Italy

97 Points! Assertive aromas of graphite, violets, mint and chalky minerality. A stunning, precise wine focused on elegance, with citrus flavors, a full body and lavish, velvety tannins supported by freshness. Long, youthful and savory aftertaste. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Though elegant and linear, this red exudes ripe cherry, currant, rose, mineral and wild herb flavors. This version is racy, even, with vivid acidity driving the long aftertaste, which echoes the red fruit and mineral elements. Shows terrific energy and balance. Best from 2026 through 2040. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! This rich red boasts cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, floral and wild herb aromas and flavors. Dense, chewy tannins reveal themselves as this plays out on the long, mineral finish, driven by racy acidity. Drink now through 2036. - Wine Spectator

Incredible value here. A blend of 40% Nebbiolo, 20% Dolcetto, 20% Barbera, and 20% Merlot from the younger vines of the estate. Vinification and aging takes place exclusively in stainless steel.

50% Sangiovese and 50% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangioivese clone from Montepulciano) Harvested from 20-year-old vines located in Terricciola at 300 meters above sea level with a southern exposure, sandy soils and ocean sediments. Aging for three months exclusively in stainless steel .

96 Points! This wine represents a blend of fruit from various sites... Showing a classical profile, the E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Via Nuova delivers a firm sense of inner fiber and richness with dark blueberry and black fruit. These aromas are enhanced by ethereal tones of blue flower and aniseed. The tannins are slightly more approachable in this wine compared to the Mosconi, but the intensity and richness of the mouthfeel is about the same. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

96 Points! An intense Barolo with aromas of Parma violets, cinnamon, restrained blood oranges, cherries and licorice. Incredibly precise and defined. Full-bodied on the powerful and graceful palate, with velvety tannins and refreshing, lifted acidity. A lot of substance, with a crunchy style and balance. Long, licorice aftertaste. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! The 2021 Barolo Via Nuova is a gorgeous, poised wine . Bright and energetic, with tons of drive, the 2021 has so much to offer. Brisk acids and veins of tannin shape this dynamic mid-weight Barolo. Blood orange, plum, chalk and rose petal are some of the many notes that come alive with aeration. The Via Nuova is a gorgeous wine in the making, but it needs a few years to be at its most expressive. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

96 Points! A blast of sour berries, candied peel, undergrowth and freshly cut herb aromas. No less exuberant on the palate, this is a big, dry, gritty, concentrated mouthful which bursts with energy in all directions. Objectively, it needs a little bottle time to come together, but in the meantime it is a wonderful celebration of a traditional style from one of Montalcino’s longest established estates. - Decanter Magazine

Real Barolo from a great vintage under $30? Yeah, we got that...

This wine is sourced from the southeastern-facing vineyard positioned at about 1,000 feet above sea level.  The vineyard is planted almost exclusively to Sangiovese (90%) with various other red grapes making up the balance.  Fermentation takes place in large cement vats with a 15-day maceration period, followed by an élevage of about six months in small and medium-sized barrels.  As is typical at Villa Sant’Anna, the wine is then left to age in bottle for an additional period (three months or more) before release.

90 Points! This has a floral nose with notes of ripe stone fruit, pear skin and hints of crushed stones. Juicy and mouthwatering, with a medium body and a refreshing aftertaste. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! A smoky wine with aromas of graphite, flowers, licorice and vibrant red fruit. Medium-bodied, extracted and powerful, with firm, grainy tannins, crisp acidity and a dense, austere finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Vibrant from the first tilt of the glass, the 2021 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Spelt is impossible to ignore. Blood orange and peppery rose complicate crushed blackberries and sage. This is silky smooth with an elegant wave of ripe red and blue fruits. Clove and dark chocolate notes add a pleasantly bitter tinge toward the close. The 2021 tapers off with fantastic length and a gentle tug of fine tannins, leaving a zesty wild berry concentration that adds youthful poise. This is a great example of oak integration (50% new) and how well it can work when applied properly. - Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points! Focused with a slightly reductive style, featuring vibrant red and black fruit, subtle spices and perfume. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s firm, crunchy and angular, showing ripe, velvety tannins. Refreshing acidity, juicy and long. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! The 2023 Chianti Classico is a classy, polished wine. Dark Sangiovese fruit, leather, incense, tobacco, mocha and lavender are some of the notes that build in the glass. More importantly, the 2023 impresses with its balance and poise. It spent a year in cask and then a year in cement. This is a gorgeous effort from Le Cinciole. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

93 Points! Overt and fruity, showing subtle roses and violets, red cherries and pomegranate. A hint of licorice and mint enhances complexity, with layered citrus flavors. Medium-bodied, this has crisp tension and firm, velvety tannins that turn dustier in the polished, chewy finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! A layered wine with assertive leesy aromas of lemon peel, lemon leaves, spring flowers, green apples and chalky minerality. Silky texture with zesty acidity, a medium body and a bright, savory finish. Good extraction and an amazing white peach aftertaste. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2023 Timorasso is a blend from Vietti's holdings in three distinct zones within the Derthona appellation. Deep, rich and phenolic, the 2023 is a textured, resonant wine. Peach, apricot, chamomile and dried flowers fill out the layers. It's a rich, heady white for the dinner table. Floral and citrus overtones lift the finish. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94+ Points! This is one of the celebrated white wines that put Sicily on the world wine map. The organic Planeta 2023 Sicilia Menfi Cometa (made with 100% Fiano) is a full-bodied and creamy expression of a grape that is otherwise known for crisp and lightly textured wines. Not here. This wine is all about richness, texture and depth. It starts off in stainless steel and matures in tonneaux and 36-hectoliter Allier oak casks. The fruit comes from Dispensa at 75 meters above sea level and Gurra at a lower 35 meters in elevation. Despite the hardships of the vintage, this wine delivers nothing but pleasure. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

97 Points! The 2021 Carmignano Riserva Piaggia takes its time in the glass, tempting the imagination with dried violets and flowery underbrush that evolve into peppery wild berries, autumnal spices and a dusting of cocoa. Elegant and velvety in feel, this sweeps across the palate, gaining contrast through a core of mineral-inflected yet pleasantly ripe red and black fruits. Tantalizing acidity guides the experience. The 2021 finishes with dramatic length and concentration, leaving a bitter blackberry resonance to mingle with edgy tannins, while a hint of blood orange forces the mouth to water for more. The contrasting nature and sheer depth of the 2021 leave me in awe. Bury this deep in the cellar.

The Piaggia vineyard was planted in 1972. The only changes this wine has seen since then, other than the age of the vines, took place in 2004 when the winery switched from using 100% new Garbellotto barrels to a mix of 50% new and 50% second-pass oak. This was a fantastic tasting that showed the prestige of this location and demonstrated the remarkable value of the Piaggia Riserva. It’s a blue chip in the cellar. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media