News — Italy

Cult Mountain Nebbiolo
2017 Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca

In short, Carema is an alpine Nebbiolo of breathtaking grace.

"The 2013 simply has it all" -Antonio Galloni
2013 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo

Don't Miss Under-The-Radar Barolo Traditionalist
2016 Cascina Fontana Barolo del Comune di Castiglione Falletto

Italy 1982-2019

Castell'in Villa, Conterno, Ferrando, Montevertine, Roagna, Valentini & More

Stand Alone Barbera:
2018 Castello di Verduno Barbera d'Alba Bricco del Cuculo

Even though much of the trip was spent tasting the great 2016 Barolos and Barbarescos, the 2018 Barbera Bricco del Cuculo was the revelation of my tastings. I immediately asked the importer how much I could buy. 

"A wine of total finesse" - Antonio Galloni
2016 Poderi Colla Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose

Barolo at an Accessible Price Point

Wine of the Year #1: Ian's Pick
2014 Roagna Barbaresco Albesani

"Lovely classic Brunello" - 2013 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino

Val di Suga drives homes what's essential about Brunello.

Red Earth, Untamed Brilliance:
2016 Zidarich Teran

In his hands, the obscure, complicated, and somewhat unruly grape reaches a level that's without peer. There's nothing quite like Teran and Zidarch elevates the seriously noteworthy grape.

Bea Grand Cru:
2012 Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Vigneto Cerrete

Bea's importer, Neal Rosenthal, calls Cerrete: "Perhaps the greatest combination of height and exposition in the appellation."

"What a wine!"
2016 Brovia Barolo Brea - Ca' Mia

In recent vintages Brovia established themselves as one of the great traditional estates of Piedmont. In the 2016, they leaped into an even greater level of quality. The wines are more refined, purer, and more detailed.

"Some of the most viscerally thrilling, breathtaking wines I have ever tasted here, or anywhere"
2017 Montevertine Rosso di Toscano

While Le Pergole Torte is the pinnacle of the estate, the Rosso di Toscano represents incredible value. It's one of the smartest buys that we know and there are vintages where the gap between Pergole Torte and the Montevertine bottling narrows considerably. The 2017 is such a year. 

"Like stepping back into Piedmont's past"
2016 Serafino Rivella Barbaresco Montestefano

The wines of Serafino Rivella possess such honesty and precision that it's hard not to be wowed by them. There's something mysterious and special about the wine. They have plenty of finesse and feel devoid of artifice. 

"Brovia's 2016s are all finesse" Part Two
2016 Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

The 2016 vintage represents a high point for this great traditionalist. Just like the 2016 normale, the 2016 Garblèt Sué is one of the best examples of the wine that we've tasted. 

Magnificence in Montefalco:
2015 Bea Montefalco Rosso Riserva "Pipparello"

The wines of Bea are unforgettable.

There's a wildness to them and yet something undeniably noble about the wines as well.  It's a combination that few wines are able to achieve, and it is seriously compelling. 

"One of Italy’s most iconic producers"
2015 Valentini Trebbiano D'Abruzzo

Valentini's Trebbiano is a wine that makes its own category.

It's not Trebbiano, it's Valentini's Trebbiano.

Barbaresco Crown-Jewel:
2016 Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Rabajà

Rabajà is one of Barbaresco's crown jewels.

It is a dazzling wine. The site produces wines of impressive power, but that's only part of the story. Rabajà is above all about completeness and elegance.

The Don't Miss 2016 Barolo:
2016 Oddero Barolo Villero

I tasted the 2016 Villero during my visit to Piedmont last fall and was blown away. Tasting through the 2016 Barolos and Barbarescos really drove home what an important vintage it is. Even in the context of a great vintage, Oddero's Villero left a deep impression. 

"My answer is: Carema" Part II:
2016 Ferrando Carema Etichetta Nera

Earlier this week, we offered Ferrando's 2016 Etichetta Bianca. Today, we return with the much more limited Etichetta Nera.

Compared to Etichetta Bianca, Etichetta Nera is richer, denser, more masculine, and intense. It’s a powerhouse wine, but with breathtaking finesse.

Bartolo Mascarello:
From Freisa to Barolo in Magnum

The Mascarello estate makes some of the most soulful and compelling wines anywhere.

Today, we're happy to pay tribute to Mascarello with an offer that covers three vintages of their Barolo, including 2010 and 2013, and their Freisa, Dolcetto, and Barbera. 

"My answer is: Carema"
2016 Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca

Carema is alpine Nebbiolo of breathtaking grace.

For decades, Ferrando's Carema has been the benchmark for the beauty and profundity that Nebbiolo achieves in the northern extremes.

Piedmont Rarity:
2018 Giuseppe Rinaldi Langhe Nebbiolo

The wine world has become obsessed with Rinaldi's soulful, finessed, and old school style.

It's become nearly impossible to find the wines in quantity. Today, I'm happy to offer the 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo, one of the hardest wines in the lineup to find.

Real Deal Sangiovese:
2017 Podere le Boncie Rosso di Toscana Le Trame

Boncie is producing some of our favorite expressions of Sangiovese.

Every time we open a bottle of the Le Trame, we're blown away.

The Le Trame is a seriously compelling, multifaceted, and personality-filled bottle. In short, Le Trame is the real deal, a bold example of how great Sangiovese from Chianti Classico can be. 

"The 2015 is utterly captivating." - Lowest Price:
2015 Antinori Tignanello

Since its first vintage in 1971, Tignanello has turned out no shortage of stunning wines. No matter how you cut it, the 2015 stands out as one of the greats.