Wine from Italy

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: I was lucky to taste two Riservas, side by side, from the 2013 and 2014 vintages. The Masciarelli 2013 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Villa Gemma is a gorgeous wine with a real sense of precision and balance. Next to the...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: This is another fantastic white and continues to be one of the best from Tuscany. It’s so perfumed with sliced apples, pears and kiwis, as well as cream, hot stone and sea. Granite. Full-bodied yet energetic and layered...

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Beautiful aromas of crushed berries and violets follow through to a medium-to full-bodied palate with integrated tannins. A fresh and clean finish. Shows hints of hazelnuts and walnuts, too. Delicious to drink already...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Delicate floral and red fruit aromas and flavors peek through the eucalyptus, tar and tobacco notes and muscular profile of this red, though it will take some time for them to emerge and occupy center stage. This version...

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: So many spices line the nose here including cinnamon, cardamom, aniseed and walnuts. But there’s no shortage of red plums and dried cherries either. Balanced and suave, this is a sophisticated Brunello with a sleek frame...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Love the aromas of plums, cherries and currants with hints of flowers and undertones of dried flowers. Full body, round and silky tannins and fresh and bright finish. A blend of sangiovese, merlot and cabernet sauvignon...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Beautiful aromas of sliced plums, spice and hints of dried flowers. Medium to full body, bright and tangy acidity and a long and vivid finish. Lovely balance and energy. Drink now or hold.

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: A dense and rich Brunello with lots of ripe fruit, spices and hints of new wood. Full-bodied, chewy and rich. A muscular wine that needs time to come together. Better after 2022.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a direct and powerful wine from a hot vintage. Dark fruit aromas segue to candied cherry, moist pipe tobacco, balsam herb and dark granite stone. In the mouth, this is a...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The Mazzei family was one of the first and most enthusiastic advocates of the Gran Selezione movement. Their 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello Fonterutoli is a crowning achievement for this storied Chianti...

Vinous, 94 points: The 2012 Lessona Riserva is ample, creamy and voluptuous, and yet it also avoids some of the excess heaviness and ripeness found in other wines of the year. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, dried flowers and anise...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2014 Sammarco was bottled in August and will be released in January 2019. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese. At this young stage, the wine already offers an impressive array of complex...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: The power but also vibrancy of the fruit on the nose is very impressive. Dark plums, incense, tar, dried meat and elderberry compote are out in full force. The soft fruit would be enough in itself, but its enveloped in...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Ripe and spicy, featuring cherry, plum, almond and earth flavors. As this plays out on the finish, leather and tobacco notes join the party and the well-integrated structure provides ample support. Best from 2021 through...

Wine Spectator, 89 points: This red is dense with cherry, strawberry and floral notes, building to a juicy finish. The structure is there too, but this is more about the fruit. Sangiovese and Colorino. Drink now through 2023. 6,983 cases made. –BS