A vertiginous tight-rope walk between savory and sweet on the nose, from white tea leaf to tart blackberries to bing cherries to damp earth and gunpowder on the nose somersaults into ripe blackberries, black cherries...

The most impressive aspect of the Castello della Sala ethos is its ability to reinvent itself. This latest edition of Umbria's headline white is a true delight. Renzo Cotarella and his team have created an Italian...

Amazing aromas of honeysuckle, grapefruit, heather, rosemary, Meyer lemon and hints of blanched almonds. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a creamy texture and nougat flavors, as well as esters and lavender honey. Hint of...

95+ The 2021 I Sodi di San Niccolò is a powerhouse. Many recent vintages have been showier, but not the 2021. It's a wine that is going to require many years to shed its baby fat. Dark fruit, lavender, rose petal, menthol...

Very ripe and perfumed on the nose, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is a dark red/ruby color and offers notes of baked berries, candied flowers, sappy herbs, and candied cherries. Full-bodied, it's ripe without...

The 2020 Cepparello is a total stunner, just as it was last year. Deeply colored, layered and explosive in the glass, the 2020 possesses striking textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum...

Rich and supple, evoking cherry, blackberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors. The dense, dusty tannins emerge as this builds to the long, lively finish, where a light astringency lingers. A bit rustic. Best from...

Full of savory, umami flavors, this red evokes earth, leather, sweet spice, cherry, plum and Szechuan peppercorn notes. Firm and dry, with broad tannins and a lingering kernel of cherry. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and...

The aromas of black currants, graphite, lavender and violets are gorgeous. Black olives and walnuts, too. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins, a racy texture and small black berry-like flavors. Iron undertones as well...

Blueberry, blackberry and chocolate aromas yet subtle and perfumed. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and lots of structure. Shows depth and has a purpose. Needs time to come together soon. Try after 2027.

Lush and powerful, yet with lively underlying acidity, this red evokes black cherry, blackberry, mineral and wild herb flavors, all wrapped in an embrace of vanilla and toasty oak. Shuts down on the finish, where the...

The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is entirely Sangiovese from Radda and was raised for two years in oak casks. It opens to a polished yet pure profile with aromas of lavender, grenadine, sweet sage, and fresh leather. It...

The pedigree and purity of this red are evident immediately from its black currant, blackberry, pomegranate, violet and wild herb aromas. Saturated with red and black fruit and picking up licorice and mineral elements...

This is an austere wine that’s complex and multilayered, with aromas of fresh red currants, red cherries, violets and a hint of licorice. Graphite dominates the flavors, with a full body, firm velvety tannins and long...

Made with Merlot and a tiny part Alicante, the Tenuta degli Dei 2022 Le Redini shows a dry delivery that is reinforced by dusty tannins and desiccated fruit tones of currant and Fig Newtons. The effect is soft and...

2017 was infamous in much of Italy for its hot and dry conditions, and the vines here did not miss out. 'It was hotter in 2022,' says Giovanni Mazzei, 'but there was less hydric stress'. The balsamic stamp of so many...

Packed with ripe, juicy cherry, blackberry, pomegranate and floral aromas and flavors, this red is supple and beautifully integrated. Earth, iron and tobacco accents add detail as this winds down on the lazy, resonant...

New leather, car tire and number 2 pencil mark a savory nose, with violets and crushed rocks. Sweet dark berries and dark chocolate give sweetness to a palate that's still earthy, meaty and savory, with toothsome tannins...

Macerated cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit is shaded by mint, iron and spicy oak in this dense, linear red. Quickly takes on the character of its chewy tannins, yet the ripe fruit lingers. Though balanced and...

This red is a bit shy today, revealing a core of ripe cherry, strawberry, rose and iron flavors backed by vivid acidity. Its tannins are refined and well-integrated, while the finish is super long, salty and intense. Best...

The 2021 Barbaresco is impressive. Intensely aromatic and explosive, the straight Barbaresco shows why 2021 is such a pedigreed vintage. Spice, lavender, sage and mint meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit. A gorgeous...

The Tenuta degli Dei 2021 Cavalli is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 35% Petit Verdot aged in both barrique and tonneaux for 18 months, followed by a brief time in cement. This is an inky dark...

Mineral and tangy nose with a minty edge to the red berries and oranges. Lightly mossy and decadent, with an impressive mineral quality on the linear, medium-bodied palate. Really refined and composed with a long, juicy...

Intense black cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this taut, well-delineated red. Securely bound by the resonant structure, its refined tannins are assertive and beautifully...

A core of cherry and plum leads off, accented with vanilla, earth, eucalyptus and iron notes. Muscular, with an expansive finish accentuating the tannins. Enjoy this on the earlier side. Best from 2027 through 2038.

The organic and biodynamic Caiarossa 2021 Caiarossa is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Grenache, in descending order of importance. It shows a velvety and darkly...

Though on the quiet side today, this Barolo features aromas and flavors of cherry, black currant, violet, mineral and wild herbs. Perfectly in balance with the bright acidity and refined tannins, leaving a long, detailed...

This shows intensity and richness on the nose with aromas of cassis, crushed blackberries and hints of cedar, tobacco, violets and graphite. It’s structured and focused on the palate, with a medium to full body. It shows...