Superb aromas of dark fruit such as plums and berries with hints of white truffles. Fresh roses too. Full body, velvety tannins, yet firm and full of tension. Love the lemon and orange aftertaste. Great finish. Better in 2017.

The exciting 2011 Sori San Lorenzo is a wine of enormous beauty and grace. Gaia Gaja classifies her three single vineyard Langhe Nebbiolo wines as follows: Costa Russi is “flowers;” Sori Tildin is “fruit;” and San Lorenzo is “plant” (with more structure and a more compact feel). San Lorenzo does indeed boast a strong mineral component of pencil shavings and crushed granite, followed by red cherry and soft spice. The wine’s tannins start off harder than the other wines, but soften with time. Drink: 2018-2040. - Monica Larner

Firmly structured, this opens with aromas of menthol, truffle and underbrush accompanied by a hint of graphite. The palate delivers dark cherry, notes of chocolate, coffee, black pepper, grilled herb and licorice alongside refined but clenched tannins that need time to soften and unwind. It's still young and austere but it should blossom into a beauty. Drink 2018–2041. KERIN O’KEEFE

Shows the breadth of the vintage, but also freshness and subtle cherry and plum flavors amid the menthol, mocha and spice notes. This turns more elegant and refined on the finish, showing fine equilibrium and length, with a sandalwood aftertaste. Best from 2017 through 2028. From Italy. — B.S.