless layers of fruit flesh out on the mid-palate and finish. Hints of leather, spices, licorice and flowers add further complexity on the close. This is a fabulous showing from Luciano Sandrone. Although Sandrone’s Cannubi Boschis gets most of the attention, the reality is that in many vintages Le Vigne is very much its equal. The ability to blend fruit from several parcels, an approach rarely used today, has plenty of merits. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.

Decanter (100)

Dense garnet in colour, this vintage of Masseto is restrained with a lavish elegance on the nose, displaying mint, milk, wild fennel (typical along the roads in Bolgheri), leather and white truffle. It is vibrant and mineral on the big palate, creamy at first then velvety on the mid-palate and super-ripe on the finish, woven with refreshing acidity and cassis meatiness. One of the greatest Masseto ever, and one of the best wines produced in Bolgheri (alongside Ornellaia 1998 and Sassicaia 1985). Simply, perfect!

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2001 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is stunning. It opens with gorgeous aromas of rose petals and sweet ripe cherries that meld seamlessly onto a palate of dark raspberries, cocoa and licorice. It offers superb length and elegant tannins in a style that is incredibly delicate and surprisingly approachable today. This will be a beautiful wine to follow over the following years and decades. 95

The Rocche Dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva Pianpolvere Soprano Bussia 2001 is an exemplary model of fine Italian wine-making mastery. Hailing from the Bussia Soprano vineyard located in the Piedmont region - globally renowned for its prestigious Barolo wines - this 2001 vintage is a testament to precise viticulture and meticulous craftsmanship.

With Rocche Dei Manzoni's exemplary commitment to sustainable farming, nothing but the finest Nebbiolo grapes find their way into each bottle.Their 40 months in large oak barrels and additional 12 years in the bottle result in a sophisticated, well-rounded Barolo offering sumptuous flavours of black cherries, roses, leather, and hints of truffle-esque earthiness.

The Rocche Dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva Pianpolvere Soprano Bussia 2001 exhibits a vibrant ruby-red hue with impressive depth, intensity, and a long-lasting finish. This superb vintage is an olfactory delight and unforgettable savoury journey, perfect for discerning wine enthusiasts.

The Rocche Dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva Pianpolvere Soprano Bussia 2001 is an exemplary model of fine Italian wine-making mastery. Hailing from the Bussia Soprano vineyard located in the Piedmont region - globally renowned for its prestigious Barolo wines - this 2001 vintage is a testament to precise viticulture and meticulous craftsmanship.

With Rocche Dei Manzoni's exemplary commitment to sustainable farming, nothing but the finest Nebbiolo grapes find their way into each bottle.Their 40 months in large oak barrels and additional 12 years in the bottle result in a sophisticated, well-rounded Barolo offering sumptuous flavours of black cherries, roses, leather, and hints of truffle-esque earthiness.

The Rocche Dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva Pianpolvere Soprano Bussia 2001 exhibits a vibrant ruby-red hue with impressive depth, intensity, and a long-lasting finish. This superb vintage is an olfactory delight and unforgettable savoury journey, perfect for discerning wine enthusiasts.

Captured from the illustrious Italian region of Veneto, the Sansonina Merlot 2001 embodies the epitome of finesse and structure, characteristic to its famed lineage. Significantly influenced by the unique terroir, this vibrant ruby red Merlot boasts exquisite aromas of sweet spices, blackberries, and understated earthy nuances.

The grapes, harvested meticulously in late September, underwent a long maceration and were subsequently aged in small oak barrels. The employment of these traditional vinification methods imparts the Sansonina Merlot 2001 a velvety texture with an elegant balance of tannin and acidity.

This prestigious creation is a testament to the Sansonina estate's unfaltering commitment to excellence. Renowned for its artisanal approach, this female-led boutique winery, managed by the brilliant minds of Nadia Zenato and her mother Carla, endeavours to engrave their indelible mark on each vintage they produce. Experience sans pareil with the Sansonina Merlot 2001, a wine to treasure for the discerning connoisseur.

Wine Advocate (95)

The estate’s top wine, the 2001 Villa Fidelia Rosso, a Bordeaux blend in which, unlike the first versions, the Cabernet now tends to predominate, is simply superlative, with only the 1999 among the past vintages arriving close to its level. A deep, glowing ruby red, its superbly ripe nose of black currants and raspberries, graphite, tar, and licorice is supported by a dense, sensual, caressing palate, deep and velvety, outstanding in its definition, focus, and balance. A cunning wine, deceptively ready but with an important aging potential in its packed structure, it will provide immense pleasure between 2005 and 2020.