Italy
Italy, known as the "Land of Wine," is celebrated for its exquisite range of fine wines. With a winemaking history dating back thousands of years and a diverse array of terroirs, Italy offers a remarkable collection of wines that delight the senses and captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide.
In Tuscany, famous vineyards like Antinori, Marchesi di Frescobaldi, and Tenuta San Guido have become synonymous with excellence. Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello showcase the region's mastery in crafting complex, age-worthy, and expressive wines. Piedmont is home to legendary vineyards like Gaja, Vietti, and Marchesi di Barolo. The region's iconic wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, crafted from the Nebbiolo grape, epitomize power, elegance, and longevity. These wines boast flavors of red fruit, floral notes, earthy undertones, and firm tannins. Veneto, renowned for its sparkling Prosecco wines, is also famous for Amarone della Valpolicella. Vineyards like Allegrini and Quintarelli produce exceptional Amarone wines with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, spices, and a velvety texture. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a different yet captivating expression of Italian wines. Vineyards like Planeta, Donnafugata, and Tasca d'Almerita craft remarkable wines from indigenous grape varieties such as Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese. These wines exhibit intense fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a unique volcanic minerality.
These are just a few examples of the renowned vineyards and wines Italy has to offer. From the northern regions of Piedmont and Veneto to the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, and down to the southern regions of Sicily and Puglia, Italy's wine regions are a treasure trove of exceptional wines. Experience the allure of Italian wines and immerse yourself in the rich history, diverse terroirs, and passionate winemaking that define the Italian wine scene. Whether you're sipping a prestigious Barolo, a refined Brunello di Montalcino, a refreshing Prosecco, or a bold Nero d'Avola, Italian wines promise a journey of flavors and a celebration of Italy's winemaking heritage.
Italy
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Vinous (95)
The 2019 Sangiovese Romagna Predappio Riserva is shaping up to be the most classic and refined rendition I've yet tasted of Le Lucciole. The past nine months have added dark, savory depths to its captivating bouquet of crushed raspberry, grilled herbs and smoked dark chocolates. This is silkier and more supple today. A stern mineral core underscores wild berry fruits and exotic spices. Tantalizing acidity adds balance through the structured finale. The 2019 reminds the taster that its years are shy of maturity, tapering off with a saturation of fine tannins that grumble beneath an air of balsam herbs and violet florals. This bottle was followed over two days and never faltered. What a beauty.Inc. GSTSG$379.84 -
James Suckling (100)
Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decadent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.Inc. GSTSG$673.77 -
James Suckling (100)
Aromas of plums, flowers, fresh mushrooms and violets. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful balance and length. Powerful tannins underneath the exquisite fruit. Great finish. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold.Inc. GSTSG$565.86 -
Inc. GSTSG$417.25
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Vinous (97)
(5.8 g/l total acidity, 3.44 pH, 26.9 g/l dry extract, 14% alcohol): Bright amber-red. Despite the rather evolved color, the nose is brooding and still closed, revealing captivating aromas of red cherry, raspberry, minerals, and brown spices with aeration. Big, broad, ripe and sweet on the palate, boasting a lovely lush texture and impressive fullness to its red cherry, peach, vanilla, cinnamon and mineral flavors. The very long finish features broad, polished, building tannins and noteworthy sweetness. Aged for 63 months in large oak casks, this is a very great wine.Inc. GSTSG$1,426.96 -
Vinous (95+)
Col d'Orcia's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is beautifully perfumed, finessed and nuanced, with plenty of bright red-fleshed fruit flavors. Hints of cedar, smoke, licorice and tobacco develop in the glass, but the 2004 remains quite primary and dense, with little in the way of development relative to so many other wines of the vintage. The 2004 can be enjoyed today with some aeration, but its best drinking almost certainly lies in the future. Richer, dark red cherry compote and plum notes start to open up in the glass, hinting at what is to come.Inc. GSTSG$645.06 -
Inc. GSTSG$740.98
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Vinous (96)
The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from Conterno-Fantino and the Ginestra cru. Ample and broad, with huge intensity, the Sorì Ginestra is stunning. All the Ginestra signatures come through in the glass. The 2019 is deep and vibrant, yet also wonderfully fresh. There is a creaminess in the 2019 that is impossible to miss. This is so impressive.Inc. GSTSG$504.82 -
With a sumptuous texture, the Conterno Fantino Barolo Vigna Del Gris 2018 is an embodiment of master craftsmanship from the esteemed hilly terrains of Piedmont, Italy. This exemplary Barolo, steadfastly embodying its heritage, is crafted by the renowned Conterno Fantino winery, admired for their commitment to time-honoured winemaking practices.
The meticulous wine connoisseurs of Conterno Fantino have persistently sourced Nebbiolo grapes from the esteemed Monforte d'Alba vineyard, Vigna del Gris, which is renowned for its calcareous marl soils, bestowing upon the wine its notable intensity. The wine's maturation in French oak barrels for 24 months infuses it with a harmonious balance and sublime finesse.
On the palate, this 2018 vintage unfurls layers of ripe fruit, leather and spice. Its nose delights with floral overtures, truffle and forest floor, rendering an intoxicating complexity. The Conterno Fantino Barolo Vigna Del Gris 2018, true to Barolo grandeur, is an exhilarating symphony of flavours, surely to be appreciated by fine wine connoisseurs.
Inc. GSTSG$533.88 -
Vinous (90+)
Medium red. Subdued aromas of red cherry liqueur and caramel oak. Richer and broader than the Monfalletto, but comes across as less sweet today and more backward. Slowly mounting finish shows substantial, slightly drying tannins. Very much in the style of a hot year.Inc. GSTSG$814.01 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Barolo Enrico VI is a super-classic wine from this site. Spice, menthol and a whole range of balsamic inflections open first, before the firm Villero tannins kick in. I imagine the 2019 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, but it is another stellar wine in this lineup up from Cordero di Montezemolo.Inc. GSTSG$442.69 -
Decanter (99)
The blend for this wine, whose fruit is dried for three months, is 55 per cent Corvina, 15 per cent Rondinella, 20 per cent Croatina and 10 per cent Oseleta; all the vines are at least 10 years old. A black wine, and a velvet nosebox: pressed black fruits, seeping with fruit essences; smoke and cinders; herbal complexities; teasing floral notes, too, to lighten the tone a little. The alcohol level on the label might lead you to expect a gobstopper – so you’ll be taken aback by the fine-milled elegance of this wine, by its disposition and organization, by its fleet-footed elegance and freshness, even though its concentration, power and textural presence make it a wine of absolute authority. There isn’t a trace of superfluous fat in the mid-palate – though it’s tongue-coating, head-turning, inspiring: a gathering of sumptuous fruited energies. “It’s very difficult to for my father to feel happy about any of his wines; he’s very critical,” said Michele. “But with this vintage, he didn’t have anything to say.”Inc. GSTSG$1,446.91 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Here's a new discovery that I'd like to broadcast far and near. This Riserva is a new wine from Elena Fucci that was initiated with this vintage. It is a limited-edition wine made only in magnums. In fact, I tasted bottle number 1 of 400 made to write this review. The 2013 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Riserva Titolo is a dark and savory expression with an evolved and profound bouquet that covers all the bases. It offers dried fruit and blackberry with smoke, ash and crushed river stone. That mineral identity is the wine's most important defining characteristic. Aglianico tends to deliver astringent tannins, but this Riserva shows excellent integration and structural management. A new benchmark wine for southern Italy has just been created.Inc. GSTSG$280.65 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The Barbera grape can often act like Nebbiolo showing its best results in the later vintages that end on a cool note. Those conditions are what define the beautiful 2016 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina. The wine sees 20 days of maceration with submerged cap, and the bouquet is flowing, polished and impactful as a result. Blackberry, summer cherry and plum rise from the glass. Some 18 months of oak aging adds delicate touches of spice, leather and cedar.Inc. GSTSG$242.85 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2010 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is an amazing wine born 430 meters above sea level from white limestone and sandy soils. The elegance expressed by the wine is unforgettable. It opens to a pretty garnet color with ethereal tones of licorice and balsam herb with sharp, delineated contours. This vineyard is usually harvested later than the others, so the growing cycle is extra long and steady. The wine is silky, finessed and profound. Drink: 2018-2040.Inc. GSTSG$874.33 -
James Suckling (98)
Extremely perfumed, showing lots of rose, lavender and dark-berry character. Full body with intense density and chewiness that gives the wine great structure. Lots of flavor and focus at the finish. Needs five to six years to finish. Drink in 2024.Inc. GSTSG$380.56 -
Vinous (96.5)
The 2016 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a vibrant, massively tannic, austere wine, the likes of which I have never tasted here before. Vertical and explosive in the glass with tons of pure power, the 2016 Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous Barolo that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit. White pepper, mint, orange peel and floral notes develop a bit later, but the 2016 remains reticent and inward, with brilliant acids and tannins that dominate today. The 2016 is a striking wine, but it is going to require considerable patience.Inc. GSTSG$590.93 -
Vinous (96)
Grasso's 2017 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is fabulous. In fact, the Gavarini is easily one of the wines of the vintage because it retains all of its classic signatures, which is also the sign of a first-class vineyard. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the Gavarini pulses with energy. Crushed red flowers, mint, chalk, white pepper, cinnamon and orange peel give the 2017 a super-classic Nebbiolo profile, as expressed in a relatively high-altitude site. The precision and finesse of the tannins - so hard to find in 2017- elevates the Gavarini into the realm of the sublime.Inc. GSTSG$395.82 -
Vinous (91)
The 2018 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous, elegant wine that offers fine depth for the year. Silky and pliant, with terrific resonance, the 2018 has a lot to offer. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, blood orange and rose petal all build effortlessly in the glass. All the Gavarini signatures are present, but naturally in miniature in this vintage.Inc. GSTSG$339.14 -
Vinous (96)
The 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is classically austere and just gorgeous right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and fine, sculpted fruit race out of the glass. Crushed rose petal, cinnamon, orange peel and mint are all beautifully delineated. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2019 is going to need years to be at its best, yet it has that embryonic inner sweetness that characterizes the very finest wines here. Superb.Inc. GSTSG$435.06 -
Vinous (96)
The 2012 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè soars out of the glass with remarkable precision, tension and energy. A brilliant wine, the 2012 is translucent, powerful and super-expressive. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and pine give the 2012 its sensual, inviting personality. Today, it is the wine's pure nuance that truly stands out. This is a superb showing from the 2012. In this tasting, the Ginestra is much more expressive than the Gavarini. This is an especially precise style for the year.Inc. GSTSG$455.05 -
Wine Advocate (97)
There is slightly more structure to the 2015 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté than to the Gavarini Chiniera of the same vintage, and the only differences here are the soils and that this fruit is harvested about ten days later. It's a pretty fascinating demonstration of the power of the single vineyard. The Gavarini Chiniera parcel offers slightly sandier soils, whereas this site is composed of more clay. In rainy years, the Gavarini Chiniera vineyard drains more effectively, whereas the Ginestra's soil retains more moisture in the hot and dry vintages. As a result, in vintages such as this one, Ginestra shows a more compact nature and, in general, provides more impact and more structure. This is a very robust expression, extremely linear and tight. The Ginestra Casa Maté narrowly wins this round. It's another beautiful Barolo.Inc. GSTSG$391.46 -
Vinous (97)
Ample and creamy on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2016 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is super impressive, even in the early going. Next to the Gavarini Chiniera, the Ginestra Casa Matè is a Barolo of textural resonance and volume. Black cherry, plum and a range of balsamic notes infuse the 2016 with tons of character. The is one of the real standouts of the year.Inc. GSTSG$518.62 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is a dark, mysterious wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, spice, new leather and pine meld together in a super-classic expression of Ginestra. Deep, rich and enveloping, the 2017 is so impressive in the early going. Here, too, the finesse of the tannins is remarkable.Inc. GSTSG$396.54 -
Vinous (88)
The 2018 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè shows just how challenging this vintage is for sites that are moisture retentive. Large-scaled tannins and awkward contours are impossible to escape. Game, iron, licorice, smoke, tobacco and dried herbs add to a distinctly wild, feral feel.Inc. GSTSG$339.14 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is rich, dark and explosive. Dark-fleshed fruit, cloves menthol, licorice, scorched earth, leather and dried flowers are some of the notes that infuse the 2019 with character. Deep and resonant, with tremendous depth, the Ginestra is a wine of unbridled intensity. Swaths of tannin wrap around the huge, substantial finish. This virile, strapping Barolo is quite simply classic Ginestra.Inc. GSTSG$416.53 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2020 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is gorgeous. Aromatically captivating and nuanced, the 2020 impresses right out of the gate. All the classic Ginestra signatures are present. Today the tannins are pretty imposing in the positive sense, as they are present, but also impeccably balanced within the wine's frame. This is impressive stuff. The substantial, balsamic-infused Ginestra finish is captivating.Inc. GSTSG$522.98 -
Wine Advocate (100)
If any Italian wine from this decade can undeniably be called a reserve, it is the 2013 Barolo Riserva Rüncot. This wine was not made in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 nor 2018. (The 2013 vintage will be released commercially in February of 2020, and this is the wine's first official review.) Gianluca Grasso holds the precious bottle I tasted from as if it were a newborn child. This vintage saw a relatively long growing season, and it offers greater fruit density, structure and acidity than the last edition that was made, the 2010. There is more vibrancy here and a true sense of energy brimming right there under the surface. The wine goes through 45 days of extended maceration post-fermentation and then a solid seven years of aging between oak and bottle. The resulting Riserva Rüncot has a stunning bouquet that is all violets and prunes, followed by a classic palate of minerals, herbs, cinnamon and delicate wafts of white truffle. This wine tells a story from nose to finish, like a flashing film reel. Fewer than 5,000 bottles were made. This is a crowning achievement for the hard-working and passionate Grasso family, led by father Elio and son Gianluca. Congratulations.Inc. GSTSG$871.06 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The last time we saw this iconic wine was in 2013 (a vintage that earned a perfect score). Following up on that success, the Elio Grasso 2015 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is a generous, open-knit Nebbiolo that has much of the warmth and sunshine locked deep within its core. The bouquet reveals broad brush aromas of black fruit, blackberry preserves, smoky tar and baked plum. With 7,000 bottles made, this Riserva is smooth and velvety in texture. There's no reason why it can't hold until the mid-century mark.Inc. GSTSG$771.87 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)
The 2016 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is quite possibly the single greatest wine I have tasted in more than twenty years I have been coming here, with the possible exception of the 1989s and 1990s. Deep and powerful, but not at all heavy, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark cherry/plum fruit, menthol, lavender, licorice and mocha saturate the palate in a Barolo of extraordinary richness and intensity. The 2016 spent four years in 100% new oak, and yet there is no trace at all of wood. Magnificent!Inc. GSTSG$873.96
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Vinous (95)
The 2019 Sangiovese Romagna Predappio Riserva is shaping up to be the most classic and refined rendition I've yet tasted of Le Lucciole. The past nine months have added dark, savory depths to its captivating bouquet of crushed raspberry, grilled herbs and smoked dark chocolates. This is silkier and more supple today. A stern mineral core underscores wild berry fruits and exotic spices. Tantalizing acidity adds balance through the structured finale. The 2019 reminds the taster that its years are shy of maturity, tapering off with a saturation of fine tannins that grumble beneath an air of balsam herbs and violet florals. This bottle was followed over two days and never faltered. What a beauty.In BondSG$330.00 -
James Suckling (100)
Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decadent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.In BondSG$599.00 -
James Suckling (100)
Aromas of plums, flowers, fresh mushrooms and violets. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful balance and length. Powerful tannins underneath the exquisite fruit. Great finish. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold.In BondSG$500.00 -
In BondSG$363.00
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Vinous (97)
(5.8 g/l total acidity, 3.44 pH, 26.9 g/l dry extract, 14% alcohol): Bright amber-red. Despite the rather evolved color, the nose is brooding and still closed, revealing captivating aromas of red cherry, raspberry, minerals, and brown spices with aeration. Big, broad, ripe and sweet on the palate, boasting a lovely lush texture and impressive fullness to its red cherry, peach, vanilla, cinnamon and mineral flavors. The very long finish features broad, polished, building tannins and noteworthy sweetness. Aged for 63 months in large oak casks, this is a very great wine.In BondSG$1,290.00 -
Vinous (95+)
Col d'Orcia's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is beautifully perfumed, finessed and nuanced, with plenty of bright red-fleshed fruit flavors. Hints of cedar, smoke, licorice and tobacco develop in the glass, but the 2004 remains quite primary and dense, with little in the way of development relative to so many other wines of the vintage. The 2004 can be enjoyed today with some aeration, but its best drinking almost certainly lies in the future. Richer, dark red cherry compote and plum notes start to open up in the glass, hinting at what is to come.In BondSG$572.00 -
In BondSG$660.00
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Vinous (96)
The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Sorì Ginestra is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from Conterno-Fantino and the Ginestra cru. Ample and broad, with huge intensity, the Sorì Ginestra is stunning. All the Ginestra signatures come through in the glass. The 2019 is deep and vibrant, yet also wonderfully fresh. There is a creaminess in the 2019 that is impossible to miss. This is so impressive.In BondSG$444.00 -
With a sumptuous texture, the Conterno Fantino Barolo Vigna Del Gris 2018 is an embodiment of master craftsmanship from the esteemed hilly terrains of Piedmont, Italy. This exemplary Barolo, steadfastly embodying its heritage, is crafted by the renowned Conterno Fantino winery, admired for their commitment to time-honoured winemaking practices.
The meticulous wine connoisseurs of Conterno Fantino have persistently sourced Nebbiolo grapes from the esteemed Monforte d'Alba vineyard, Vigna del Gris, which is renowned for its calcareous marl soils, bestowing upon the wine its notable intensity. The wine's maturation in French oak barrels for 24 months infuses it with a harmonious balance and sublime finesse.
On the palate, this 2018 vintage unfurls layers of ripe fruit, leather and spice. Its nose delights with floral overtures, truffle and forest floor, rendering an intoxicating complexity. The Conterno Fantino Barolo Vigna Del Gris 2018, true to Barolo grandeur, is an exhilarating symphony of flavours, surely to be appreciated by fine wine connoisseurs.
In BondSG$470.00 -
Vinous (90+)
Medium red. Subdued aromas of red cherry liqueur and caramel oak. Richer and broader than the Monfalletto, but comes across as less sweet today and more backward. Slowly mounting finish shows substantial, slightly drying tannins. Very much in the style of a hot year.In BondSG$727.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Barolo Enrico VI is a super-classic wine from this site. Spice, menthol and a whole range of balsamic inflections open first, before the firm Villero tannins kick in. I imagine the 2019 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, but it is another stellar wine in this lineup up from Cordero di Montezemolo.In BondSG$387.00 -
Decanter (99)
The blend for this wine, whose fruit is dried for three months, is 55 per cent Corvina, 15 per cent Rondinella, 20 per cent Croatina and 10 per cent Oseleta; all the vines are at least 10 years old. A black wine, and a velvet nosebox: pressed black fruits, seeping with fruit essences; smoke and cinders; herbal complexities; teasing floral notes, too, to lighten the tone a little. The alcohol level on the label might lead you to expect a gobstopper – so you’ll be taken aback by the fine-milled elegance of this wine, by its disposition and organization, by its fleet-footed elegance and freshness, even though its concentration, power and textural presence make it a wine of absolute authority. There isn’t a trace of superfluous fat in the mid-palate – though it’s tongue-coating, head-turning, inspiring: a gathering of sumptuous fruited energies. “It’s very difficult to for my father to feel happy about any of his wines; he’s very critical,” said Michele. “But with this vintage, he didn’t have anything to say.”In BondSG$1,305.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Here's a new discovery that I'd like to broadcast far and near. This Riserva is a new wine from Elena Fucci that was initiated with this vintage. It is a limited-edition wine made only in magnums. In fact, I tasted bottle number 1 of 400 made to write this review. The 2013 Aglianico del Vulture Superiore Riserva Titolo is a dark and savory expression with an evolved and profound bouquet that covers all the bases. It offers dried fruit and blackberry with smoke, ash and crushed river stone. That mineral identity is the wine's most important defining characteristic. Aglianico tends to deliver astringent tannins, but this Riserva shows excellent integration and structural management. A new benchmark wine for southern Italy has just been created.In BondSG$239.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The Barbera grape can often act like Nebbiolo showing its best results in the later vintages that end on a cool note. Those conditions are what define the beautiful 2016 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina. The wine sees 20 days of maceration with submerged cap, and the bouquet is flowing, polished and impactful as a result. Blackberry, summer cherry and plum rise from the glass. Some 18 months of oak aging adds delicate touches of spice, leather and cedar.In BondSG$203.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2010 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is an amazing wine born 430 meters above sea level from white limestone and sandy soils. The elegance expressed by the wine is unforgettable. It opens to a pretty garnet color with ethereal tones of licorice and balsam herb with sharp, delineated contours. This vineyard is usually harvested later than the others, so the growing cycle is extra long and steady. The wine is silky, finessed and profound. Drink: 2018-2040.In BondSG$783.00 -
James Suckling (98)
Extremely perfumed, showing lots of rose, lavender and dark-berry character. Full body with intense density and chewiness that gives the wine great structure. Lots of flavor and focus at the finish. Needs five to six years to finish. Drink in 2024.In BondSG$330.00 -
Vinous (96.5)
The 2016 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a vibrant, massively tannic, austere wine, the likes of which I have never tasted here before. Vertical and explosive in the glass with tons of pure power, the 2016 Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous Barolo that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit. White pepper, mint, orange peel and floral notes develop a bit later, but the 2016 remains reticent and inward, with brilliant acids and tannins that dominate today. The 2016 is a striking wine, but it is going to require considerable patience.In BondSG$523.00 -
Vinous (96)
Grasso's 2017 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is fabulous. In fact, the Gavarini is easily one of the wines of the vintage because it retains all of its classic signatures, which is also the sign of a first-class vineyard. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the Gavarini pulses with energy. Crushed red flowers, mint, chalk, white pepper, cinnamon and orange peel give the 2017 a super-classic Nebbiolo profile, as expressed in a relatively high-altitude site. The precision and finesse of the tannins - so hard to find in 2017- elevates the Gavarini into the realm of the sublime.In BondSG$344.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2018 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous, elegant wine that offers fine depth for the year. Silky and pliant, with terrific resonance, the 2018 has a lot to offer. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, blood orange and rose petal all build effortlessly in the glass. All the Gavarini signatures are present, but naturally in miniature in this vintage.In BondSG$292.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is classically austere and just gorgeous right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and fine, sculpted fruit race out of the glass. Crushed rose petal, cinnamon, orange peel and mint are all beautifully delineated. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2019 is going to need years to be at its best, yet it has that embryonic inner sweetness that characterizes the very finest wines here. Superb.In BondSG$380.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2012 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè soars out of the glass with remarkable precision, tension and energy. A brilliant wine, the 2012 is translucent, powerful and super-expressive. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and pine give the 2012 its sensual, inviting personality. Today, it is the wine's pure nuance that truly stands out. This is a superb showing from the 2012. In this tasting, the Ginestra is much more expressive than the Gavarini. This is an especially precise style for the year.In BondSG$399.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
There is slightly more structure to the 2015 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté than to the Gavarini Chiniera of the same vintage, and the only differences here are the soils and that this fruit is harvested about ten days later. It's a pretty fascinating demonstration of the power of the single vineyard. The Gavarini Chiniera parcel offers slightly sandier soils, whereas this site is composed of more clay. In rainy years, the Gavarini Chiniera vineyard drains more effectively, whereas the Ginestra's soil retains more moisture in the hot and dry vintages. As a result, in vintages such as this one, Ginestra shows a more compact nature and, in general, provides more impact and more structure. This is a very robust expression, extremely linear and tight. The Ginestra Casa Maté narrowly wins this round. It's another beautiful Barolo.In BondSG$340.00 -
Vinous (97)
Ample and creamy on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2016 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is super impressive, even in the early going. Next to the Gavarini Chiniera, the Ginestra Casa Matè is a Barolo of textural resonance and volume. Black cherry, plum and a range of balsamic notes infuse the 2016 with tons of character. The is one of the real standouts of the year.In BondSG$456.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is a dark, mysterious wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, spice, new leather and pine meld together in a super-classic expression of Ginestra. Deep, rich and enveloping, the 2017 is so impressive in the early going. Here, too, the finesse of the tannins is remarkable.In BondSG$344.00 -
Vinous (88)
The 2018 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè shows just how challenging this vintage is for sites that are moisture retentive. Large-scaled tannins and awkward contours are impossible to escape. Game, iron, licorice, smoke, tobacco and dried herbs add to a distinctly wild, feral feel.In BondSG$292.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is rich, dark and explosive. Dark-fleshed fruit, cloves menthol, licorice, scorched earth, leather and dried flowers are some of the notes that infuse the 2019 with character. Deep and resonant, with tremendous depth, the Ginestra is a wine of unbridled intensity. Swaths of tannin wrap around the huge, substantial finish. This virile, strapping Barolo is quite simply classic Ginestra.In BondSG$363.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)
The 2020 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is gorgeous. Aromatically captivating and nuanced, the 2020 impresses right out of the gate. All the classic Ginestra signatures are present. Today the tannins are pretty imposing in the positive sense, as they are present, but also impeccably balanced within the wine's frame. This is impressive stuff. The substantial, balsamic-infused Ginestra finish is captivating.In BondSG$460.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
If any Italian wine from this decade can undeniably be called a reserve, it is the 2013 Barolo Riserva Rüncot. This wine was not made in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 nor 2018. (The 2013 vintage will be released commercially in February of 2020, and this is the wine's first official review.) Gianluca Grasso holds the precious bottle I tasted from as if it were a newborn child. This vintage saw a relatively long growing season, and it offers greater fruit density, structure and acidity than the last edition that was made, the 2010. There is more vibrancy here and a true sense of energy brimming right there under the surface. The wine goes through 45 days of extended maceration post-fermentation and then a solid seven years of aging between oak and bottle. The resulting Riserva Rüncot has a stunning bouquet that is all violets and prunes, followed by a classic palate of minerals, herbs, cinnamon and delicate wafts of white truffle. This wine tells a story from nose to finish, like a flashing film reel. Fewer than 5,000 bottles were made. This is a crowning achievement for the hard-working and passionate Grasso family, led by father Elio and son Gianluca. Congratulations.In BondSG$780.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The last time we saw this iconic wine was in 2013 (a vintage that earned a perfect score). Following up on that success, the Elio Grasso 2015 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is a generous, open-knit Nebbiolo that has much of the warmth and sunshine locked deep within its core. The bouquet reveals broad brush aromas of black fruit, blackberry preserves, smoky tar and baked plum. With 7,000 bottles made, this Riserva is smooth and velvety in texture. There's no reason why it can't hold until the mid-century mark.In BondSG$689.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)
The 2016 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is quite possibly the single greatest wine I have tasted in more than twenty years I have been coming here, with the possible exception of the 1989s and 1990s. Deep and powerful, but not at all heavy, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark cherry/plum fruit, menthol, lavender, licorice and mocha saturate the palate in a Barolo of extraordinary richness and intensity. The 2016 spent four years in 100% new oak, and yet there is no trace at all of wood. Magnificent!In BondSG$782.00