Italy

96+ Points! Castello Romitorio’s 2021 Brunello di Montalcino channels much of the estate’s fruit over seven plots, as no Riserva was produced, resulting in a wine of notable depth and cohesion. Whispered and delicate at first, the bouquet unfolds with white pepper, blue flowers and grilled herb before moving toward darker tones of sweet blackberry. The palate is open-knit yet powerful, showing juicy ripeness, layered complexity and a structured mid-palate that remains streamlined in classic Sangiovese fashion. Fermented in cement with maceration times tailored to the thickness of the skins from each plot, typically ranging from 18 to 24 days and extending up to 30 days when needed, the wine was aged for 24 months in oak, with 90% in large barrels and 10% in second- and third-passage tonneaux. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

95 Points! This is plush and features cherry, plum, wild herb, iron and spice flavors. Its tannins are well-integrated with the fleshy texture and resonant flavors, which gather steam by the lingering finish. Shows terrific balance and length overall. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! There’s considerable flesh, along with developing flavors of cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and wild herbs. Mineral and tobacco elements add detail. This is just hitting its stride, with an impression of dusty tannins and oak spice notes on the lingering aftertaste. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Aromas of vivid raspberries with a floral undertone and an austere hint of slate. The palate is composed and balanced, combining generous red fruit with vibrant acidity. Well crafted and precise. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Cortevecchia enjoys a strong connection to the historic roots of the estate winery located in the underground ramparts of a Tuscan Renaissance castle. The wine is aged in large oak casks that are almost 30 years old, as they were installed in 1994. Duccio Corsini tells me that 2018 was a "complicated vintage" with almost tropical-like rains in June and July. The team worked hard to maintain cover crops of chamomile, clover and legumes to optimize organic farming. This wine is Sangiovese with a touch of Colorino. The wine is succulent and fine with bright fruit flavors and cherry over an elegant mid-weight texture. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! This is layered and very fine-tannined with blackberry and dark-cherry character. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut, too. Medium-to full-bodied with a tight, fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2021 Barolo Gattera is one of the more restrained wines from Fratelli Revello. Bright acids and beams of supporting tannin confer elements of classicism that play off a core of forward La Morra fruit. White pepper, mint, chalk and slate add an attractive upper register of aromatic presence. This is impeccably done. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! Very floral, showcasing aromas of roses along with a touch of lavender, cranberries, orange rind and a hint of pomegranate. It is polished and refined, featuring luminous yet discreet fruit, complemented by firm tannins that resolve into a linear, focused finish. Best ever from here. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! A precise, layered, very floral wine with aromas of fresh violets, pomegranates, red cherries and a lot of licorice. Bracing acidity, a full body, elegant velvety tannins, a tight-knit structure and a long, defined, savory aftertaste. Almost drinkable now due to its elegance, but best in two or three years. - JamesSuckling.com

90 Points! The 2021 Barolo is a terrific entry-level bottling from Revello. Aromatic, pliant and yet also light on its feet, the 2021 is all charm. Bright acids drive through a core of dark red-toned fruit in this gracious, appealing Barolo. This is a gorgeous wine in its peer group. Drink it over the next handful of years. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Yes, this wine is actually Conterno's more 'upscale' Barolo Ginestra bottled as the more 'entry-level' Riva del Bric! Lot # L25 8198

93 Points! The Paolo Conterno 2020 Barolo Ginestra opens to a smooth personality with dark fruit, blackcurrant and grilled herb. Despite that soft entry, the wine's power should not be underestimated. You feel it in the strong tannic texture and in the high 15.5% alcohol content. In fact, this wine has quite a mouthfeel. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! Expressive and exuding cherry, incense, spice and wild herb flavors, this red is juicy and instantly gratifying. Its line of dense tannins is uplifting, while the finish persists with fruity, savory and spicy elements. Best from 2028 through 2043. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! Black cherry and blackberry fruit occupy center stage in this dense, muscular red. Beefy tannins provide support, while vibrant acidity keeps this lively and long on the finish, where iron, tomato leaf and Tuscan scrub add detail. All of the components are there; this just needs time. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Herbal, showing red berries, lavender and stony austerity. Crunchy, linear and medium-bodied, with focused tannins. Wonderful precision and tension throughout. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! A graceful, intense and classic Brunello with aromas of smoky wood, raspberries, red cherries and balsamic vibrancy. Medium-bodied, very fragrant and juicy, with crunchy tannins, crisp acidity and a vivid, youthful, chalky finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. - JamesSuckling.com

99 Points! This is a young wine with terrific depth and layers of fruit. It’s full-bodied with notes of eucalyptus, lavender and sage and hints of matchsticks and oranges. It’s linear and tight at the end, with an energetic finish. Very Saffredi in nature. Better than the 2021. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 10% petit verdot. - JamesSuckling.com

98 Points! This is one of only a handful of wines made on the Tuscan Coast that has managed to interpret the vintage in such an excellent manner. The Fattoria le Pupille 2022 Saffredi (a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot) deftly plays upon the elegance and fruity brightness of the growing season, while also harnessing its freshness and its slightly more streamlined appeal. The wine is nuanced and layered with fine details that recall wild berry, spice, blue flower and blood orange. To my mind, the 2022 stands apart from almost every other past vintage of Saffredi. This is a new direction for the wine that we can all happily embrace. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

98 Points! Menthol-infused dark berry aromas open the door to an intense and juicy mouthful of precisely wrought red and black berries and cherries. Wonderful lip-smacking sapidity and finely integrated tannins complete the package. The 2022 Saffredi is the result of the estate's hard work and it has paid dividends. Elisabetta Geppetti's son, Ettore – in just his third vintage overseeing the winemaking without the experienced hand of ex-consultant Luca d'Attoma – has beautifully interpreted the vintage. He tells me that, unusually, it took the team three harvests at different times to obtain the freshness evident in the wine. It's a stunner. Wow! - Deacnter Magazine

97 Points! This is so complex, with lifting citrus and herb undertones to the blue and red berry fruit. Thyme, sage and lavender, with mocha and clove, too. Full-bodied, full of depth and intensity, with firm yet seamless tannins. Evolves to espresso. Balanced, powerful and very long. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! A special single-vineyard wine with origins in one of the more remote, wild and beautiful corners of Montalcino, this is one of the true treats of the appellation. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso opens to a medium-rich appearance and vibrant color saturation. Sangiovese can lose its color quickly, but it remains beautifully intact here. Sweet cherry, redcurrant, spice, blue flower, balsam herb and orange peel are neatly woven together to create this balanced wine. Fruit is sourced from across a 11.7-hectare vineyard with schistous galestro soils. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

90 Points! Fresh and vivid, with aromas of lemons, sliced apples and some herbs. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Crunchy and fruity. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Focused and nicely structured, with aromas of red plums, forest floor, crushed violets and tobacco that carry into a medium- to full-bodied palate. The tannins are firm but integrated, holding a vivid line of acidity that gives the finish clarity and tension. From organically grown grapes. - JamesSuckling.com

Always one of the best bang for buck wines from Chianti.

92 Points! A complex, layered white featuring aromas of stone fruit, lemon peel, chamomile and beeswax. Medium- to full-bodied, it is focused and compact, with a backbone of lively acidity that drives a lingering, mineral-laced finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Very attractive aromas of red cherries, mushrooms and flowers follow through to a medium body with firm and integrated tannins and a vivid, subtle, fruity finish. A lovely young Brunello that you can enjoy now or age for many years to come. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Black cherry and black currant flavors are the main themes in this intense red, with iron and wild herbs adding complexity. Balanced and vibrant, with resonant tannins guarding the long aftertaste. This feels more modern in style, with an emphasis on bright fruit. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo bursts from the glass with a vivid blend of crushed raspberries and cherries, a whiff of allspice and candied rose. It is elegant in feel, silken and smooth with tantalizing acidity and a dominating core of ripe red fruits that adds impact. The finish is grippy and long, potent with fine-grained tannins and a slight citrus tinge that pinches at the cheeks. This classy Brunello is built for the cellar. - Eric Guido, Vinous 

91 Points! A restrained, fairly neutral wine with white pepper, lemon leaf and sage aromas. Vibrant, almost electric on the palate, with a textured medium body, peach and leaf flavors and a tight finish. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Fantastic aromas of strawberries, orange peel and violets follow through to a medium-bodied wine with very fine and lightly austere tannins that give this class and presence. Extremely long and energized at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and brooding, with nuances of crushed black cherry, savory herbs and ashen stone wafting up from the glass. It displays silky textures and notable weight, with mineral-inflected red berry fruits that slowly saturate the senses. Fine-grained tannins add an aching tension through the finish as the 2021 leaves a penetrating tart berry concentration that adds chewy depth. - Eric Guido, Vinous

97 Points! The expressive flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and rose are offset by thick, dusty tannins and accents of wild herbs and menthol. This red stays vibrant throughout, with a long aftertaste of red fruit and savory notes. Delivers layers, freshness and the potential for aging. - Wine Spectator

96 Points! The expressive 2021 Brunello di Montalcino opens with an array of crushed violet and lavender tones before giving way to citrus-laced blackberries and cherries. Cool-toned and wickedly fresh, it possesses a solid core of mineral-infused wild berry fruits and blue and purple inner florals that arch throughout. Sweet tannins frame the finish beautifully as hints of balsamic spice and pomegranate linger incredibly long. The 2021 is a radiant beast in need of taming. It's hard to put this glass down. - Eric Guido, Vinous