Italy

98 Points! Enticing aromas of red cherries, dried strawberries and hints of plums, cedar, sandalwood and balsamic. Medium-bodied with a tight and rich center palate and a chewy and powerful finish. This needs time to come together and soften slightly. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Aromas of new leather, spiced black plum, violet and camphor unfold on the bold and beautiful 2021 Brunello Pianrosso. Combining power and restraint, the full-bodied palate delivers layers of ripe Morello cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and fine tobacco blend before a spiced orange zest close. Velvety, enveloping tannins provide seamless support. - Kerin O'Keefe

100 Points! The drop-dead gorgeous Gianni Brunelli stopped me in my tracks with its stunning fragrance of freshly picked violet, iris, forest berry, leather and eucalyptus. All about extreme elegance, the palate is equally captivating, delivering layers of succulent Morello cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange, dark spice and crushed mint. Taut, ultra-refined tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity keeps it vibrant and impeccably balanced. While it’s already incredibly tempting, it also promises years of graceful aging. Hats off to Laura Brunelli and her team. - Kerin O'Keefe

97 Points! Pouring a bright red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is persistent and fantastic, with youthful tension and expressive aromatics of Bing cherries, orange zest, and iron-tinged earth. The palate is medium-bodied and focused, with refined tannins, refreshing acidity, and savory length framed by salty earth and bright fruit through the finish. It’s a complete, elegant Brunello that should continue to improve with time in bottle. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! Pouring a reflective red/garnet hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is floral and detailed on the nose, with preserved cranberries, cherries, anise, fresh roses, and polished leather. The palate is medium-bodied, structured, and bright, with chalky, angular tannins, refreshing acidity, and fabulous fruit purity that carries through a long finish. It’s exceptional and crisp, and it should easily hold up for 20 years.  - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

96 Points! A spicy and classic Brunello with vibrant aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, violets, smoky wood and licorice. Full-bodied, it shows balanced extraction, tamed velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and a super-savory, minerally finish. Juicy and long. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Plum, cherry, leather, earth and menthol flavors infuse this grippy red. Starts out smooth, picking up dusty tannins that build to the dry, compact finish. Nevertheless, there’s a core of ripe fruit, and everything is in the right place. Accents of cocoa linger on the finish. Give this time. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Evolved, complex wine full of depth, with aromas of forest floor, prunes and blackberry jam, plus subtle spice and smoky wood. The overall elegance is confirmed on the palate with medium body, integrated, refreshing acidity and savory, long, layered finish. One of the best Ripassos tasted this year. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2021 Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore entices with a beguiling bouquet of sweet herbs, wet stones, crushed blueberries and hints of spice. It is silken and round, with weighty textures offset by cooling acidity as masses of ripe red and blue fruits swirl throughout. The finish has grippy tannins balanced by a bump of fresh acidity as hints of plums fade slowly. - Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points! The 2021 Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore entices with a beguiling bouquet of sweet herbs, wet stones, crushed blueberries and hints of spice. It is silken and round, with weighty textures offset by cooling acidity as masses of ripe red and blue fruits swirl throughout. The finish has grippy tannins balanced by a bump of fresh acidity as hints of plums fade slowly. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! The aromas of raspberries and cherries with thyme and mint are entrancing and they follow through to a medium body with a lovely depth and purity of fruit and long, refined tannins. Very polished. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Aromas of dried orange peel, hibiscus and walnuts with generous red fruit in the background. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and vivid acidity. Linear and fresh. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Showing firm structure and a bold fruit profile, the Ceretto 2021 Barolo Prapò reveals a dark core with crushed stone, iron oxide and candied cherry. Prapò never holds back in terms of intensity. This site has a unique ripening cycle that means harvest comes 10 days later, giving the fruit more time to develop complexity. This wine is just terrific. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

The Dolcetto of the vintage thus far? This one's pretty hard to beat. From San Rocco Seno d’Elvio, Vigneto Grasmeri; South-east facing at 280m altitude. Late-ripening - harvested early October. Thinned twice throughout growing season - no more than 1.5kg fruit per vine; final yield 5000 kg/hA form 55+ year-old vines.

Crushed and fermented in small concrete & stailess tanks, varying between 5-10 hL. Macerated 30-40 days with submerged cap, prior to the grapes being pressed in traditional basket press. Aged in concrete & steel barrels for 6 months prior to 1 year's aging in bottle.

Named after one of Maria Sole’s grandfather’s favorite horses, “Noble Kara” claims its rightful place in the proud tradition of “real” rosé wines—rosés made from fully ripe, healthy grapes trusted to ferment on their own and allowed to express a natural depth of color (think great Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo here). Pure Sangiovese from three different parcels on the property—Ficomontanino, Melogranino, and Campo Cavalli—this vivacious wine spends 24 hours macerating on its skins before pressing and fermentation, which takes place in stainless steel via naturally occurring yeasts and with no temperature control. As with all her wines, Maria Sole bottles “Noble Kara” without fining or filtration, and with a minimum of sulfur.

93 Points! The 2020 Coste della Sesia Ca' du Leria is seriously impressive. Deep, layered aromatics lead into an expansive core of dark red-toned fruit. Readers will find a wine of notable dimension and class. The 2020 opens beautifully with time in the glass. Clerico at his finest. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points!  The 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a bright red hue and opens with citrus-tinged aromatics of tangerine, red cherries, dried herbs, and pressed flowers. Medium-bodied, it has a focused, linear feel on the palate, with well-defined tannins, brisk acidity, and a salty, mouthwatering finish. Drink this vibrant, classic effort over the coming 15 years. Drink 2026-2041. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points! A lively Brunello with aromas of plums, ripe cherries, cedar and teak that follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a crisp finish. Crunchy and linear. Lovely energy at the end. - JamesSuckling.com

98 Points! Dense aromas of red cherries, bark, mushrooms and plums follow through to a medium body with tangy acidity and juicy flavors. It’s very long and quite chunky, with velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Savory and tangy at the end. Drinkable now, but better in three or four years, Try after 2028. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Proprietor Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini has important holdings in this special cru, and if you're after Montosoli, this is one of the best expressions around. Fruit comes from a five-hectare plot with friable galestro soils at a sweet spot perched at 350 meters above sea level. The Altesino 2021 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli flaunts an especially sharp profile with enhanced minerality and focus. There is wild cherry and dried currant, but ultimately more impactful are the elegant aromas of crushed stone. These give the wine brightness and vertical lift. The mouthfeel is medium- to full-bodied in texture with fine, powdery tannins that are well integrated. It is matured in Slavonian oak casks. You can cellar this wine longer, but you can also enjoy it in the medium term to take advantage of that pretty fruit freshness. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

97 Points! Balsamic flavors of eucalyptus, tomato leaf and mint mingle with cherry, strawberry and rose in this taut, detailed red. On the elegant side, with midpalate presence and vivid acidity. A layer of chalky tannins lines the finish. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! A reductive and restrained wine with flint, subtle apricots, lemon leaves and smoky minerality on the nose, Very citrusy on the palate, it’s zesty, tight and vibrant, with tingling acidity and an energetic finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

98 Points! Pouring a dark magenta, the 2021 Grattamacco is fruity and floral with aromas of lavender oils, plum, mocha, incense, and sweet earth. Full-bodied, it has refreshing acidity, defined, ripe tannins, and a good finish. It has a lot of potential and should improve and stand the test of time. It’s fantastically detailed. Drink 2026-2050. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

97 Points! This is at a different level, with blackcurrants, blueberries and Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary and sage. Also tobacco and coffee bean. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a persistent finish. Sophisticated and thought-provoking. A new quality level with this wine. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Blueberry, black currant and pomegranate flavors are accented by oak spice, graphite and rosemary notes in this fresh, long red. Taut and vibrant, with terrific balance and a fine-grained band of tannins lining the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! The 2020 Lessona is a classy, polished wine. Macerated cherry, mint, rose petal, pomegranate and tangerine peel lift from the glass. The 2022 is wonderfully fresh and translucent, with relatively soft contours that make it an absolute joy to taste today. I especially admire the wines vibrancy. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

From the winery: Nebbiolo is the queen of Piedmontese reds — and El Dolfo is our humble tribute. Grown in Barge, where clay and calm light give finesse, this Nebbiolo ripens gently, preserving its fine aromas and taut structure. It’s a wine that knows restraint, but never lacks expression.