Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2020
The 2020 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is widely regarded as one of the most expressive and charming recent vintages from the estate. It shows a lifted, aromatic profile with bright red‑fruit tones—cherry, strawberry, raspberry—layered with floral notes, sweet spice and a touch of balsamic. The warmth of the year gives it an open, perfumed nose and a palate that feels generous without losing the freshness that defines good Brunello.
On the palate, the wine is supple and elegant, with silky tannins, lively acidity and a rounded texture that makes it far more approachable in its youth than the more structured 2019. Subtle oak, hints of tobacco and dried herbs add complexity, while the finish is long and polished. Overall, the 2020 vintage delivers a balance of immediacy and ageing potential, offering both early drinking pleasure and the structure to evolve gracefully over the next decade.
Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021
Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021
Lucente 2021 shows a brilliant ruby red color. The nose is rich in black fruits such as blueberries and blackberries, accompanied by a light balsamic and pan brioché note. The palate is soft supported by a nice freshness, with enveloping tannins and a long fruity aftertaste.
91 WinesCritic
Petrolo Torrione 2022
This wine is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Petrolo 2022 Torrione reveals a luminous ruby tinge and follows through with bold cherry, blackcurrant and crushed rose. This vintage brings forth more textural heft in terms of mouthfeel, and it feels a little richer on the finish. You get excellent quality at a still-affordable price.” Monica Larner, WINE ADVOCATE 94 points
“The 2022 Torrione is a bold, fruity wine with terrific up-front intensity and tons of charm. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, cinnamon, new leather and cedar fill out the layers. This approachable, juicy Torrione is a delight.” – Antonio Galloni, VINOUS 93 points
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Cannubi 2021
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Cannubi 2021
The wine is described as elegant rather than overtly muscular — refinement and finesse are emphasized (rather than sheer power).
Aromatic complexity is strong: violets, red cherries, strawberry/raspberry, herbs and forest floor/earth.
Texture is composed of ripe yet structured tannins, good acidity and a “chiseled” build that signals long-term potential.
Several critics highlight a “nervous energy” or tension in the finish — a sign of ageworthy Nebbiolo from a top Crus like Cannubi.
The finish is firm: with grip, defined tannins, mineral/earthy undertones, citrus/blood-orange lift.
James Suckling: 95 pts — “A restrained Barolo with red currants, red cherries, bright violets and a balsamic touch on the nose. More elegant than powerful… medium- to full-bodied with thick yet ripe tannins, crisp acidity and cherry stones in the finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.”
Jeb Dunnuck: 95 pts — “Lovely floral and fruity perfume with raspberry liqueur, wild strawberries, fresh violets, candied licorice… moves to a juicy, somewhat approachable feel then a more compact structure and energy through the mid-palate and finish. Refreshing acidity, well-defined ripe tannins, and a nice element of nervous energy … aging ability unmistakable.”
Kerin O’Keefe: 95 pts — “Rose, camphor, forest floor and spice aromas shape the fragrant nose… full-bodied, ripe Morello cherry, strawberry compote, blood orange and star anise… taut, close-grained tannins give the finish grip. Give this time to fully unwind. Drink 2031-?.”
Vinous (Antonio Galloni): 95 pts — “Aromatic and lifted, 2021 is classic Cannubi. Bright acids cut through a core of sweet red-toned fruit, mint, orange peel, cinnamon and new leather. This chiseled, nuanced Barolo is a winner.”
Decanter: 94 pts — “Based in Monforte d’Alba but bottled from the family’s 0.5ha slice in Cannubi Boschis… Striking scents of rhubarb compote, cherry bark, toasted hazelnut and warm, dusty earth. Full, dense and even a bit chewy… tannins build with dry, sandy texture, crisp citrus-acid finish. Certainly requires cellaring.”
Petrolo Galatrona 2022
Petrolo Galatrona 2022 is a 100% Merlot from Tuscany, Italy, noted for its attractive and approachable style. It is a medium- to full-bodied wine with tasting notes of dark berries, plum, lavender, spice, and hints of orange peel. The vintage is praised for its freshness, with fine tannins and a long finish, although some critics note it may lack the depth of top vintages.
Varietal: 100% Merlot
James Suckling, 100 points
“The floral aromas are spellbinding, with violets, lilacs, orange peel, raspberries, rose petals, and some oranges. It’s medium- to full-bodied with crunchy and open-grain tannins that are creamy and caressing. It’s endless in the finish. Crunchy and energetic. A wine that is thoughtful and gives you such great pleasure. Such purity. It’s like eating perfectly ripened grape must. Pure Merlot. Drinkable in many ways, but will come together beautifully. A new reference point for Merlot in Italy. Drink after 2028.”
Tignanello 2022
Tignanello 2022 a flagship wine from Antinori is intensely ruby red in color with purple hues. The wine opens impressively with aromas of cherries, ripe black cherries and pomegranate seeds with delicate notes of violets that lead to fresh balsamic hints. The bouquet is completed by elegant hints of vanilla and cotton candy. Supple savory tannins impart a dynamic impact on the palate, dense yet fresh. The wine closes with a lengthy finish that echoes aromas perceived on the nose.
✅ Critical Scores & Highlights
James Suckling gives it 96 points, commenting:
“There’s extraordinary energy in this wine. It displays a dark nose of black cherries, bramble fruit, violets, forest, licorice, bark, carob and leather. Density and tension dominate the full-bodied palate, with firm, velvety tannins. It’s slightly austere in the finish at the moment, yet it’s crunchy and full of potential. Try from 2026.”
Vinous (Antonio Galloni) awards 95 points, stating:
“The 2022 Tignanello is such an elegant, poised wine. Brisk acids cut through a core of red Sangiovese fruit. Crushed flowers, mint, cinnamon, rose petal and a kiss of French oak appear later, adding notable brightness. The 2022 is a decidedly mid-weight Tignanello, but all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout.”
Falstaff gives it 96 points, with tasting notes mentioning rich nose of blackberry, blueberry, marjoram and some mint, precise tannins and density.
Wine Spectator gives around 94 points, describing it as “fresh, elegant and long… give this a year or two to integrate.”
Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2019
Tasting Notes
Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino is ruby red in color. The nose presents a complex bouquet of cherries, black cherries and blood oranges that follows over to notes of violets, vanilla, and light balsamic aromas. The palate is fresh, savory with silky, elegant tannins. The long, persistent finish is defined by notes of citrus fruit, delicate spicy aromas and hints of vanilla.
🍒 Natalie MacLean – 96 Points
She calls it “complex and vibrant,” crafted from sustainably grown Sangiovese:
Aromas: Bright cherry, rose petal, wild herbs, bramble leaf, and mint
Palate: Rich, meaty texture with a long, satisfying finish
Pairings: Tagliata steak, wild boar ragù, roast lamb, hard cheeses
She notes it’s enjoyable now but will evolve beautifully through 2034.
Elena Walch Lagrein Alto Adige 2024
Lagrein is the noteworthy red grape of the Sudturol. A late ripeing variety comparable to Teroldego and related to Syrah, this is dark and spicy yet with wonderful youthful freshness. The team at Elena Walch mature the wine in large wooden barrels to help soften out the graphite like tannins and spice up the plummy fruit. Lots of bramble nuance alonside cocoa and smoke while the palate has a muscular earthiness similar to Cornas Syrah of Spanish Monastrell.
Fenocchio Langhe Nebbiolo 2023
Pio Cesare – Barbera d’Alba Doc “Fides” Vigna Mosconi 2019
Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2021
Morellino di Scansano Riserva 2021
Deep and bright ruby. Olfactory impact of blackberry and blueberry jam, blackcurrant and mint; it opens on scents of Mediterranean scrub, blood orange, tobacco and black pepper. The entry into the mouth is fresh and tasty; it shows a dynamic structure, imbued with a beautiful freshness in which the fine tannic texture constitutes an excellent base for evolving for a long time in the bottle. Very persistent on citrus notes.
Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore 2019
Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore 2019
A heady perfume of meaty red fruit and spice rises from the glass on the bouquet. Rich and mouth-filling on the palate, a real vino di piacere with ripe red and black, spicy fruit vying for attention, brought together by rapier-like acidity and meltingly fine tannins. This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese blend from Bolgheri is not trying to be Sassicaia nor Ornellaia; it’s very much its own wine, more akin to Tignanello, but different again from the wine from Chianti Classico. It’s a delightful wine—delicious now but capable of up to a decade’s cellaring.
Drink now to 2030
