Tuscany

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.

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

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

93 Points! The 2021 Chianti Riserva Castelrotto offers a compelling mix of intense fruit and structure. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, graphite and underbrush all run through this mid-weight, classically built Riserva. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! A red that is extremely polished and refined with blackberry and cherry character. Hints of cedar and dried flowers. Medium body. Juicy fruit. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2013 Mix 36 is a clever mono-varietal expression of Sangiovese made from 36 distinct biotypes of the grape, 18 of which are exclusive to the Fonterutoli estate. The vines are 11 years old and harvest started on October 10th this vintage. The fruit is balanced and linear with red cherry, spice, dried blueberry and tobacco. It shows medium density and impressive persistence. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

98 Points! The stunning Le Chiuse 2021 Brunello shows great intensity and structure as well as the elegant restraint the estate is known for. It opens with aromas of ripe plum, wild berry, forest floor, dark spice and blue flower as well as a camphor note. Vibrant, full-bodied and delicious, the palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed black raspberry, licorice and fine tobacco blend lifted by fresh acidity. Taut, well-integrated tannins provide polished support. - Kerin O'Keefe

97+ Points! The Le Chiuse 2021 Brunello di Montalcino is a lovely wine and one of my favorites from a vintage that is not always easy to read. It delivers its message clearly with dark fruit, blue flower, grilled herb and sweet cedar, showing a sense of fullness and aromatic completeness that is not always present in this year. Soft and silky on the palate, the wine offers gentle, powdery tannins supported by good underlying structure, achieving balance without force. Sourced as a special selection from eight hectares of organically farmed vineyards with cool exposures, this bottling demonstrates how site and restraint can successfully interpret variety and vintage. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

100 Points! The Le Chiuse 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Diecianni is a beauty, holding together with impeccable balance and a silky, persistent finish. The tannins remain firm yet refined, with menthol-like notes that add lift and vibrancy, recalling a timeless winemaking style. On a second tasting, the wine shows additional definition and clear signs of bottle age, with polymerized textures and a touch of sweetness that adds weight and slightly softens the overall profile. Drawn from one of the last truly classical vintages before climate change reshaped the region’s style, this Riserva is a timeless and memorable expression released in just 2,600 bottles. The 2016 takes Le Chiuse's celebrated late-release program to the next level. Congratulations. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

100 Points! A preview of a wine that will not be released until 2026, the 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is a jeweled ruby color and is very expressive on the nose at this stage, with lovely clarity and concentration in its notes of wet stones, framboise, rose petal, and pure orange. It feels trapped in time, with bright, refined tannins and mouthwatering freshness without ever feeling out of it. Reminding me of the moment when an orchestra is tuning and becomes perfectly in tune, so the whole room resonates, though it's not about being louder, this wine ignites all the senses. It’s a truly superb and singular wine from Le Chiuse. Bravo. Now to wait another two years for its release. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

94 Points! The fresh and floral nature of this wine is more than evident, with black cherry and orange undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and refined, with silky tannins and mineral highlights. Tangy and crisp at the end. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Supple and harmonious, this red delivers cherry, raspberry, rose and mineral flavors on an elegant frame. Balanced and fresh, with a lingering aftertaste echoing the fruit and mineral elements. - Wine Spectator

100 Points! A perfumed and enchanting wine that seduces you with its pure aromas of plums, peaches, cedar, sandalwood and roses. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that caress your palate and give a long and beautiful finish. Extremely silky and polished. Crunchy. A great wine that’s a benchmark for the vintage. One of the best ever. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Captivating aromas of licorice, plums and cherries follow through to a medium to full body with fine, creamy tannins and a refined, textured finish. So beautiful and enjoyable now, but will age beautifully. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! The 2019 Tenuta Degli Dei is gorgeous. Cabernet aromas drive the balance in this beautifully vibrant, structured Panzano red. Mocha, dried leaves, tobacco, espresso and incense abound. I would give this a few years to soften, as the tannins are pretty imposing at this stage. The 2019 is a fine follow up to the 2018. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! This is the top-shelf wine from Tenuta degli Dei. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 35% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cavalli is a lovely Tuscan red with a rich and velvety texture that is never heavy or too dense. In fact, it offers an open-knit consistency with plenty of dark fruit, spice, grilled herb and wild rose. Oak tones of cedar and cinnamon frame that dark core...This wine is a joy to drink. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

94 Points! Full of character and savory depth, offering iodine, tangerine peel and ripe berry aromas. The medium- to full-bodied palate is bright and fleshy, framed by velvety but focused tannins. Long, layered and spicy at the end. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

98 Points! Plenty of red currant, cedar, iron and terra cotta aromas follow through to a medium to full body with graphite, sandalwood, red currants and fresh Mediterranean herbs such as thyme and rosemary. The tannins are chewy but polished in texture. This is a Sassicaia that needs three or four years of bottle age to come together and soften. A structured wine for the cellar. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! The wine is tightly coiled and concentrated. It feels almost cinched at the waist, with a fascinating tension between the weight of raspberry, blackberry and strawberry coulis fruit and the wine's verticality, as if it's trying to burst out. Lovely mid-palate sapidity is allied to fresh acidity and fine but dense tannins, making for a dark horse of a Sassicaia that isn't giving much away today but will greatly reward those who can cellar it for 12 years and more. ‘What is sure is that 2022 will need a lot of time, but will also have a long life,’ said Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta. A hot vintage, 2022 caused the team to work in the newly completed refrigerated warehouses in San Guido, even moving the sorting table inside. Shorter macerations and 23 rather than the more typical 24 or 25 months of ageing in wood helped to maximise the freshness. - Decanter Magazine

96 Points! Super-fresh with balsamic herb, blueberry and floral aromatics, Guidalberto 2023 has blossomed into a grand vin all of its own. Invigorating cool forest berry flavours mingle with touches of spice and fine, silky tannins. So poised. Wow! - Decanter Magazine

96 Points! This vintage shows a remarkable aromatic profile of Mediterranean herbs, cassis, black cherries, leather and earth with a kind of gamey depth. Full-bodied, it shows velvety, slightly sandy tannins with a firm structure, refreshing integrated acidity and a savory cedar finish. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! From a vineyard with old vines and schistic galestro soils, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Poggiarelli opens to a deep and unique sense of aromatic layering, starting with dark fruit, sweet tobacco leaf, flavored cigarette and spice. The wine is rich with dense fruit flavors and ripe tannins. You taste Sangiovese's skins with a hint of bitterness. However, the truly distinguishing factor of Poggiarelli is the etched mineral notes. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! Aromas of sour cherries, dried wild strawberries, rosemary and orange peel with subtle iron notes. Medium-bodied, showing finely etched tannins and lively acidity. Bright and crunchy, with fleshy fruit and a savory, mineral finish. - JamesSuckling.com