Italian Wine

Winemaker Description 

Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino might be considered Brunello's younger sibling. Made from 100% select Sangiovese clones, Rosso di Montalcino offers rich, forward fruit flavors in a well-structured wine with supple tannins and good acidity for dining.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | Fern and sage-like, restrained herbaceous character with Mirabelle fruit. Light body with crisp acidity and a silky texture. Savory, very well integrated and persistent. Very good quality/price ratio.

Producer Description 

A Vermentino of noble character with crispy peel and lively acidity. On the nose it is intense, with marked citrus and aromatic herbs. On the palate it is fresh, sapid, persistent, and with a pleasant fruity aftertaste.

Goes well with all fish, particularly with antipasti, and is ideal as an aperitif.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Vinous 89 Points | The 2021 Montecucco Rosso Rigoleto is dark and spicy, with suggestions of clove and cinnamon givig way to rich cherry sauce and hints of sweet sage. This is silky in feel, with juicy acidity and ripe red fruits that flow effortlessly across the palate. It leaves a licorice tinge to linger under violet inner florals, finishing fresh, youthfully tense and with medium length. 

Winemaker Description 

A love for Tuscany and a strong passion for wines led Claudio Tipa and his sister Maria Iris Bertarelli to Montecucco’s hills, where in 1999 they acquired and restored the ColleMassari castle, a fortress from the 13th century that was originally homestead of area nobility, along with its vineyards. Today the estate has a total surface of 1.200 hectares, of which 120 hectares are vineyards and nearly 90 hectares of olive groves (three trees are even more than 900 years old). 

The vines on the Montecucco hill are the oldest Sangiovese vines of the DOCG. A smooth and charming wine, this Sangiovese blend has delightful red berries notes and a delicate spicy touch of black pepper. Ready to drink wine with an easy approach, this is a ripe and very well balanced expression of this special part of the South of Tuscany.

A blend of organically grown Sangiovese, Viliegiolo and Montepulciano.

Winemaker Notes 

"Maraschino cherry, pomegranate, smoked meat, earth and rosemary flavors highlight this sleek red, which is defined by vivid acidity and solid tannins, with a dry, sinewy finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037. 3,000 cases made, 1,250 cases imported."

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 92 Points | A dense, velvety and delicious Chianti Classico showing aromas of Morello cherries, wild berries and dried flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Plenty of texture, with a core of berries funneling through. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Maraschino cherry, pomegranate, smoked meat, earth and rosemary flavors highlight this sleek red, which is defined by vivid acidity and solid tannins, with a dry, sinewy finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037.  - Wine Spectator 91

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 91 Points | The 2021 Chianti Classico is an elegant, gracious wine. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, tobacco, cinnamon and dried flowers all take shape in a decidedly delicate, understated wine from Rampolla. A model of elegance and finesse, the 2021 is showing beautifully today. There is perhaps just a touch of VA in the bouquet, but it is not especially evident. The blend is 80% Sangiovese, 16% Merlot and a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sangiovese was aged in cask, while the French varieties were raised in smaller French barrels.

Winemaker Description 

Castello dei Rampolla d'Alceo is a premium, proprietary blend of Cabernet and Petit Verdot grapes exclusively from the renowned Panzano in Chianti region of Tuscany. This organic and biodynamic red is sure to tantalize your taste buds with its complex bouquet and flavor profile.

Expert Reviews - VIntage 2009

Vinous 96 Points | The 2009 d'Alceo comes across as much more classic in style and structure than the 2008. According to Luca di Napoli, the trick to 2009 was harvesting on the early side. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, plums, mint and licorice all take shape in the glass Over the last few months, the 2009 d'Alceo has softened a bit, releasing expressive, floral aromatics, brighter shades of fruit and striking inner perfume, but it remains quite vibrant in the context of a vintage in which so many wines are quite a bit riper in style. The 2009 is a wonderfully deep, resonant d'Alceo that should offer a wide drinking window starting in a few years. It certainly looks like Rampolla nailed the vintage.  Drinking 2019 - 2039.

Antonio Galloni, 96+ | My absolute favorite wine of 2022 was a bottle of the Castello dei Rampolla 2006 d'Alceo that I had the good fortune to drink at dinner during a work event in Tuscany last year. I remember the wine vividly, and if I were to review it again, it would certainly merit a perfect score. With that profound inspiration in mind, I feel especially optimistic toward this outstanding group of new releases from Maurizia di Napoli and her talented team. This historic estate has farmed according to organic and biodynamic methods since 1994, making it one of the first in Italy to do so. In truth, I have found some inconsistencies along the way over the many years I have reviewed and adored these wines. Such is the magic of artisanal winemaking. But thanks to that memory of that 2006 d'Alceo, I remain in awe of Castello dei Rampolla today. 

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby in color with garnet lights that hint at the wine's extended barrel aging, Castello di Bossi Gran Selezione is explosive in its intensity and yet the wine manages an astounding complexity and finesse. Aromas of rich black cherry and plum integrate well with cedar, sweet cooking spices, chocolate and saddle leather. On the palate the wine is fleshy and dense. The finish achieves great balance and very pronounced length. This is a wine that will age with grace for many years.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 96 Points | There’s purity to the cherry, strawberry, rose, mineral and herb aromas and flavors in this solidly built red, which shows excellent balance and length. The muscular finish begs for more time for the beautiful fruit to assimilate. 

Wine Advocate 94 Points | You drive through a postcard-perfect panorama of cypress-lined roads and sun-lit farmhouses as you approach the tiny hamlet of Bossi on the southern side of the appellation. The organic Castello di Bossi 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione reveals a dark core of black fruit that is surrounded by flinty mineral, spice and black licorice. This wine should become even silkier and softer with more bottle age. This 20,000-bottle release will hit the market this fall."

James Suckling 94 Points | Lots of blackberry, black-cherry and lavender aromas with some sage. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Linear and polished red.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Bossi is laced with dark red cherry, incense, tobacco, game, spice and licorice. Dense and a bit wild, the 2019 has plenty of personality. This really needs quite a bit of air to emerge, but there is plenty of stuffing there.

Winemaker Description 

Deep, ruby-red in color, this Chianti Classico offers aromas of ripe cherries and red plums, with subtle notes of toasted vanilla beans and purple flowers. On the palate, the wine displays a superbly structured character with bright acidity and a pleasantly savory finish.

Pair this wine with grilled steak tips and ratatouille. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points | A very pretty Chianti classico with dried cherries, orange peel, cedar, white truffles, and chalk. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy fruit, and flavorful finish. Hints of orange peel at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink now and enjoy.

Winemaker Description

This riserva has a luminous ruby red color. Appealing aromas of dark cherries, plums, sweet spice, violets, vanilla and hints of dark chocolate and menthol emerge on the nose. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied but smooth with an almost creamy mouthfeel. Tannins are well integrated with the alcohol, and lead to a subtly sweet, silky finish.

Pair this wine with Korean short ribs, ragù sauces, gnocchi with roasted rabbit, and beef negimaki.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 97 Points | Very perfumed with flowers and sandalwood. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins that are so long and intense. This will compete with top Brunellos. Linear and driven at the end.

Decanter 93 Points | Selected from the estate’s Berardo vineyard, at an average altitude of 350 metres. The 35-hectare site is characterised by calcareous clay loam. The wine exudes seductive nuances of dusty earth, forest undergrowth and tobacco. Expansive and savoury, the dark fruited palate flaunts mellowed black currant and plum suffused with iron and leather. The tannins are grainy yet yielding, and a core of zesty acidity leads to a long, appetising finish. This begs for a hearty mushroom-based pasta dish.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | Opening to medium-dark concentration, the organic Castello di Bossi 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo offers a velvet-like texture with substantial aromas of dark plum and sweet cherry and moderate tones of earth and spice that are expertly woven within the wine's fine texture. This Riserva offers good tannic structure with fine, powdery sensations to close.

Vinous 90 Points | The 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo offers up scents of plum, blackberry, dried herbs, leather, cedar, tobacco and licorice. This virile Riserva captures plenty of the earthy, somber power often found in wines from Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Winemaker Description 

One of the oldest labels in Italy and the winery’s most important production, testament to the Bianchi family's philosophy regarding Sangiovese.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2019

James Suckling 94 Points | Crushed stones with black cherries and fresh flowers. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a flavorful finish. Still so young and fruity with wonderful energy. Give it another two or three years, if you can bear to wait.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is 90% Sangiovese and the rest Canaiolo and Colorino, raised only in used barrique and large cask. It pours a pure ruby and has floral and herbal aromas of cherry candy, black raspberry, forest herbs, tomato leaf, and dried roses. It is medium to full bodied, with good concentration, fine tannins, and a long, clean finish, and it is savory with dried herbs, oregano, dried cherry, salty earth, and an angular structure.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The Riservas from across the appellation are showing very well in 2019. This wine is no exception. The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (which is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Colorino aged in different-sized oak barrels for up to 18 months) offers pretty richness and concentration. The wine's ample volume is fleshed out with dark fruit, spice and blue flower. It should be fun to try this wine in five years' time, when it loses its baby fat. Happily, production is very generous, with 200,000 bottles made.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is a dark, brooding wine. Black cherry, incense, tobacco, menthol, licorice, scorched earth and savory undertones all take shape in the glass. There's real intensity here, not to mention tons of character. There are many beautiful wines in this range, but for the money, it is pretty hard to beat this Riserva.

Wine Spectator 91 Points | A sleek, tightly wound red, with black cherry and blackberry fruit shaded by iron, herbs and tobacco. Linear in profile and vibrant, with a long, slightly chewy finish. Best from 2024 through 2037.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 90 Points | The organic Volpaia 2020 Balifico is an IGT blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon is impossible to miss, as this wine is very driven by aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and garden herb that are linked to that varietal. This is a medium to full-bodied red blend that also delivers the dusty crushed stone aromas that I associate with Chianti Classico.

James Suckling 93 Points | Very pretty and floral aromas with orange blossom and currant character. Very attractive purity of fruit. It’s medium-bodied with polished and fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Tangy acidity. From organically grown grapes. Give it a year or two more but already gorgeous. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Loaded with black cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors, this red is also firmly structured. Shows persistent fruit through the lingering aftertaste, where elements of earth and Tuscan scrub emerge. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A racy version, this boasts black cherry, blueberry, violet and iron flavors. A firm line of tannins works in concert with the acidity, while flashes of Mediterranean scrub peek through. Mouthwatering finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2032.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A bright ruby color, the 2021 Chianti Classico is expressive on opening with aromas of grenadine, candied red flowers, orange peel, and wet stones. Medium-bodied, it’s linear and graceful, with fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a clean finish. A very charming wine, it’s prime for drinking over the next few years.

Winemaker Description 

The Chianti Classico has a vivid ruby color and a strong nose of fresh red fruit with hints of cherry. This is a well-structured wine with a fruity finish.

Winemaker Description

The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This is a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 94 Points | Attractive aromas of ripe cherries, dried strawberries, dried orange peel, spices and crushed stones, following through to a medium to full body with compact tannins that are firm and finely grained. Smooth and textured with vivid fruit underneath and a lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.(2020). 

Robert Parker 93 Points | In the bottle with the black label, the organic 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva offers ripe fruit with measured intensity that never feels heavy or overdone. Achieving this level of balance is not easy in a hot growing season such as this. This wine is characterized by an especially linear and direct personality that pushes it over the palate with good momentum. (2020).

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | A rich ruby color, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva is a selection from the best vineyards, aged for two years. The nose opens to ripe and polished aromas of toasted cedar, cherry lozenge, menthol, and spiced orange peel. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe tannins that fold into a more mineral texture, with mouthwatering stony earth and a rather long, clean finish.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A juicy yet firmly structured red highlighted by bright cherry and blackberry fruit. Reveals dense tannins that inform the finish, where accents of earth and mineral linger. Balanced in a youthful, exuberant way. Best from 2025 through 2039.

Winemaker Description 

Ruby-garnet color. Very vibrant, well-balanced aromas with hints of Mediterranean scrubland and eucalyptus, and nuances of black berry fruit and pipe tobacco. The palate shows full, tangy, mineral flavor, velvety though, rounded and beautifully structured.

Perfect with stewed horsemeat in sauce; highly recommended with pasta (sagne ‘ncannulate), meatballs with sauce, chick pea soup, roasted or stewed red meats (lamb and goat).

Winemaker Description

Broad, ripe black fruit and spice aromas, with notes of pepper, toasty vanilla and Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, the wine has a robust, concentrated character, a firm structure, and small black fruit and licorice notes on the aftertaste.

“Piluna” translates into “pot of clay” or an ancient container used to store water or wine.
Terroir: This 100% Primitivo is grown from vineyards surrounding the ancient Castello Monaci estate. Soils are a blend of dry clay, volcanic gravel and limestone. Vines are forced deep in search of water, leading to low yields and rich, fragrant wines.

Vinification: Harvest is done by hand prior to dawn to preserve sugar levels and avoid the hot sunlight. The grapes are vinified in small stainless steel tanks prior to 6 months of aging in 75% stainless steel and 25% 2nd and 3rd use French oak. 300,000 bottles produced. 

Expert Rating - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | Sour cherries, sultanas, dried oranges and sweet spices on the nose, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, jammy and lightly sweet-sour palate. Ripe tannins. 

Dark ruby colored with intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum and violets with a lovely earthy complexity. Full bodied in the mouth with a rich texture, supple tannins and a long persistent finish. Perfect for lamb chops, steak and roasted veggies. Made from organically grown grapes.

Winemaker Description

Light pink evanescent froth and fine and persistent perlage. The color is light red with violet hues, the perfume of flowers (violets) and red fruits is ample and intense, and the flavor is full and dry with a fruity aroma and an engaging slightly acidulous aftertaste.

Winemaker Description 

The froth is evanescent with a violet color and continuous perlage. Its color is a brilliant ruby red color, the perfume is fruity with flowery notes and the taste is sweet and harmonious. 

Lambrusco, a lightly sparkling, slightly sweet red wine is served well-chilled, and so is a godsend in the summer, when simpler fare, especially grilled or cured meats, call for a similarly light-hearted wine.

Lambrusco makes an exceptional, if unexpected, match with fiery hot-and-spicy dishes because its bubbly nature and slight sweetness make it work more like beer than wine to quench the flames. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

100% Pinot Grigio - With light refreshing flavors of citrus and green apple, it’s no surprise that it comes from the #1 Italian Wine in America.

A wonderful aperitif and equally splendid with pasta in cream sauces, risottos, veal, chicken and fresh seafood dishes.

Winemaker Description 

Dry, light and crisp, and highly versatile, Cavit Pinot Grigio is a wonderful aperitif and equally splendid with pasta in cream sauces, risottos, veal, chicken and fresh seafood dishes. Enjoy well chilled.

Winemaker Description

For this wine Cecchi has focused on its immediacy, here Sangiovese is interpreted with a moderate structure and pleasant crispness.

Winemaker Description 

It is the perfect glass for light and medium-bodied white wines; these wines do not require prolonged contact with oxygen to best enhance their bouquet. Indeed, a slightly narrower opening of the glass is recommended: this helps the concentration and the direction of the aromas towards the nose. In this way, the perception of the aromas is increased, enhancing the sensations.

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Bernardot is dark and austere with wonderful nuances of ripe red fruit. Tannins are very silky and delicate in this 2019, showing a lot of finesse, typical from the Barbaresco area. It’s an elegant and very expressive Barbaresco. One of the favorite vineyards of winemaker Alessandro Ceretto.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate Monica Larner 95 Points writes | The organic Ceretto 2019 Barbaresco Bernadot shows a broader character and a more open-knit personality compared to the Asili. There is a lot of dark fruit, spice, truffle and earth to frame the medium-build of this elegant wine.  (2019).

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A bright red, delivering a core of cherry and raspberry fruit supported by earth, mineral and wild herbs. Intense, complex and dense, this is solidly built and persists with an aftertaste of dark fruit, mineral and spice. Best from 2025. (2019).

Producer Description 

Vermouth di Torino GI, features only Italian wines enriched with a botanical bouquet featuring Artemisia (wormwood) from Piedmont.

Colour Reddish brown with amber reflections

Nose Complex spiced, wood, and root notes open to smooth vanilla, dried fruit (especially, fig) and floral wormwood signature.

Taste On the palate, dried fig opens to spiced (cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon) and wood (roots & barks such as liquorice), rounded with vanilla and Alpine flowers. Mouth-warming, with long bittersweet finish, typical of Piedmont wormwood, and amber resin memories. 

Expert Review

Decanter 91 Points | The oldest producer in Emilia, Cleto Chiarli is better known for producing high-quality Lambrusco Secco, but this Grasparossa Amabile is just as captivating. Round and creamy but not cloying, touches of pepper and cinnamon complicate cherry jam flavours. Excellent acidity keeps the residual sugar in balance, underpinning a savoury and slightly grippy finish.

Winemaker Description 

A semi-sweet wine of an intense red color. The wine has very fruity aromas and all the grape fragrances can be felt. Lively and fading bubbles are of a marked rose color. Its smoothness makes it surprisingly pleasant, though avoiding excesses. A captivating wine.

Paired well with traditional cuisine from Emilia, it is also a wonderful accompaniment to desserts.

Producer Description 

Vermouth Amaro Cocchi has been created according to the original recipe by Giulio Cocchi where Artemisia was enriched with rhubarb, quassia wood, chiretta and a double infusion of cinchona. The addition of Barolo Chinato to the base wine gives delicately red nuances and a further soft and complex note – totally Cocchi style. 

Winemaker Description 

Cocchi Vermouth di Torino Extra Dry, released on the year of Cocchi’s 130th anniversary, is a classic-style dry vermouth from the birthplace of vermouth, Piemonte. Though the old classic dry vermouths that became so popular for their use in the Dry Martini were traditionally produced in the Southeast of France, in recent years the major players of the Torino vermouth category have produced a spin on the category all their own. Cocchi was long a hold out, but no longer. 

“Ricetta Piemontese”(Piedmontese recipe), stated on the label, is a very precise indication of the content: all the relevant ingredients for this vermouth come from Piemonte and have a strong bond with the region.

The wine used for this vermouth is Cortese, the same grape used for Gavi DOCG. The Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), is 100% from Piemonte mountains. The aromatic profile is also characterized by Menta di Pancalieri, a local variety of peppermint, and lemon, traditionally used to garnish vermouths of all styles in Piedmont. 

Producer Description 

The last remaining example of appellation Vermouth di Torino to comply with all of the classical requirements, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino has been produced since 1891. Cocchi uses estate Moscato as the wine base, and vibrant, spicy botanicals such as cocoa, citrus, ginger, and rhubarb.

In contrast with other popular Italian vermouths, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino retains wines of Piedmont as the base and avoids a heavy sheen of vanilla or caramel that clashes with other cocktail ingredients. Delicious when poured on ice and a small lemon zest, but also an essential base for the creation of the most classic cocktails from Negroni to Manhattan. Cocchi has produced wine-based aperitifs and traditional Piemontese sparkling wines since 1891.

Giulio Cocchi was a young and creative pastry chef from Florence, where he worked in a popular bar located in Piazza del Duomo. In the late nineteenth century he moved to Asti, a small but lively town in northwest Italy, not far from Torino, and established himself as a distiller and winemaker.

Expert Review - New York Times 

Eric Asimov The New York Times | I’ve written about this wine several times over the years, yet every time I come back to it, it surprises me. Maybe it’s the texture and depth — it’s not at all the stereotypical simple Italian white. It’s got both intrigue and deliciousness, and it’s refreshing, which all makes it a great Thanksgiving white. Oh, and the grapes are farmed organically.

Winemaker Description 

This wine easily competes with any Verdicchio on the market, most of which are more expensive. The Matelica zone is further inland and at a higher elevation than the more common Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi. Matelica wines tend to be brighter and more elegant whereas the Castelli di Jesi wines often have a little more fruit and heft. Collestefano is textbook for the Matelica style bright and crisp with floral notes and a hint of pine.

Collestefano was started in 1998 when Fabio Marchionni took over the estate that had been in his family for years. After getting his degree in agriculture, where he did his thesis on Verdicchio di Matelica, he went to Germany to work for Weingut

Zhringer where he learned to work and farm organically with minimal impact to the environment. He then worked briefly in wine bars and restaurants before taking over the family farm. His Verdicchio has been consistent in quality, winning at least two glasses from Gambero Rosso since the 2001 vintage (twice winning three glasses). It is a great value for an organic wine."~Distributor Notes

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  A juicy red showing red plums, tobacco, oranges and some tar on the nose. Touch of sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied, soft and ripe, with lively acidity to balance. Nerello cappucio and nerello mascalese. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Our Notes

"One of my favorite great value reds! Velvety textured with delicious flavors of blackberry, plum and strawberry with savory spice and aromatic herbs. Medium to full bodied with supple tannins that provide lift and structure.  Great for pizza, pasta and any midweek excursion."
Bart Hopkins

Winery Notes

Intense, dark ruby red. On the nose, notes of black fruit, strawberries, flowers and herbs. Dry and full-bodied on the palate.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2015

Eric Guido writes: Brown spice, crushed fall leaves cherry sauce and a lifting hint of fresh mint form a darkly alluring bouquet as the 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Memoira opens in the glass. This washes across the palate with a velvety wave of ripe red and black fruits, underscored by saline minerals and a burst of spiced citrus. Long and potent, the 2015 leaves a web of fine tannins that are surprisingly sweet and round, nicely framing the notes of sour wild berries and dark chocolate that linger. - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes: The candied strawberries and caramelized orange peel draw you in on the nose; then you notice hints of ash and red licorice. The full-bodied palate has quite a serious tannin backbone, and vibrant red fruit lies beneath waiting to be drawn out tightly by a fine acid edge. The finish is quite fruit-forward. Drink now. - James Suckling 92